Simon Wolf “nester of American Jewry” Dead at 86

Simon Wolf, 86, formerly United States Minister to Egypt, and for many years a lawyer active in Jewish affairs, died suddenly at the Royal Palace Hotel.

He came here three weeks ago from Washington accompanied by his wife, intending to spend the summer. He suffered from a severe attack of indigestion a week ago, but it was believed was rallying when he was stricken.

Mr. Wolf, who sometimes was referred to as "The Ambassador of the Jews at Washington", was said to be the personal friend of every President, from Lincoln to Harding and was one of the best known men in Washington. He took part in the consideration of every problem that affected the Jews anywhere in the world.

He was born in Hinzweller, Bavaria, and took his law degree at the University of Strassburg. In 1861, he took another degree at the Ohio Law College of Cleveland. Then he moved to Washington to practice law and became the friend of Abraham Lincoln.

President Garfield appointed Mr. Wolf Minister to Egypt in 1881- the last official act of Garfield before he was killed. His first public office, however, was given him by President Grant, who made him Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia.

On account of bad eyesight Mr. Wolf left the post in Egypt and resumed the practice of law in Washington, which he continued until two years ago. Jewish philanthropies, and the presentation of the rights of Jewish before the Government departments, took up much of his time. It is said that he had prevented the deportation at one time and another of 125,000 immigrants.

Mr. Wolf wrote many books among them a biography of M.M. Neah, a biography of Commodere U.P. Levy, and "The Presidents I have known from 1860 to 1918".