Representative Henry LeRoy Davis View All Years

HENRY L. DAVIS

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public services of the late Honorable Henry L. Davis, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Henry L. Davis was born in Madison county, March 14, 1886. He was the son of Rev. L. B. Davis, a First Lieutenant in the Civil War, and Catherine Ann Henning Davis.

He attended the Winterset High School, and later the Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines, graduating from both schools with highest honors. He taught school and helped his mother operate the home farm for a number of years.

He served as deputy county auditor two terms and was elected auditor of Madison county two terms, resigning this position on January 1, 1937, to serve in the Forty-seventh General Assembly as State Representative.

He was life insurance underwriter until 1939 when he was employed by the State Tax Commission at Des Moines, Iowa, as auditor, at which time the family moved to Des Moines.

Mr. Davis was a past master of the Masonic Lodge, and held a certificate of perfection in Masonry, also held schools of instruction for Grand Lodge throughout the state. He was Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, was a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Temple and the Knights of Pythias, also the Methodist church where he sang in the choir since his high school days.

On May 28, 1921, he was married to Miss Ruth Simmons, an instructor in the Winterset schools. She now resides in Des Moines. Their son, Pfc. Melvin L. Davis, C.M.P., is stationed at Fort Warren, Wyoming, while his wife and two children—Van and Jan—reside in St. Charles, Iowa. The younger son, Don C. Davis, is a cadet at the United States Coast Guard Military Academy, New London, Conn.

Mr. Davis loved people, and the two sons were the pride of his life. He died in Des Moines as a result of a heart attack on December 15, 1943, and interment was made at Winterset, Iowa.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-first General Assembly, That in the death of Henry L. Davis, the people of Madison county and of the entire State of Iowa have sustained a great loss.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House, and the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family.

S. G. HOENESS,

THOMAS W. WELLINGTON,

G. T. KUESTER,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted,