George Washington Steele
George Washington Steele | |
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Governor of Oklahoma Territory | |
In office May 22, 1890 – October 18, 1891 | |
Appointed by | Benjamin Harrison |
Preceded by | none |
Succeeded by | Robert Martin as Acting Territorial Governor [note 1] |
Personal details | |
Born | Fayette County, Indiana, U.S. | December 13, 1839
Died | July 12, 1922 Marion, Indiana, U.S. | (aged 82)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Marietta E. Swayzee |
Profession | Lawyer, Soldier, Statesman |
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George Washington Steele (December 13, 1839 – July 12, 1922) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician who twice served as a
Early life and the American Civil War
Steele was born to Asbury and Marie Louise Steele in
Steele continued his law practice until 1861 with the outbreak of the
After the Civil War ended in the Union's favor and with the United States restored, Steele transferred from the volunteer army to the
Political career
Following his retirement from the army, Steele returned to Indiana, where he settled in
After officially leaving office on March 3, 1889, Steele returned home to Marion. Within a year's time, on May 2, 1890, the western portion of the unorganized territory of modern-day Oklahoma became the Oklahoma Territory. Upon hearing reports of disorder and chaos in the new territory, President Benjamin Harrison wanted a former military officer to serve as the territory's first governor. Harrison appointed Steele to the office,[3] and on May 22, 1890, Steele was inaugurated in Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory.
Governor of Oklahoma Territory
Immediately upon entering office, Governor Steele declared a state of emergency throughout the Territory. This allowed him to best use his experience as a military officer. Steele supplemented the orderly processes of government for the Territory's disorderly situation. Unfortunately for the Governor, much of his time was occupied with a dispute with the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature. The Legislature wanted to move the capital from Guthrie, first to Oklahoma City then to Kingfisher. All of these bills were vetoed by the Governor.
Steele also urged the creation of a public school system and universities of higher education in the Territory. Through his work, the Legislature approved and established two universities: one in Norman and another in Stillwater. The Norman Territorial University would become University of Oklahoma, with the Stillwater A&M College becoming Oklahoma State University.
After only seventeen months in office, Governor Steele resigned the governorship effective October 18, 1891. In his place, President Harrison appointed Abraham Jefferson Seay to the governorship. Robert Martin, Secretary of Oklahoma Territory, served as Acting Governor from October 18, 1891, until February 1892, when Governor Seay took the oath of office.
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch
Returning to Marion, Steele remained a private citizen until he reentered state politics in 1894 when he was elected to once again represent Indiana's 11th District in the United States House of Representatives. His term officially began on March 4, 1895.
While in the House, Steele served as the Chairman for the House Committee on Manufactures, during the 57th United States Congress. Steele remained in office as a Congressman until 1903, after serving eight years.
The existence of the Marion Branch was due, in great part to the leadership of George Steele, Sr. of Marion, who represented the 11th Congressional District of Indiana from 1880 to 1890. During his last term, he introduced legislation to establish a branch home in Grant County in the fiftieth session of congress, the measure coming up in December, and for seven months he watched the proceedings. The bill was approved by an Act of Congress and signed by President Grover Cleveland on July 23, 1888, entitled: "An Act to authorize the location of a Branch Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Grant County, Indiana, and For Other Purposes".
Approval of Steele's bill was received with great enthusiasm in Marion, where the local newspaper predicted that the expenditure for the branch would total at least $500,000. News of the bills passing was favorably received in Grant County and on July 30, 1888, a celebration took place and it was estimated that the streets of Marion were thronged with the largest assemblage ever reported in Marion.[4] In early 1890 Steele became the first President of the First National Bank in Marion. However, at the request of President Benjamin Harrison, he took the position of governor of the Oklahoma Territory from mid 1890 to late 1891. Upon his return to Marion in 1894, he was elected Congressional representative for four more terms. Steele also served on the Board of Managers of the National Military Home at Marion from April 21, 1890, to December 10, 1904. On December 11, 1904, Steele became the third director of the Marion Branch, moving to the Director's House on the grounds and serving until his retirement on May 31, 1915.
Death and legacy
Steele once again returned to life as private citizen in Marion. At the age of 83, Steele died on July 12, 1922, in Marion. He is buried there in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Steele's most enduring legacy would not be found in his home state of Indiana or in national politics, but in Oklahoma. He instituted Oklahoma Territory's first public school system, as well as to help establish Oklahoma's premier universities: University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. One observer noted his tenure as Governor: "He was a most capable executive and his unafraid service to the territory must not be minimized."[5]
See also
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Marion Branch
References
- ^ "George Washington Steele". Ancestry.com. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ Everett, Dianna. Steele, George Washington Archived November 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 15, 2013)
- ^ Oklahoma Territory Archived November 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 15, 2013)
- ^ Historical Files, Indiana Room of the Marion Public Library: Marion Daily Chronicle, The Soldiers' Home, October 8, 1888
- ^ Dan W. Peery, "George W. Steele", Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. XII, pp. 383 et seq.; "The First Two Years", Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. VIII, pp. 94 et seq.
- Sources
- Peery, Dan W. "George W. Steele: First Governor of the Territory of Oklahoma". Chronicles of Oklahoma 12:4 (December 1934) 383–392 (accessed August 28, 2006).
- Meserve, John Bartlett. "The Governors of Oklahoma Territory". Chronicles of Oklahoma 20:3 (September 1942) 218–227 (accessed August 28, 2006).
External links