Representative Aaron Vale Blackford View All Years

AARON VALE BLACKFORD

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Aaron Vale Blackford of Bonaparte, Iowa, begs leave to submit the following:

Aaron Vale Blackford was born on a farm near Hillsboro, Iowa, December 18, 1871, and died on August 31, 1948. He was a descendant of Martin Blackford, who came to this country in 1751, and settled in York county, Pennsylvania. His parents, John W. and Nancy Atland Blackford, came to Iowa in 1858, and settled on a farm near Hillsboro. His father was a member of the Thirty-fifth General Assembly, representing Henry county.

Senator Blackford secured his early education in the rural schools of Van Buren county, then attended Iowa Wesleyan academy. In 1897 he was graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, with a degree of Bachelor of Arts. During his college career he served on the college debating team; he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and was chapter delegate to the national convention during his junior year. After leaving college, he taught school two years, then entered the hardware, implement and automobile business with his brother in Bonaparte, which association continued until his brother's death. He then engaged in the insurance and real estate business and was active until his last illness. For twenty years he served on the Bonaparte board of education.

He was a member of the Methodist church, a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Mystic Shrine and the order of the Eastern Star. He was a Republican in politics and served as representative from Van Buren county in the Forty-first, Forty-second and Forty-second Extra ordinary sessions of the General Assembly. He also served as State Senator from the Jefferson-Van Buren district in the Forty-third and Forty-fourth General Assemblies.

Senator Blackford had been twice married and had one son by his first marriage, Kenneth S. Blackford. On December 20, 1925, he was married to Katherine Alice Lundgren of Burlington, who with his son, survives him.

Senator Blackford was a staunch believer in the Republican form of representative government. He was active in political, educational, church and community affairs. To his associates and the Senate, he was regarded as an able and fair-minded legislator, an ardent advocate of the present state highway system and a supporter of good government.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-third General Assembly: That in the passing of the Honorable Aaron Vale Blackford of Bonaparte, Iowa, the state has lost a valuable and honorable citizen and an honest statesman.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread on the Journal of the Senate, and that the Secretary of the Senate be directed to forward an enrolled copy to his widow, Mrs. Katherine Alice Blackford and to his son, Kenneth S. Blackford.

ALDEN L. DOUD,

E. K. BEKMAN,

SHERMAN WEST,

Committee.