Edward Hirsch

Edward Hirsch (born May 3, 1836 in the Kingdom of Württemberg , † December 29, 1909 in Salem , Oregon ) was an American businessman and politician ( Republican Party ).

Early years

Edward Hirsch, son of Ella Huhn and Samson Hirsch, was born during the reign of King Wilhelm I in the Kingdom of Württemberg. Nothing is known about his youth. In 1855 he immigrated to the United States . He arrived in New York City and immediately went looking for a job. However, his efforts failed and so he moved to neighboring Pennsylvania . There he was able to get a clerk's position in a shop in a small town in Mercer County . Then his salary was 75  US dollars per year. He stayed there for several months and then moved to Georgia , where he stayed for two years. He spent most of that time in Macon ( Bibb County ). During this time, he wanted to move to the West. To do this, he first traveled north again in 1858 and then boarded the Star of the West steamship with his brother Solomon Hirsch . The journey went over the Isthmus of Panama towards the Oregon Territory . They reached Portland in mid-April 1858 . A few months later they opened a retail store in Dallas ( Polk County ). They stayed there for about three years and then moved to Silverton ( Marion County ), where they long operated three years a company for consumer goods. These years were overshadowed by the civil war. They eventually dissolved their partnership. Edward Hirsch moved to Salem, Oregon, where he worked for some time as a salesperson at JB & M. Hirsch . 1866 he was elected president and area manager at Eagle Woolen Mills in Brownsville ( Linn County ). He then moved to where he worked for the company for over two years. In 1868 he returned to Salem. In 1869 he took part in the trading company Hermann & Hirsch of Salem. The name was changed to L. & E. Hirsch in 1876 .

Political career

Hirsch sat on the Salem City Council several times. He was also a prominent and active member of the Republican Party for many years. In this regard, he chaired the Republican County Central Committee in 1876 .

At the Republican State Convention in Salem in 1878, many of his party friends nominated him for the post of Treasurer of State of Oregon. Despite strong competition at the convention, he prevailed as a Republican candidate. A few months later he was elected Treasurer of State by a large majority. He was re-elected in 1882. He held the post from September 9, 1878 to January 10, 1887.

During his administration he was able to reduce the tax burden to one seventh of the starting position that he encountered when he took office. In this context, the government bonds showed a discount when he took office. Under his management, these rose rapidly and had returned to their face value within a few months. In addition, the high tax rate was reduced to a very low one during his administration. When he took office in 1878, his predecessor AH Brown left him an amount of $ 112,000  , while he left his successor, GW Webb, $ 388,000.

Another point during his administration was the poor condition of the state prison. During his eight-year tenure, Hirsch undertook numerous endeavors to improve the condition. A new prison wing with double-row iron cells was built, as well as new solid masonry or palisade. Large and spacious brick shops and foundries were built within these walls. In addition, repairs were carried out, such as the floors, and the brick barn for the entire facility.

Oregon State Insane Asylum in Salem (around 1920)

During his tenure as Treasurer of State of Oregon, he was sitting in the Public Building Commission, the State Asylum Commission, the Canal and Lock Commission and the Board of School Land Commission. His work on the Public Building Commission led to the establishment of the Oregon State Insane Asylum . The design and construction took place during his administration. Great emphasis was placed on prevention, care, economic efficiency and prudent management.

Late years

Hirsch was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen . He died in Salem (Oregon) in 1909 and was then buried in the Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland (Oregon).

family

On May 18, 1868, he married Natalie "Nettie" Davis (1845-1934). The couple had seven children: Ella E. (1868–1918), Gertrude (1870–1934), Lou Lulu (1872–1952), Maude (1873–1935), Leona, Myer (1878–1937) and Guy S. ( 1879-1950).

Hirsch and his wife followed up on social and public concerns.

literature

• Fred Skolnik and Michael Berenbaum: Encyclopaedia Judaica , Volume 9, Macmillan Reference, USA, 2007, ISBN 9780028659374 , p. 133
• JJ Galvin and Frank E. Hodgkin: Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon , Farmer and Dairyman Publishing House, 1882, p. 2
• Joseph Gaston: Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders: In Connection with the Antecedent Explorations, Discoveries, and Movements of the Pioneers that Selected the Site for the Great City of the Pacific , Volume 2, SJ Clarke Publishing Company, 1911, pp. 144
• Thomas William Herringshaw: American Statesman , American Publishers' Association, 1914, p. 510

Web links

• Edward Hirsch on the accessgenealogy.com website
• Edward Hirsch on the website of usgwarchives.net

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Edward Hirsch in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 21, 2015.
2. ↑ Biography of Solomon Hirsch
3. ^ Treasurers of Oregon , Oregon Blue Book
4. ↑ Natalie "Nettie" Davis Hirsch in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 23, 2015.
5. ↑ Ella E. Hirsch in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 23, 2015.
6. ^ Gertrude Hirsch in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 23, 2015.
7. ^ Lou Loomis in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 23, 2015.
8. ↑ Maude Hirsch McMahill in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 23, 2015.
9. ↑ Myer Hirsch in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 23, 2015.
10. ↑ Guy S. Hirsch in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved September 23, 2015.