Representative Francis Marion Harrison View All Years

FRANCIS MARION HARRISON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Francis Marion Harrison, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Francis Marion Harrison was born in Clarke County and his entire life of 62 years was spent there, except for the years he served in the Army. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1916 and served on the border. When the Guard was called into Federal service again in 1917, he re-enlisted and went to France with the Rainbow Division, serving for a year and a half with that famous organization under General Douglas MacArthur. He was twice wounded in action, for which he was awarded a Silver Star and the “Purple Heart”. He served as State President of the Iowa Rainbow Veterans Association.

Returning to civilian life, Mr. Harrison was honored by the citizens of his home county with two terms as Clerk of the District Court and then two terms in the Iowa Legislature. Retiring from public life, he moved to his farm but ill health, resulting from his wounds, forced him to retire and he came to Osceola. About four years ago he suffered a paralytic stroke, from which he never recovered.

Marion was the son of F. M. and Elizabeth Harrison. Most of his early life was spent on the farm, where he attended the rural school, after which he received training at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa. Later he became a teacher in the rural schools of his home county. He was a member of the First Methodist Church of Osceola, serving in several official capacities.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, formerly Violet Cornell Worthington, two daughters, Frances Violet, and Florabelle Marion and Mother Cornell, who was most devoted to him during all the years of his confinement; also two sisters, Dr. B. Ethlyn Healey of Davenport, Iowa, B. Marguerite Harrison of Woodburn, Iowa, and one brother, E. M. Harrison of North Platte, Nebraska, and other relatives and friends.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-first General Assembly, That in the passing of the Honorable Francis Marion Harrison, the State has lost a valued and honored citizen and the family a loving husband and father, and the House would tender, by this resolution, its sincere sympathy to the surviving members of his family in their sorrow; and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be instructed to send an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

HENRY SIEFKAS,

E. L. EDWARDS,

E. B. SAYLOR,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted,