Bamberger, Simon, 1845-1926

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Simon Bamberger (February 27, 1845 – October 6, 1926) was a German-born businessman and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the fourth Governor of Utah from 1917 to 1921. Bamberger retains the distinction of being the first non-Mormon, the first Democrat, as well as the first, and to date only, Jewish Governor of Utah.

Born in Eberstadt, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, he emigrated to the United States at the age of fourteen, first settling in Cincinnati before moving to Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana and St. Louis, Missouri, establishing a garment manufacturing company with his brother in St. Louis. In 1868, Simon obtained employment with the Union Pacific Railroad as manager of the company store at the “front of construction,” where he remained until the first transcontinental railroad was completed at Promentory Point, Utah, in 1869. After getting word that his business had failed, Bamberger moved to the Utah Territory.

In Utah, Bamberger ran two small hotels and then made a fortune by investing in the Centennial Eureka Mine in Juab County as well as in other Utah and Nevada mines. He built the Salt Lake and Ogden Railway as well as the Lagoon resort in Farmington. He served on the Salt Lake City Board of Education from 1898 to 1903 and the state senate from 1903 to 1913. In 1916, pledging to sign a prohibition bill, Bamberger was elected Governor of Utah. During his term as governor, the Democratic-controlled legislature, with Bamberger’s approval, passed such progressive legislation as creating a Public Utilities Commission and passing a Workmen’s Compensation Act to be administered by a new State Industrial Commission, a Corrupt Practices Act, a Labor Organization Act, and a bill implementing the initiative and referendum process were also passed. The governor also signed a statewide prohibition bill and called a special session of the legislature to ratify the national women’s suffrage amendment.

Bamberger declined to run for reelection in 1920 and returned to his business interests. He died in Salt Lake City in 1926 of an apparent heart attack.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Balser, Hugh L. Hugh L. Balser oral history interview : Tape and transcript, 1976 June 25 [sound recording] / conducted by Jerry D. Lee. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Bamberger Electric Railroad Company. Bamberger family papers. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library
creatorOf Bamberger family papers, 1874-1970 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
referencedIn Bamberger Family photograph collection, 1900-1920 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Photograph Archives
creatorOf Bamberger family. Papers, 1874-1970. Landmarks of Science Microform Service
referencedIn Letters of congratulations to governor-elect Simon Bamberger, 1916. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Julius Bisno Collection, undated, 1780, 1801-1980 American Jewish Historical Society
creatorOf Bamberger, Simon, 1845-1926. Biographies and stock certificate, 1907-1957. Harold B. Lee Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Balser, Hugh L. person
associatedWith Bamberger family family
associatedWith Bamberger family. family
associatedWith Bamberger Family family
associatedWith Bamberger, Ida Maas, 1863-1936 person
associatedWith Bamberger, Jacob, 1852-1928 person
associatedWith Bamberger, Julian, 1889-1967 person
associatedWith Bamberger, Sidney, 1883-1911 person
associatedWith Bingham Mary Copper Company corporateBody
associatedWith Bisno, Julius, 1911- person
associatedWith Penrose, Charles William 1832-1925 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Farmington UT US
St. Louis MO US
Clarion UT US
Salt Lake City UT US
Juab County UT US
Indianapolis IN US
Terre Haute IN US
Darmstadt-Eberstadt 05 DE
Cincinnati OH US
Ogden UT US
Subject
Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce
Governors
Jews
Railroads
Railroads
Occupation
Businessmen
Governors
Philanthropists
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1845-02-27

Death 1926-10-06

Male

Americans,

Germans

English,

German

Information

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