Mit Simms Explained

Mit Simms
Order1:2nd
Office1:State Treasurer of Arizona
Governor1:Sidney P. Osborn
Dan Edward Garvey
Term Start1:January 6, 1947
Term End1:January 3, 1949
Predecessor1:J. W. Kelly
Successor1:William T. "Bill" Brooks
Governor2:Benjamin Baker Moeur
Term Start2:January 7, 1935
Term End2:January 4, 1937
Predecessor2:W. M. Cox
Successor2:Harry M. Moore
Governor3:George W. P. Hunt
Term Start3:January 5, 1931
Term End3:January 2, 1933
Predecessor3:Charles R. Price
Successor3:W. M. Cox
Governor4:George W. P. Hunt
Term Start4:January 4, 1915
Term End4:January 1, 1917
Predecessor4:David F. Johnson
Successor4:David F. Johnson
Order5:2nd
Office5:Secretary of State of Arizona
Governor5:Thomas Edward Campbell
Term Start5:January 7, 1919
Term End5:January 3, 1921
Predecessor5:Sidney Preston Osborn
Successor5:Ernest R. Hall
Birth Name:Milton Speer Simms
Birth Date:Aug. 12, 1873
Birth Place:Rockford, Alabama
Death Date:July 22, 1957 (aged 83)
Death Place:Phoenix, Arizona
Party:Democrat

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 lived until August 23, 1969.

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

References

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

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