Biography of Hon. Edward Hirsch, 1882; State of Oregon

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Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon
Frank E. Hodgkins & J. J. Galvin
Published: Farmer and Dairyman Publishing House; Portland, Oregon; 1882

Hon. Edward Hirsch

Some one has written "There is a Divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew 
them as we may," and the subject of this sketch is a living exemplification 
of it. When, away back in the "fifties," he lauded a poor boy in the city of 
New York, among strangers in a strange land, and looked about him for honest 
employment in any capacity, how little he dreamed that, as years passed by, 
he would hold the purse-string for the then almost unknown Territory of Oregon, 
when but a few years later she should lay aside her swaddling clothes and emerge 
into the maidenhood of a young but prosperous commonwealth. Such has been his 
career, however, and no man in the State stands higher in the estimation of the 
people than does Hon. Edward Hirsch, our present State Treasurer. He was born at
Wurtemberg, Germany, May 3, 1836, and came to America in 1855. Landing in New York
City, he at once sought employment. Proving unsuccessful, however, he went over 
into the neighboring State of Pennsylvania and secured a clerkship in a store in 
a little town in Mercer county, at the princely salary of $75 per annum. He 
remained there for several months and then went down into Georgia, where he 
remained nearly two years, the greater part of it being spent at Macon. He became 
thoroughly acquainted with Southern life in all its varied forms, and to this day 
bears pleasant recollections of his sojourn in the Sunny South. Becoming imbued, 
however, with the Western fever, he again went north, and in company with his 
brother, Hon. Sol. Hirsch, State Senator from Multnomah county, embarked on the 
steamer "Star of the West," booked for the Pacific slope, via Isthmus of Panama. 
The reached Portland about the middle of April, and a few months later opened a 
retail store at Dallas, in Polk county. They remained there about three years and 
then moved to Silverton, where they carried on a general merchandising business 
three years longer. They then dissolved partnership, and the subject of our sketch 
went to Salem and was employed for some time as salesman in the firm of J. B. and 
M. Hirsch. In 1866, having been elected President and business mamanger of the 
Eagle Woolen Mills, at Brownsville, he went there and remained in charge of the 
enterprise for about two years. In 1868 he returned to Salem, where he has resided 
continuously since. In 1869 he was interested in the mercantile firm of Hermann &
Hirsch, of that city, and in 1876 the name was changed to L. & E. Hirsch. In 1878, 
when the Republican State Convention met in Salem, Mr. Hirsch's name was urged by a 
host of friends as candidate for State Treasurer. The contest was a spirited one, 
but Mr. Hirsch was successful, and a few months later was elected by a rousing 
majority. During the succeeding four years he devoted his entire attention to the 
responsible duties of his office, and so faithfully did he discharge the trust 
reposed in him, he was renominated for the same position by the Republican State 
Convention in 1882 and was again elected by a largely increased majority. His 
honesty, integrity, high social standing and unflinching adherence to the 
principles of the political party he espouses have endeared him to the hearts of
the public. His honesty is proverbial and his popularity immense, having the 
respect of all and the enmity of but few. His liberality is acknowledged, although
many of his acts of kindness are known to none but himself and the grateful 
recipient. He is an able financier, guarding with zealous care the interests of 
the people in all his official acts. Mr. Hirsch is highly respected as a citizen 
of Salem, and fo rtwo terms represented his ward in the Common council of that 
city. He was also Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee in 1876. 
He belongs to both branches of the I.O.O.F. and is P.M.W. of Protection Lodge 
No. 2, A.O.U.W., of Salem. He was married May 10, 1868, to Miss Nettie Davis, 
their family consisting of sevenc hildren. Mr. Hirsch is destined to many long 
years of usefulness, and the people will not fail to take advantage of his 
abilities in the future as they have in the past.