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Permanent LinkSenator Theodore Charles Cessna View All Years
THEODORE CHARLES CESSNA
MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Theodore Charles Cessna, a former member of the General Assembly of Iowa, begs leave to submit the following report:
Theodore Charles Cessna was born March 21, 1867 in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of William and Rachel Rose Cessna.
He came to Iowa when twenty years of age and located in Grinnell where he resided continually until his death, December 3, 1947.
His marriage to Ella Buchanan, January 21, 1891, was performed in Grinnell by Bishop Matt Hughes of the Methodist Church. His death preceded by a month their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary.
His formal education, received before he came to Iowa, was from private instruction and in the public schools.
Senator Cessna was recognized as an expert stockman and was actively and extensively engaged in farming and the cattle business for more than thirty years. He was an active member of the Corn Belt Meat Producers’ Association.
Always interested in public affairs and having at heart those interests which make a community worth living in, he promoted and participated in those organizations which look toward a development of a fuller and more prosperous farm life.
He was a life-long Republican and his faithful service to his party won him recognition from the twelfth Iowa district when elected to the state senate. He served in the Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Fortieth Extra and Forty-first General Assemblies.
Senator Cessna was a loyal friend and was held in high esteem as a man and a patriotic citizen. He showed unusual interest in young farmers, many of whom he is known to have assisted financially in getting started on farms of their own. Even after retiring from the farm he bought and sold livestock, remaining active in that line of business until his death.
Besides Mrs. Cessna who is now residing with their daughter, Rachel, Mrs. Leslie K. Patton of Tusculum college at Greeneville, Tennessee, he is survived by one grandson, Kenneth Dean Cessna of Grinnell. Also three sisters and two brothers. Four sons, Dale, John, Karl and Kenneth preceded him in death.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-third General Assembly: That in the passing of the Honorable Theodore Charles Cessna, the state has lost a valuable and honorable citizen and the Senate expresses by this resolution its appreciation of his character and public service and tenders sincere sympathy to the surviving members of his family, and,
Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate, and that the Secretary be instructed to send enrolled copies to the family of the deceased.
LUKE VITTETOE,
FRED MAYTAG,
W. N. SKOURUP,
Committee.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.