John Charles Jessen (1878-1937)

JESSEN, GOLLY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/9/2013 at 00:05:53

From Journal of the House of the of the Forty-eighth General Assembly, Volume 48, Part 1939

HONORABLE JOHN CHARLES JESSEN

MR SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life and service of the Honorable John Charles Jessen, late of Story county, Iowa, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

John Charles Jessen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 10, 1878, and died September 23, 1937, as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident.

His early childhood was spent in Pine River, Wisconsin, at which place he lost his father when he was still a young child.

The family moved to Story county, Iowa in 1885. Mr. Jessen attended the public schools of the community and later completed a course at Iowa State College in Ames. For about three years he was engaged in the creamery business at Shannon City, Iowa.

He later attended the law school at Drake University in Des Moines and was graduated in 1905 with the degree of L.L.B. He opened a law office at Zearing, where he remained for two years. Later he located in Story City in 1908 where he continued to live until the time of his death.

He was married to Miss Catherine Golly of Zearing in 1910 and to this union were born two daughters. To him his home was the greatest delight and it was here where he spent practically all of his leisure time, for he took great pride in beautifying his home and its grounds.

As a member of the legal profession he was well and favorably known for his sincerity and honesty. As a lawyer he was primarily interested in obtaining justice rather than in the mere winning of law suits. His word with other attorneys was as good as a written agreement.

Mr. Jessen was always deeply interested in civic and political affairs. He served as mayor for the town of Zearing and later was elected mayor of Story City. He also served upon the local board of education for a number of years and of which board he was the president.

He served as Representative of Story county, Iowa, in the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh General Assemblies, where he served with distinction for himself and his constituents.

Mr. Jessen was a Christian in the true sense of the word. For many years he was the teacher of a Sunday school class which he organized in the Grace Evangelical Church in Story City. This class grew to one of the largest of its kind in the state. His character as a Christian was not reserved for the Sabbath alone, but he practiced in his everyday dealings with men, the teachings which he expounded on the Sabbath Day. This is the real test of any man's character.

When Mr. Jessen passed away, Story county lost one of its finest citizens and his family suffered the irreparable loss of a loving husband, parent and son.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That in the passing of the Honorable John Charles Jessen, the county of Story and the state of Iowa have lost a valuable and honored citizen and the House of Representatives of the state of Iowa, Forty-eighth General Assembly, tender by this resolution its sincere sympathy to the surviving member 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 of Representatives and that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, Forty-eighth General Assembly, be instructed to send an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

ALBERT STEINBERG,
JOHN S. HEFFNER,
JOHN KNUDSON,
Committee.

Unanimously adopted, April 12, 1939.