Representative Carmen E. Lookingbill View All Years

CARMON E. LOOKINGBILL

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

Carmon E. Lookingbill was born to Henry August and Elizabeth Huff Lookingbill on April 25, 1876, in Guthrie County, Iowa. His boyhood was spent in Guthrie county and he attended high school in Panora, Iowa.

On September 26, 1900, Mr. Lookingbill married Addie Reitz, and they began their married life on the Reitz homestead south of Ames. From here they moved to Sac City where he engaged in business with his brother, William. Their only child, a daughter, Marie W. Loucks, was born in Sac City.

After a few years the Lookingbills returned to Story county where Mr. Lookingbill had bought a farm near the rural Brethren church, then known as the Dunkard church. As children both Mr. and Mrs. Lookingbill had been baptized as Dunkards. Both had strong religious feelings.

In 1910 the Dunkard Brethren elected Mr. Lookingbill to be a minister. His ministerial life began as a traveling evangelist. In the 1900’s few Dunkard churches paid their ministers, so Reverend Lookingbill continued to farm for a short time and then decided to move to Maxwell to engage in business. Although he engaged in business to support his family, his greatest love and interest was religious work. He helped to build Brethren churches in Maxwell and Fernald.

He also found time for community activities, serving as mayor of Maxwell for two terms. In 1915 he moved to Nevada. Here he continued his interest in civic matters and served Nevada as mayor from 1923 to 1927, and again from 1943 to 1945.

From 1932 to 1938 he was elected to serve Story county in the Forty­fifth, Forty-fifth Extra, Forty-sixth, Forty-sixth Extra and Forty-seventh sessions of the General Assembly, where he was always most anxious to further the interests of Iowa State University in Ames.

The Reverend and Mrs. Lookingbill celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on September 25, 1950.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Judea White Shrine, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebeccas, and the Rotary Club.

Mr. Lookingbill passed away on March 4, 1959. He is survived by his daughter, one grandson and two great grandchildren.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-eighth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Carmon E. Lookingbill, the people of Story county and the entire State of Iowa have lost an honored citizen and the House, by this resolution, would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family.

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

RAY C. CUNNINGHAM,

RAYMOND EVELAND,

ARTHUR C. HANSON,

Committee.