Jacob Kanzler
Jacob Kanzler was born in Franklin County, Nebraska, on October 23, 1879. He is a 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.
In 1905, Kanzler entered Columbia University in New York City, where he studied law. 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 Supreme Court of Nebraska). The newlyweds returned to Portland. Two daughters have been born to the Kanzlers: Jane Hamer, a graduate of Washington High School, and Frances Hamer, 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.
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 Supreme Court of Nebraska). The newlyweds returned to Portland. Two daughters have been born to the Kanzlers: Jane Hamer, a graduate of Washington High School, and Frances Hamer, 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.
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. 0. 0. F.; Knights of Pythias and Loyal Order of Moose. He was active in the American Legion and became a prominent Veterans of Foreign Wars member.
Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, he became active in molding public opinion on behalf of military preparedness in this country. In the fall of 1916, Kanzler became secretary for Oregon of the National Military Training Camps Association, which was later instrumental in establishing the Reserve Officers' Training Camps. He attended the first of such camps, organized at the Presidio of San Francisco, and, in August 1917, was commissioned a captain of 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. 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 a lieutenant colonel. He was one of the founders of the Reserve Officers' Association of Oregon and was for two years its president.
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 such lines as would best serve the needs of juvenile and parental offenders and established the court's practice and procedure.
In 1922, Judge Kanzler became one of the Directors of the Volga Relief Society.
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 retired from business 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 Supreme Court of Oregon justice. 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 six years.
In 1922, Judge Kanzler became one of the Directors of the Volga Relief Society.
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 retired from business 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 Supreme Court of Oregon justice. 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 six years.
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 present public market, for which he was given much 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 grounds, 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.
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 is 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 is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portland.
As judge of the circuit court of Multnomah County, Jacob Kanzler is held in high esteem by 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 is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portland.
As judge of the circuit court of Multnomah County, Jacob Kanzler is held in high esteem by 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.
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 23, 2023