George A. Steel
Encyclopedia
George A. Steel was an American
politician and businessman in the state of Oregon
. A native of Ohio
, he moved to Oregon in 1862 where he became postmaster of Portland
and helped build a railroad line among other business ventures. A Republican, he served in the Oregon State Senate
and as Oregon State Treasurer
.
in the southeastern portion of Ohio. In 1862, he sailed to the Isthmus of Panama
and then traveled on a ship captained by J.D. Merryman to Portland, Oregon. There he first worked at a commission house as a clerk before working in the same position for the post office in Portland in 1865. He then worked for the Oregon Iron Works
followed by the Ladd & Tilton bank for four years as an accountant. On February 18, 1869, Steel married Eva Pope, daughter of Charles Pope.
Steel formed a partnership in the book and stationary business with Joseph K. Gill
to operate Gill & Steel, a predecessor to the J. K. Gill Company, in 1870. The next year they bought part of the Harris & Holman business and later bought out Bancroft & Morse, with Bancroft joining the partnership. Steel bought out his partners, but went bankrupt and sold off the assets. The rest of Steel’s family, which included brother William Gladstone Steel
, moved to Oregon in 1872. Steel continued to work with Gill until 1878, and became the postmaster for Portland in 1881.
In the meantime he was a special agent for the United States Post Office Department (predecessor to the United States Postal Service
) from 1877 to 1879, and from that year to 1880 as a deputy collector at for Customs at the city’s harbor. He served as postmaster until 1885, and was again postmaster from 1889 to 1894. While still postmaster he went into business with his brother James to form G. A. Steel & Company to sell fire insurance. Steel continued with this venture after leaving the post office and later incorporated the Metropolitan Railway Company with his brother. The railroad was an electric line that opened in January 1890 and initially ran from Portland to Fulton Park. Later named the Eastside Electric Railway, the line extended to Oregon City, but went bankrupt in 1898.
, serving two years. He then was elected as chairman of the Oregon Republican Party
’s state central committee in 1876. Steel remained chairman until 1878 when he became the secretary for the committee.
Steel was elected to the Oregon State Senate
in 1886 to represent District 20 in Multnomah County. He served one, four-year term in the legislature spanning two legislative sessions. He returned to the post of chairman for the state central committee in 1894, serving until 1896, and then began service on the Republican National Committee in 1900. He remained on that committee in 1902 and 1904. In 1906, he was elected as the Oregon State Treasurer
and served a single four-year term in office from January 15, 1907 to January 3, 1911.
after his hometown, which also lends its name to Stafford Road in that same area.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and businessman in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he moved to Oregon in 1862 where he became postmaster of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and helped build a railroad line among other business ventures. A Republican, he served in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
and as Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
.
Early years
George Steel was born on April 22, 1846, to William and Elizabeth Lawrie Steel in the village of StaffordStafford, Ohio
Stafford is a village in Monroe County, Ohio, United States. The population was 86 at the 2000 census.Stafford is served by the Monroe County District Library from its administrative offices in Woodsfield, Ohio.-Geography:...
in the southeastern portion of Ohio. In 1862, he sailed to the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
and then traveled on a ship captained by J.D. Merryman to Portland, Oregon. There he first worked at a commission house as a clerk before working in the same position for the post office in Portland in 1865. He then worked for the Oregon Iron Works
Oregon Iron Company
The Oregon Iron Company was an iron smelting company located in what is now Lake Oswego, Oregon. The company was established in 1865, and in 1867, became the first company in the United States to smelt iron west of the Rocky Mountains...
followed by the Ladd & Tilton bank for four years as an accountant. On February 18, 1869, Steel married Eva Pope, daughter of Charles Pope.
Steel formed a partnership in the book and stationary business with Joseph K. Gill
Joseph K. Gill
Joseph Kaye Gill was an American retailer and publisher in the state of Oregon. A native of England, he came to the United States with his parents and settled in Oregon where he managed a bookstore in Salem. Later he entered the business and became the owner of the now defunct J. K...
to operate Gill & Steel, a predecessor to the J. K. Gill Company, in 1870. The next year they bought part of the Harris & Holman business and later bought out Bancroft & Morse, with Bancroft joining the partnership. Steel bought out his partners, but went bankrupt and sold off the assets. The rest of Steel’s family, which included brother William Gladstone Steel
William Gladstone Steel
William Gladstone Steel , called the "father of Crater Lake", referring to the creation of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, United States. A native of Ohio, he worked in the newspaper business before becoming a mail carrier...
, moved to Oregon in 1872. Steel continued to work with Gill until 1878, and became the postmaster for Portland in 1881.
In the meantime he was a special agent for the United States Post Office Department (predecessor to the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
) from 1877 to 1879, and from that year to 1880 as a deputy collector at for Customs at the city’s harbor. He served as postmaster until 1885, and was again postmaster from 1889 to 1894. While still postmaster he went into business with his brother James to form G. A. Steel & Company to sell fire insurance. Steel continued with this venture after leaving the post office and later incorporated the Metropolitan Railway Company with his brother. The railroad was an electric line that opened in January 1890 and initially ran from Portland to Fulton Park. Later named the Eastside Electric Railway, the line extended to Oregon City, but went bankrupt in 1898.
Political career
In 1870, he won election to his first public office, Treasurer of Multnomah CountyMultnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
, serving two years. He then was elected as chairman of the Oregon Republican Party
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
’s state central committee in 1876. Steel remained chairman until 1878 when he became the secretary for the committee.
Steel was elected to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in 1886 to represent District 20 in Multnomah County. He served one, four-year term in the legislature spanning two legislative sessions. He returned to the post of chairman for the state central committee in 1894, serving until 1896, and then began service on the Republican National Committee in 1900. He remained on that committee in 1902 and 1904. In 1906, he was elected as the Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
and served a single four-year term in office from January 15, 1907 to January 3, 1911.
Later years and legacy
Steel and his wife had two children and were members of the First Congregational Church in Portland. George A. Steel died on June 20, 1918, at the age of 72. Steel named an area south of Portland as StaffordStafford, Oregon
Stafford is an unincorporated community, classified as a hamlet, of approximately 2,200 residents in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The community consists of approximately , located in a rough triangle south of Lake Oswego, east of Tualatin, and west of West Linn...
after his hometown, which also lends its name to Stafford Road in that same area.