George Washington Steele

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George Washington Steele
1st Governor of Oklahoma Territory
In office May 22, 1890 – October 18, 1891
Appointed by	Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	none
Succeeded by	Robert Martin1
Born	December 13, 1839 Fayette County, Indiana
Died	July 12, 1922 Marion, Indiana
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Marietta E. Swayzee
Profession	Lawyer, Soldier, Statesman
Note 1: Robert Martin served as Acting Governor until President Harrison appointed Abraham Jefferson Seay to the Governorship

George Washington Steele (December 13, 1839 – July 12, 1922) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician who twice served as a Congressman for Indiana, from 1881 to 1889 and again from 1895 to 1903. Steele would also serve as the first Governor of Oklahoma Territory.

Contents 1 Early Life and the American Civil War 2 Political Career 3 Governor of Oklahoma Territory 4 Return to Politics 5 Death and Legacy 6 Notes 7 Sources

[edit] Early Life and the American Civil War

George Washington Steele was born to Asbury and Marie Louise Steele in Fayette County, Indiana on December 13, 1839. Steele would receive an educated from Indiana’s public school system and would later go on to earn a law degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. Following the completion of his education, Steele would pass the bar exam and set up a practice in Hartford City, Indiana.

Steele continued his law practice until 1861 with the outbreak of the American Civil War. Indiana stayed loyal to the Union, and Steele joined the 12th Indiana Regiment in the Union Army as a volunteer on May 2, 1861. Steele would later transfer to the 101st Indiana Regiment where he would serve until the conclusion of the war. Steele would serve under Major General William Tecumseh Sherman in his famous March to the Sea. Following the campaign, Steele would be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in July, 1865.

After the Civil War ended in the Union’s favor and the United States restored, Steele would transfer from the volunteer army to the regular army. Steele was promoted to the rank of Major and served in the 14th Regiment of United States Infantry. His commission lasted for ten years, from February 23, 1866 to February, 1876.

[edit] Political Career

Following his retirement from the army, Steele returned to Indiana where he settled in Marion, Indiana and established a business that engaged in agricultural pursuits and pork packing. Steele’s loyalty to the Union led him to join the Republican Party. He would become active in local politics and gained fame enough to win the race to serve as a Congressman from Indiana’s 11th District in 1880. Steele would be inaugurated on March 4, 1883. He would retain his post for eight years, winning reelection in 1882, 1884, and 1886.

After officially leaving office on March 3, 1889, Steele returned to home to Marion. Within a year’s time, on May 2, 1890, the western portion of the unorganized territory of modern day Oklahoma became Oklahoma Territory. Upon hearing reports of disorder and chaos in the new territory, US President Benjamin Harrison wanted a former military officer to serve as the territory’s first governor. President Harrison appointed Steele to the office and on May 22, 1890, Steele was inaugurated in Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory.

[edit] Governor of Oklahoma Territory

Immediately upon coming into office, Governor Steele declared a state of emergency throughout the Territory. This allowed Steele 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 to 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.

[edit] Return to Politics

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. Returning to Marion, Steele would remain a private citizen until he reentered 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 would also serve on Board of Managers of the National Military Home at Marion from April 21, 1890 to December 10, 1904. He would be promoted to Governor of the National Military Home and would serve from December 11, 1904 to May 31, 1915 when he resigned. Steele would remain in office as a Congressman until he left office in 1903 after serving eight years.

[edit] Death and Legacy

Steele would once again return to life as private citizen in Marion. At the age of 83, Steele would die on July 12, 1922 in Marion. He is buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion.

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: Oklahoma University 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.”^[1]

[edit] Notes

[edit] 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).
• Infoplease entry
• Oklahoma State Genealogy

Preceded by Calvin Cowgill	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 11th congressional district 1883-1889	Succeeded by Augustus N. Martin
Preceded by None	Governor of Oklahoma Territory 1890–1891	Succeeded by Robert Martin
Preceded by Augustus N. Martin	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 11th congressional district 1895-1903	Succeeded by Frederick Landis

Persondata
NAME	Steele, George Washington
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	1st Governor of Oklahoma Territory
DATE OF BIRTH	December 13, 1839
PLACE OF BIRTH	Fayette County, Indiana, United States of America
DATE OF DEATH	July 12, 1922
PLACE OF DEATH	Marion, Indiana, United States of America