Jacob Kanzler
Jacob Kanzler was born in Franklin County, Nebraska, on October 23, 1879. He is the son of Henry Michael Kanzler and Mary Elizabeth Koch, who emigrated from the Volga German colony of Kolb in 1878. They arrived in the United States on the steamship Wieland. The Kanzlers became residents of Kearney, Nebraska, where the father has been successfully engaged in the retail lumber business for over forty-five years.
Jacob attended the grammar and high schools in Kearney and, in 1900, entered the University of Nebraska, where he took general academic courses.
Jacob Kanzler (front row, second from the right) at the Delta Upsilon Fraternity at the University of Nebraska in October 1902. Photograph courtesy of Jim Buskirk, grandson of Jacob Kanzler.
In 1905, Kanzler entered Columbia University in New York City, where he pursued a law degree. Upon completing his law course (in 1909), he came to Portland, and in June 1909, was admitted to the bar of Oregon. He gained recognition as a dependable attorney and held many offices of public trust and confidence.
Kanzler subsequently returned to Kearney, Nebraska, and married Grace Julia Hamer. She was the daughter of Justice and Mrs. Francis G. Hamer (Mr. Hamer was a member of the Nebraska Supreme Court). The newlyweds returned to Portland. Two daughters have been born to the Kanzlers: Jane Hamer, a graduate of Washington High School, and Frances Hamer, who is also attending the same school. Jane was selected as the "Perfect Baby" at the Oregon State Fair in 1913 and awarded prizes by Governor Oswald West. Frances was selected as the Rose Festival Queen of Rosaria in 1932.
Kanzler subsequently returned to Kearney, Nebraska, and married Grace Julia Hamer. She was the daughter of Justice and Mrs. Francis G. Hamer (Mr. Hamer was a member of the Nebraska Supreme Court). The newlyweds returned to Portland. Two daughters have been born to the Kanzlers: Jane Hamer, a graduate of Washington High School, and Frances Hamer, who is also attending the same school. Jane was selected as the "Perfect Baby" at the Oregon State Fair in 1913 and awarded prizes by Governor Oswald West. Frances was selected as the Rose Festival Queen of Rosaria in 1932.
Francis Gregg Hamer and Rebecca Almira McCord Hamer - parents of Jacob Kanzler's wife, Grace Julia Hamer. Photographs courtesy of Jim Buskirk, grandson of Jacob and Grace Hamer Kanzler.
Kanzler was a Republican, and a member of the Oregon and Multnomah Bar Associations; Willamette Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Oregon Consistory, No. 1, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine; I.O.O.F.; Knights of Pythias and Loyal Order of Moose. He was an active member of the American Legion and later became a prominent member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
1916, going off to the trenches of World War One. Left to right: Frances, Jacob, Rebecca Elmira McCord Hamer, Grace, and Jane Kanzler. Photograph courtesy of Jim Buskirk.
Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, he became active in shaping public opinion in favor of military preparedness in this country. In the fall of 1916, Kanzler became secretary for Oregon of the National Military Training Camps Association, which later played a crucial role in establishing the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He attended the first of such camps, organized at the Presidio of San Francisco, and in August 1917, was commissioned a captain in the infantry. He was assigned to Camp Lewis, Washington's 361st Infantry Regiment (91st Division). He went overseas with his regiment, where he saw service in France and Belgium, participating in the St. Mihiel drive, the Meuse-Argonne offensive, and the Lys-Scheldt drive. At the close of the war, he returned to Portland and was honorably discharged from the military. In July 1919, he was commissioned as an infantry major in the Officers Reserve Corps of the United States Army. On December 1, 1923, he was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel. He was one of the founders of the Reserve Officers' Association of Oregon and served as its president for two years.
Jacob Kanzler foot locker. Photograph courtesy of Jim Buskirk.
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In 1919, shortly after his return from overseas, Governor Ben W. Olcott appointed Jacob Kanzler as the first judge of the newly created court of domestic relations of Multnomah County. He organized this court along lines that would best serve the needs of juvenile and parental offenders, establishing the court's practice and procedures.
In 1922, Judge Kanzler became one of the Directors of the Volga Relief Society, an organization that helped save the lives of thousands of famine victims in Russia.
After presiding over this court for seven years, having been elected to the office by the people's vote, he resigned to become a vice president of the Northwestern National Bank, serving in that capacity until the bank was acquired by another institution in 1927.
He was later appointed by Governor Isaac M. Patterson as a circuit judge of Department Number 1, Fourth Judicial District at Portland. He succeeded Judge George Rossman, who had been appointed a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. In 1928, Judge Kanzler's name appeared on the ballot as a candidate for the office to which he had been appointed and was nominated at the primaries to succeed himself for a six-year term.
In 1922, Judge Kanzler became one of the Directors of the Volga Relief Society, an organization that helped save the lives of thousands of famine victims in Russia.
After presiding over this court for seven years, having been elected to the office by the people's vote, he resigned to become a vice president of the Northwestern National Bank, serving in that capacity until the bank was acquired by another institution in 1927.
