Effie Simmons
Euphemia Comstock Simmons, known as Effie Simmons, was an American suffragist, politician, and the first woman from Multnomah County to serve in the Oregon House of Representatives. She was the fourth woman to serve in the Oregon House.
Early life
Effie Simmons was born Euphemia Dicken Comstock in Santa Cruz, California in 1874. Her mother's name was Adeline. Her sister Alta had physical disabilities, and Adeline's entire small estate was bequeathed to her for her continued support. Her sister Edna graduated from the San Jose Normal School.Political career
Simmons joined Portland Woman's Club in 1908, and served as its president from 1916 to 1918. In 1912, she supported the club's participation in the successful effort to have the word "male" removed from the voting privileges section of the Oregon Constitution. She later joined the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which became the League of Women Voters.Simmons helped found the Oregon State Suffrage Alliance in 1915. The group worked with the NAWSA to achieve nationwide suffrage. During World War I, she suspended her suffrage efforts to work with the American Red Cross and raise money for liberty bonds. She submitted letters from the front from her son Rouse, who had joined the French army, to The Oregonian. In 1919, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed and she helped convince Governor Ben W. Olcott, along with Alta Smith Corbett and Grace Harbison Torrey to call a special session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly to vote on ratification.
She was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1922.
In 1924 she ran for the Oregon Senate.