Mit Simms

Mit Simms
Simms sometime in the 1910's
2nd State Treasurer of Arizona
In office
January 6, 1947 – January 3, 1949
Governor Sidney P. Osborn
Dan Edward Garvey
Preceded by J. W. Kelly
Succeeded by William T. "Bill" Brooks
In office
January 7, 1935 – January 4, 1937
Governor Benjamin Baker Moeur
Preceded by W. M. Cox
Succeeded by Harry M. Moore
In office
January 5, 1931 – January 2, 1933
Governor George W. P. Hunt
Preceded by Charles R. Price
Succeeded by W. M. Cox
In office
January 4, 1915 – January 1, 1917
Governor George W. P. Hunt
Preceded by David F. Johnson
Succeeded by David F. Johnson
2nd Secretary of State of Arizona
In office
January 7, 1919 – January 3, 1921
Governor Thomas Edward Campbell
Preceded by Sidney Preston Osborn
Succeeded by Ernest R. Hall
Personal details
Born Milton Speer Simms
Aug. 12, 1873
Rockford, Alabama
Died July 22, 1957 (aged 83)
Phoenix, Arizona
Political party Democratic

Milton Speer "Mit" Simms, son of Maria Louisa Speer and Franklin Robert Simms, was born in Rockford, Alabama in 1873 and grew up there.[1] He moved to Arizona Territory sometime before 1902. On December 25, 1902, he married his first wife, Lillian Mary McCabe (1881-1941). No children emerged from this marriage.

On September 12, 1910, he was elected Graham County Delegate to the Arizona Constitutional Convention. There, on December 9, 1910, he signed the Constitution of Arizona. He served as the 2nd Treasurer of Arizona for four non-consecutive terms from 1915 to 1917, from 1931 to 1933, from 1935 to 1937, and lastly from 1947 to 1949. He also served as the 2nd Secretary of State of Arizona from 1919 to 1921. He then served on the Arizona Corporation Commission from 1949 to 1954, and again from 1955 to 1957.

Simms failed runs include one for Governor in 1920, where he lost to incumbent Governor Thomas Edward Campbell in a nationally Republican year. He also ran for Secretary of State in 1936[2] and 1938,[3] but lost in the Democratic primary both times, first narrowly to incumbent James H. Kerby, and the second time to fellow Treasurer Harry M. Moore. Simm also ran for Treasurer in 1942,[4] but lost in the primary to James D. "Jim" Brush in a four-way race, narrowly coming in second.

Throughout his life he was a dry goods salesman, a Graham County recorder, a farmer, and a rancher.

On May 15, 1946, Simms married Sarah Loella Wright.[1] Their marriage lasted until his death. She would live until August 23, 1969.

He died on July 22, 1957, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. His body was then buried on July 25, 1958, in at the Safford Union Cemetery in Safford (Graham County).

References

  1. 1 2 "RootsWeb.com Home Page". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns - AZ Secretary of State - D Primary Race - Sep 08, 1936". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  3. ↑ "Our Campaigns - AZ Secretary of State - D Primary Race - Sep 13, 1938". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  4. ↑ "Our Campaigns - AZ Treasurer - D Primary Race - Sep 08, 1942". www.ourcampaigns.com.

Literature

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