He was later appointed by Governor Isaac M. Patterson as a circuit judge of Department Number 1, Fourth Judicial District at Portland. He succeeded Judge George Rossman, who had been appointed a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. In 1928, Judge Kanzler's name appeared on the ballot as a candidate for the office to which he had been appointed and was nominated at the primaries to succeed himself for a six-year term.
Jacob Kanzler taking a rest while hiking beside one of his closest lifelong friends Willy Gruber. Photograph courtesy of Jim Buskirk.
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Photograph courtesy of Jim Buskirk who provides the following caption: "A favorite photo from 1930. Less than half of the men here are known to me by name. On far left is William Gruber; 3rd from left is Judge Kanzler. The first hatless man to his right is his future son in law Robert Lancefield, who was to become a lieutenant colonel, serving both in World War II and in Korea."
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Jacob Kanzler has been deeply interested in public and civic work throughout his many years in Portland. In 1914, he became president of the Progressive Business Men's Club, taking an active role in establishing Portland's public market, for which he received considerable credit. He served for six years as a director of the Waverly Baby Home and, in 1915, was a director of the Portland Rose Festival. During that same year, he served on the committee that built the trail from Multnomah Falls to the summit of Larch Mountain. Through this latter work, he became interested in the recreational possibilities of the Columbia River Gorge. He initiated and executed the movement through which the federal government created Columbia Gorge Park as a public recreation ground, consisting of fourteen thousand acres of land, extending for some twenty-three miles along the Columbia River Highway, of which Eagle Creek is the approximate center. Continuing his contact with governmental agencies and acquaintances, he was influential in obtaining an appropriation from the United States Forest Service to survey the Mt. Hood Loop road. He also drafted the application for federal aid for this highway, the first application of its kind to reach Washington from any part of the United States under the Federal Aid Road Act.
Jacob Kanzler Monument on the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge. Courtesy of Steve Schreiber.
Kanzler was active in organizing the Portland Opera Association and the Portland Junior Symphony Orchestra Association. For many years, he has been a member of the executive boards of both organizations. He was the president of the Portland Fest Chor.
He was the director of the Portland Americanization Council, treasurer of the Portland Social Turnverein, chairman of the child welfare committee of the American Legion for the Department of Oregon, and of a similar committee of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, A.F. and A.M. In 1925, he was general chairman of the International Christian Endeavor convention held in Portland. In 1927, he acted in the same capacity for the International Fire Chiefs Association convention. He is a past president of the Oregon Christian Endeavor Union and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portland.
As a judge of the Circuit Court of Multnomah County, Jacob Kanzler is highly regarded by both the general public and the legal profession. His enviable record as a lawyer, military officer, overseas veteran, banker, jurist, and public-spirited citizen has gained him the confidence and deep respect of the people of his city and state.
He was the director of the Portland Americanization Council, treasurer of the Portland Social Turnverein, chairman of the child welfare committee of the American Legion for the Department of Oregon, and of a similar committee of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, A.F. and A.M. In 1925, he was general chairman of the International Christian Endeavor convention held in Portland. In 1927, he acted in the same capacity for the International Fire Chiefs Association convention. He is a past president of the Oregon Christian Endeavor Union and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portland.
As a judge of the Circuit Court of Multnomah County, Jacob Kanzler is highly regarded by both the general public and the legal profession. His enviable record as a lawyer, military officer, overseas veteran, banker, jurist, and public-spirited citizen has gained him the confidence and deep respect of the people of his city and state.
Home of Judge Kanzler in the Eastmoreland neighborhood in SE Portland. The photographs was taken in the 1920s. Photograph courtesy of Jim Buskirk. According to Jim, the original photograph bears the undated annotation on the back, "our home and first car," in his mother's handwriting.
Sources
Lockley, Fred. History of the Columbia River Valley from the Dalles to the Sea. Vol. III. Chicago, IL: S.J., 1928. Print.
Scheuerman, Richard D., and Clifford E. Trafzer. The Volga Germans: Pioneers of the Northwest. Moscow, ID: U of Idaho, 1980. Print.
""Perfect Baby" is Shown at Salem. Jane Kanzler Carries off First Honors at State Fair, and She Hails from Portland." The Oregonian [Portland] October 4, 1913, page 6.
"Jacob Kanzler to Get Bench Place. Judge for Court of Domestic Relations Chosen." The Oregonian [Portland], May 30, 1919, page 1.
Jim Buskirk, grandson of Jacob and Grace Hamer Kanzler.
The USGenWeb Project
Scheuerman, Richard D., and Clifford E. Trafzer. The Volga Germans: Pioneers of the Northwest. Moscow, ID: U of Idaho, 1980. Print.
""Perfect Baby" is Shown at Salem. Jane Kanzler Carries off First Honors at State Fair, and She Hails from Portland." The Oregonian [Portland] October 4, 1913, page 6.
"Jacob Kanzler to Get Bench Place. Judge for Court of Domestic Relations Chosen." The Oregonian [Portland], May 30, 1919, page 1.
Jim Buskirk, grandson of Jacob and Grace Hamer Kanzler.
The USGenWeb Project
Last updated October 7, 2025