Page 295 - PGM Compendium

In 1861, at the age of 34, Sohns was elected Treasurer of Clark County, and served for two years
in that position. In 1864 Sohns was elected as the ‘Councilman’ for Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat,
serving in the Washington Territory Legislature. In 1865, Sohns was again elected Treasurer of
Clark County.

In 1875 Louis Sohns was elected Mayor of Vancouver, after having already served on the city
council and various civic committees. He served four years, but returned in 1889 to serve another
two years as Mayor. Sohns also served on the Washington Territory Legislature, and was a
delegate for the Vancouver area to the State Constitutional Convention in 1889, serving on the
Preamble and Bill of Rights, Apportionment and Representation, Revenue and Taxation, and Rules
committees of the Convention.

In 1886, the Washington Territory Legislature established the State School for Defective Youth in
Vancouver, Washington. The act established a "school for the deaf, mute, blind, and feeble
minded". Louis Sohns and Charles Brown raised money from local civic leaders, purchased
property, and built buildings for the school. They were also added as trustees for the school. Years
later the schools were separated into a State School for the Deaf and the Washington School for
the Blind. Louis Sohns retired from his active business interests at Sohns and Sons in 1892.
Although his health was failing, he continued to be active in civic and personal affairs until his
death in 1901.

It was said of M⸫W⸫ B Sohns: “True it is said that he has prospered, but he has not selfishly
hoarded his gains but has with an unstinting hand promoted the interests of the community, striven
to anticipate their wants and labored hard to add beauty to their surroundings. The noble building
on Main Street, Vancouver, is a witness to his public spirit, the new Masonic Hall is evidence of
his fraternal feeling, and general rumor is the only indicator of his unassuming generosity.”

Louis Sohns was elevated to the rank and station of Grand Master of Masons in the Washington
Territory in 1880.