Representative Matthew H. Francis View All Years

HON. MATTHEW H. FRANCIS

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life and service of the Honorable Matthew H. Francis, late of Boone county, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following memorial:

Honorable Matthew H. Francis, who represented Boone county in the Forty-first General Assembly, was born April 25th, 1872, at Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania. When quite young he removed with his parents to Boone county, Iowa, and resided upon a farm in Peoples township. He attended the common schools of his county, and afterwards attended the high school in Woodward, Iowa, from which he graduated in 1888. He later entered Highland Park College in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from that institution in 1894.

Mr. Francis was a farmer, and while his education and qualifications equipped him for other and different vocations, yet he always classified himself as a farmer, and made farming his life work. He was a progressive student of agriculture, and was intensely interested in every problem pertaining to that industry. He was a man of such sound judgment and business capacity that his neighbors and friends frequently sought his advice on agriculture and business subjects. He was regarded in his community and county as a successful farmer. Any program that had as its object the improvement of agricultural conditions, or the betterment of rural life, had the unqualified endorsement of Mr. Francis. He was one of the first farmers of his county to enroll as a member of the Farm Bureau, and immediately became an active worker in the interest of that organization. In 1923, he was elected president of the Boone County Farm Bureau, and held that position until his death.

Mr. Francis was a man who gave close attention to detail, and was usually chosen as secretary of the various business activities of his community, and was for many years clerk of his township. He was for two sessions assistant secretary of the state Senate of Iowa, where he gave efficient service.

In politics Mr. Francis was always a staunch republican. He took a deep interest in the political affairs of his state and nation, as well as local affairs. He became a public speaker of ability and frequently made political addresses. As a result of his sound views, and the confidence the people had in him, he had much to do with shaping the public policies of his community and his county. At the primary in June, 1924, he submitted his name as a republican candidate for the House of Representatives. He was given a most excellent endorsement at the primary, and was elected at the general elction by a very large majority. In his home township and the one adjoining it, where he was best known, he received an almost unanimous vote.

While a member of this House he was a hard and conscientious worker. His earnest desire was to be of real service to the people of his county and state. His ambition was to justify the trust and confidence the people had placed in him by giving to his duties the most painstaking attention. Many of his friends believe that it was the hard work and serious attention he gave to his legislative duties, and the responsibility he felt rested upon him as a legislator, that undermined his strength and hastened his death.

Mr. Francis was also very active in the moral and religious affairs of his community. He became a member of the Baptist church of Woodward, Iowa, in 1895, and served the church in the capacity of deacon or trustee for many years. He was also Sunday School superintendent. At one time he was superintendent of the County Sunday School Organization.

The community in which he lived, his county and state have suffered a great loss in the untimely death of Matthew H. Francis. In recognition of the value of his life and service, and as an expression of our appreciation of his character and example,

Therefore, Be It Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the Forty-second General Assembly that in the death of Honorable Matthew H. Francis, this state has lost a loyal citizen, a man of fine ideals and public spirit, and this House by this resolution tenders its sympathy to the relatives that survive him, and,

Be It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the Journal, and an enrolled copy be sent to the surviving relatives.

FRANK HOLLINGSWORTH,

MARTIN H. TROUP,

IRVING H. KNUDSON,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 6, 1927.