Louis Sohns

Mr. Sohns joined St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and soon became one of its leaders. He was elected nine times to serve on the church's Vestry or leadership team, first in 1870 and the last time in 1889. He continued to be active in church activities throughout the rest of his business and civic career. The close ties Sohns had with St. Luke's rector, Reverend [[Albert S. Nicholson]] were evidenced by the rector's involvement, and Sohns's involvement, in local education development in the community.{{cite book |title=The History of St. Luke's Church |last=Scott |first=Lesla E. |publisher=St. Luke’s Episcopal Church |year=1992}}

Mr. Sohns joined St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and soon became one of its leaders. He was elected nine times to serve on the church's Vestry or leadership team, first in 1870 and the last time in 1889. He continued to be active in church activities throughout the rest of his business and civic career. The close ties Sohns had with St. Luke's rector, Reverend [[Albert S. Nicholson]] were evidenced by the rector's involvement, and Sohns's involvement, in local education development in the community.{{cite book |title=The History of St. Luke's Church |last=Scott |first=Lesla E. |publisher=St. Luke’s Episcopal Church |year=1992}}

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.{{cite web | title=Proceedings of the Convention| url=http://lib.law.washington.edu/waconst/sources/DelegateBios.pdf | access-date=February 22, 2012}}

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.{{cite web | title=Proceedings of the Convention| url=http://lib.law.washington.edu/waconst/sources/DelegateBios.pdf | access-date=February 22, 2012}}

One of the interesting events in the 1870s in which Sohns, as a businessman, landowner, church leader, and Mayor, played a key part was the ‘St. James Mission Land Claim’. In 1853, Catholic Bishop [[Augustin-Magloire Blanchet]] filed a land claim for 640 acres. This was based on an Act of Congress and his interpretation of that law. The law allowed missions to claim their land. The Bishop felt that this included not only the mission land, but that of its parishioners and suppliers. The land claim happened to include most of downtown Vancouver and the Fort Vancouver Reserve, affecting homeowners, businesses, churches (like [[St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Vancouver, Washington)|St. Luke's Episcopal Church]] at the time), and governments. The land claim initiated several lawsuits, with support as well as opposition from high offices locally and nationally. In 1895 the case was settled by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]], basically in favor of everyone except the Bishop. In the meantime, Sohns is credited with negotiating a set of quit claims between local land owners and the Catholic Diocese. While not recognizing the validity of the land claim, it released any claim for specific property for a sum of money.{{cite journal | title=St. James Mission, Cathedral and Church | last=Ransom | first=Victoria | journal=Clark County Historical Society | location=Vancouver, Washington | year=1974}} St. Luke's quit claim on its church property was for $33.33, as an example of the settlement.{{cite book |title=The History of St. Luke's Church |last=Scott |first=Lesla E. |publisher=St. Luke’s Episcopal Church |year=1992}} A prominent local attorney, and member of the parish, [[Joseph M. Fletcher]] also participated in this legal action.

One of the interesting events in the 1870s in which Sohns, as a businessman, landowner, church leader, and Mayor, played a key part was the ‘St. James Mission Land Claim’. In 1853, Catholic Bishop [[Augustin-Magloire Blanchet]] filed a land claim for 640 acres. This was based on an [[Act of Congress]] and his interpretation of that law. The law allowed missions to claim their land. The Bishop felt that this included not only the mission land, but that of its parishioners and suppliers. The land claim happened to include most of downtown Vancouver and the Fort Vancouver Reserve, affecting homeowners, businesses, churches (like [[St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Vancouver, Washington)|St. Luke's Episcopal Church]] at the time), and governments. The land claim initiated several lawsuits, with support as well as opposition from high offices locally and nationally. In 1895 the case was settled by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]], basically in favor of everyone except the Bishop. In the meantime, Sohns is credited with negotiating a set of quit claims between local land owners and the Catholic Diocese. While not recognizing the validity of the land claim, it released any claim for specific property for a sum of money.{{cite journal | title=St. James Mission, Cathedral and Church | last=Ransom | first=Victoria | journal=Clark County Historical Society | location=Vancouver, Washington | year=1974}} St. Luke's quit claim on its church property was for $33.33, as an example of the settlement.{{cite book |title=The History of St. Luke's Church |last=Scott |first=Lesla E. |publisher=St. Luke’s Episcopal Church |year=1992}} A prominent local attorney, and member of the parish, [[Joseph M. Fletcher]] also participated in this legal action.

Perhaps of interest to illustrate normal civic actions of the times, the following entries were documented in a local newspaper in 1879:{{cite news | title= City Briefs | newspaper= Vancouver Independent |location = Vancouver, WT | date= December 4, 1879}}

Perhaps of interest to illustrate normal civic actions of the times, the following entries were documented in a local newspaper in 1879:{{cite news | title= City Briefs | newspaper= Vancouver Independent |location = Vancouver, WT | date= December 4, 1879}}