Sam A. Kozer
Encyclopedia
Sam A. Kozer was a politician who served as Oregon's Secretary of State
from 1920 to 1928. He was a member of the Republican Party
. Kozer also served as the Oregon's first Insurance Commissioner (1909–1911), Deputy Secretary of State (1911–1920), and Budget Director (1928–1931).
to George M. and Cathrine Kozer. He graduated high school in 1888. For money, Kozer would sell local news papers and do odd job
s. He remained in Pennsylvania through his late teen years working of the Pennsylvania Steel Company. After 18 months with the company, he was promoted to the chemical laboratory.
At the age of 19, Kozer moved to Oregon
where he proceeded to work odd jobs. His first two jobs were working on a farm and in a hotel in Gearhart, Oregon
. On February 1, 1890, Kozer was hired as clerk in the Clatsop County recorder's office. Over the next eight years, Kozer worked at multiple other offices in Clatsop County. In 1896, Kozer married Nannie Belcher of Astoria, Oregon
. In 1898, Frank Dunbar, Kozer's boss in the recorder's office, was elected as Secretary of State of Oregon. Kozer was named chief clerk of Dunbar's office.
Frank W. Benson, making him the first person in Oregon to hold that office. Kozer's salary was US$3,000 a year. He was named the Oregon's first Deputy Secretary of State
in 1911. He served under Ben W. Olcott
in that position.
On May 28, 1920, Kozer was appointed to the position of Secretary of State
. He resigned that position on September 24, 1928.
.
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
from 1920 to 1928. He was a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Kozer also served as the Oregon's first Insurance Commissioner (1909–1911), Deputy Secretary of State (1911–1920), and Budget Director (1928–1931).
Early life
Sam A. Kozer was born in Steelton, PennsylvaniaSteelton, Pennsylvania
Steelton is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, three miles southeast of Harrisburg. In 1900, 12,086 people lived here; in 1910, 14,246 people lived here; in 1920, 13,248 people lived here; and in 1940, 13,115 people lived here. The population was 5,858 at the 2000 census...
to George M. and Cathrine Kozer. He graduated high school in 1888. For money, Kozer would sell local news papers and do odd job
Odd job
Odd job may refer to:*"Odd job", work that is not regular or skilled *Odd Job Stores, Inc. , which was bought out by Amazing Savings Holding LLC in 2003, and which subsequently closed in 2005*Odd Jobs, a 1986 comedy film*The Odd Job, a 1978 comedy film*Oddjob, a James Bond villain*Oddjob...
s. He remained in Pennsylvania through his late teen years working of the Pennsylvania Steel Company. After 18 months with the company, he was promoted to the chemical laboratory.
At the age of 19, Kozer moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
where he proceeded to work odd jobs. His first two jobs were working on a farm and in a hotel in Gearhart, Oregon
Gearhart, Oregon
Gearhart is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The population was 995 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,185 residents.- Geography :...
. On February 1, 1890, Kozer was hired as clerk in the Clatsop County recorder's office. Over the next eight years, Kozer worked at multiple other offices in Clatsop County. In 1896, Kozer married Nannie Belcher of Astoria, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
. In 1898, Frank Dunbar, Kozer's boss in the recorder's office, was elected as Secretary of State of Oregon. Kozer was named chief clerk of Dunbar's office.
Political career
In 1909, Kozer was appointed to the position of Insurance Commissioner by GovernorGovernor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
Frank W. Benson, making him the first person in Oregon to hold that office. Kozer's salary was US$3,000 a year. He was named the Oregon's first Deputy Secretary of State
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
in 1911. He served under Ben W. Olcott
Ben W. Olcott
Ben W. Olcott was the 16th Governor of Oregon, U.S.-Early life:Olcott was born in Keithsburg, Illinois. He was educated at a Keithsburg elementary school and a business school in Dixon, later becoming a clerk in Chicago. In 1891, at age 19, he moved to Salem, Oregon, and became a roommate and...
in that position.
On May 28, 1920, Kozer was appointed to the position of Secretary of State
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
. He resigned that position on September 24, 1928.
Later life
After his resignation from the office of Secretary of State, Kozer was named Oregon's Budget Director. Kozer was the head of the auditing department of the state board of higher education. He died on October 12, 1935 in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.