Hon. William L. Harding

HARDING, LAMOREAUX

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 3/5/2004 at 13:13:11

Hon. William Lloyd Harding

The Hon. William Lloyd Harding, lieutenant governor of Iowa, has been the representative of Sioux City and Woodbury County in the state legislature and throughout his entire life has been identified with the interests of the commonwealth, for he is one of the native sons of the state, his birth having occurred upon the old homestead farm in Osceola County, Iowa, on the 3rd of October, 1877. He comes of Welsh-English ancestry, although the family was established on American soil at an early period in the history of the country. The paternal grandfather, Curtis Harding, spent his entire life in Pennsylvania. The father, Orlando Boardman Harding was born near Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and is now a resident of Sibley, Iowa. Throughout his entire life he has followed the occupation of farming and for many years resided in Osceola County upon a farm which he made rich and arable through the care and labor which he bestowed upon it. He dates his residence in Iowa from 1871.

Upon the old homestead farm in his native county William L. Harding was reared and in the public schools of that locality acquired his preliminary education. His decision concerning a business career led him to become a student in the law school of the State University of South Dakota, from which he was graduated in June, 1905. Immediately afterward he opened a law office in Sioux City, where he has continuously practiced his profession. In no profession is there a career more open to talent than that of the law and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful preparation, a more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the underlying principles which form the bases of all human rights and privileges. Unflagging application and intuitive wisdom and the determination to fully utilize the means at hand are the concomitants which insure personal success and prestige in this great profession, which stands as the stern conservator of justice. Possessing all the requisite qualities of an able lawyer, Mr. Harding gradually and steadily worked his way upward and soon was in command of a large clientele. His strong mentality enabled him to readily grasp not only the salient points in his case but also in his opponent’s argument, thus enabling him to meet the defense upon its own ground. He never underestimated the strength of an adversary—which is so often a weak point in a lawyer—and his name soon found its place upon the court records as one whose efforts were usually crowned with success.

As a lawmaker as well as a lawyer Mr. Harding has become widely and prominently known. From the beginning he has been a stalwart republican in politics and in 1906 was called to represent his district in the state legislature, where he discharged his duties with such ability and fidelity that he was reelected in 1908 and again in 1910. Still higher political honors awaited him, for in 1912 he was chosen lieutenant governor of the state, which office he is now filling. As such he presides over the senate and his rulings indicate his thorough familiarity with parliamentary procedure. He is a most fair and impartial presiding officer and one whose loyalty to the best interests of the commonwealth is never questioned.

On the 9th of January, 1907, Mr. Harding was married in Meriden, Iowa, to Miss Carrie May Lamoreaux, who is the daughter of Henry H. Lamoreaux, a banker of that city. They now have a little daughter, Barbara Esther, born January 14, 1915.

-source: Iowa: Its History and Its Foremost Citizens; Volume II; 1915

-transcribed by Roseanna Zehner

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