Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Simon, Hon. Joseph ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 5, 2008, 9:27 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company HON. JOSEPH SIMON. In the period which has marked the development of Portland, transforming a straggling frontier village into a metropolitan center, the years have also chronicled the progress and achievement of Hon. Joseph Simon, dean of the Portland bar, former mayor of the city, ex-United States senator and for years a power in Oregon politics. Alert, energetic and forceful, at the age of seventy-seven years he is still actively engaged in the practice of law as senior partner of the firm of Simon, Gearin, Humphreys & Freed. For years public opinion accorded the place of prominence on the Pacific coast in the legal profession to Dolph, Bronaugh, Dolph & Simon and of that firm Joseph Simon is now the only survivor. All through the years Mr. Simon has been keenly interested in the problems affecting the development of city, state and nation and for years has been a recognized power in Oregon politics. He has studied conditions with the same thoroughness that he has displayed in the preparation of his cases and the public recognition of his devotion and loyalty in citizenship has led to his being called upon to serve in many offices. His first public position was that of member of the city council, to which he was called in 1877, serving until 1880. In the latter year he was elected to the state senate and endorsement of his course in the upper house was manifest in four reelections, making his term of service twenty years. During five sessions he served as president of the state senate. He was chairman of the republican state central committee during the biennial campaigns of 1880, 1884 and 1886, and in 1892 was chosen a delegate to the republican national convention held at Minneapolis in June of that year, on which occasion he gave his support to William McKinley instead of to Benjamin Harrison, who ultimately received the nomination. He was also a delegate to the republican national convention held at Philadelphia in 1902. During the five sessions of the Oregon legislature of which he was president of the senate he in numerous ways distinguished himself for dispatch of business and ability to preserve order and untangle difficult questions of parliamentary dispute." Mr. Simon's keen interest in the welfare of his city is evidenced in his long connection with the Chamber of Commerce. He has always held to the religious faith of his fathers and belongs to Temple Beth Israel. He is an honored representative of Masonry, having filled all of the offices in the lodge and chapter. In the Scottish Rite he has attained the thirty-third degree, which was conferred upon him in recognition of his valuable service to the order. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Page 507 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/simon494gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 3.4 Kb