Robert Williamson Steele
Encyclopedia
Robert Williamson Steele (January 14, 1820–1901) was Governor
of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson, which existed in the western United States of America
from 1859 to 1861, when it was replaced by the Territory of Colorado.
in Ross County
, Ohio
. He farmed until 1846, when he began the study of law at Fairfield, Iowa
. In 1848 he married Susan Nevin at Hillsboro, Ohio
, and graduated from the Law School of Cincinnati four years later. In 1855, Steele moved to Omaha
, settling in Douglas County
of the Nebraska Territory
. He was elected as a Democrat
to the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives to represent Douglas County in 1857.
The following year, news reached Omaha of gold discovered along the South Platte River
. On March 25, 1859, Steele set out for the gold fields with his wife Susan and four children in an ox-drawn prairie schooner. They arrived at Denver City
in May. Steele soon moved to Central City
, where he prospected for gold. He also served as president of the Consolidated Ditch Company. Steele built a log cabin
on the Ute Trail midway between Denver City and Central City; he named the spot Mount Vernon in honor of George Washington
.
of the proposed Territory of Jefferson. On October 24, 1859 the formation of a provisional government was approved and Steele defeated J.H. St. Matthew for Governor.
Governor Steele opened the first session of the provisional territorial legislature on November 7, 1859, with a proclamation:
Steele called for the next session to meet on January 23, 1860.
Also in 1860, he formed the Apex and Gregory Wagon Road Company to build a toll road from Denver City
to the gold fields at Gregory Gulch. It was later renamed the Denver City, Mt. Vernon, and Gregory Toll Road. When Steeles' home accidentally burned, and the family rebuilt at Apex, on the toll road.
Governor Steele attempted to deal with the officials of the Kansas Territory, which was still the recognized government over the region. On August 7, 1860, Steele requested the Provisional Government of the Jefferson Territory be merged into the Kansas Territory. However, Kansas officials refused to agree and the stalemate continued.
won the U.S. presidential election
, which precipitated the secession of seven slave states and the formation of the Confederate States of America
. This ended any chance for federal endorsement of the Territory of Jefferson. Furthermore, as a staunch pro-Union
Democrat
and vocal opponent of both Lincoln and the Republican Party
, R.W. Steele also became a pariah.
On January 26, 1861, the United States Congress passed a bill organizing the Territory of Colorado. It was signed into law by U.S. President
James Buchanan
two days later on January 28, 1861. On June 6, 1861, Governor Steele issued a proclamation disbanding the Territory of Jefferson and urging all residents to abide by the laws governing the United States.
; in 1863 he moved again, first to Empire
and then to Georgetown
. In 1865, he reluctantly returned to Iowa
. Just two years later, he returned to Georgetown. The one time governor spent his last years in Colorado Springs
, where he died in 1901.
.
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson, which existed in the western United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1859 to 1861, when it was replaced by the Territory of Colorado.
Early life
Steele was born near ChillicotheChillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
in Ross County
Ross County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,345 people, 27,136 households, and 19,185 families residing in the county. The population density was 106 people per square mile . There were 29,461 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
, 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 farmed until 1846, when he began the study of law at Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
. In 1848 he married Susan Nevin at Hillsboro, Ohio
Hillsboro, Ohio
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Highland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,605 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hillsboro is located at ....
, and graduated from the Law School of Cincinnati four years later. In 1855, Steele moved to Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, settling in Douglas County
Douglas County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile . There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile...
of the Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
. He was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives to represent Douglas County in 1857.
The following year, news reached Omaha of gold discovered along the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
. On March 25, 1859, Steele set out for the gold fields with his wife Susan and four children in an ox-drawn prairie schooner. They arrived at Denver City
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
in May. Steele soon moved to Central City
Central City, Colorado
Central City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...
, where he prospected for gold. He also served as president of the Consolidated Ditch Company. Steele built a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
on the Ute Trail midway between Denver City and Central City; he named the spot Mount Vernon in honor of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
Territorial Governor
On September 29, 1859, Steele was nominated for GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the proposed Territory of Jefferson. On October 24, 1859 the formation of a provisional government was approved and Steele defeated J.H. St. Matthew for Governor.
Governor Steele opened the first session of the provisional territorial legislature on November 7, 1859, with a proclamation:
Steele called for the next session to meet on January 23, 1860.
Also in 1860, he formed the Apex and Gregory Wagon Road Company to build a toll road from Denver City
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
to the gold fields at Gregory Gulch. It was later renamed the Denver City, Mt. Vernon, and Gregory Toll Road. When Steeles' home accidentally burned, and the family rebuilt at Apex, on the toll road.
Governor Steele attempted to deal with the officials of the Kansas Territory, which was still the recognized government over the region. On August 7, 1860, Steele requested the Provisional Government of the Jefferson Territory be merged into the Kansas Territory. However, Kansas officials refused to agree and the stalemate continued.
The end of the Territory of Jefferson
On November 6, 1860, Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
won the U.S. presidential election
United States presidential election, 1860
The United States presidential election of 1860 was a quadrennial election, held on November 6, 1860, for the office of President of the United States and the immediate impetus for the outbreak of the American Civil War. The nation had been divided throughout the 1850s on questions surrounding the...
, which precipitated the secession of seven slave states and the formation of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. This ended any chance for federal endorsement of the Territory of Jefferson. Furthermore, as a staunch pro-Union
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and vocal opponent of both Lincoln and the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, R.W. Steele also became a pariah.
On January 26, 1861, the United States Congress passed a bill organizing the Territory of Colorado. It was signed into law by U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
two days later on January 28, 1861. On June 6, 1861, Governor Steele issued a proclamation disbanding the Territory of Jefferson and urging all residents to abide by the laws governing the United States.
Later years
In 1862, Steele moved to Gilpin County, ColoradoGilpin County, Colorado
Gilpin County is the second least extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Gilpin County was named after Colonel William Gilpin, the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado. The county population was 4,757 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Central City...
; in 1863 he moved again, first to Empire
Empire, Colorado
The historic Town of Empire is a Statutory Town located in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The population was 355 at the U.S. Census 2000. The town is a former mining settlement that flourished during the Colorado Silver Boom in the late 19th century. It is located in the valley Clear...
and then to Georgetown
Georgetown, Colorado
The historic town of Georgetown is a Territorial Charter Municipality that is the county seat of Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains was established in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush...
. In 1865, he reluctantly returned to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Just two years later, he returned to Georgetown. The one time governor spent his last years in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, where he died in 1901.
Legacy
Steele has been called the Father of Colorado for his tireless efforts to develop the then frontier region. His 1867 home survives and is on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
See also
- History of ColoradoHistory of ColoradoThe human history of Colorado extends back more than 13,000 years. The region that is today the state of Colorado was first inhabited by Native Americans...
- List of Governors of Colorado
- Pike's Peak Gold Rush
- Territory of Jefferson
External links
- History of Denver by J. E. Wharton with a Full and Complete Business Directory by D. O. Wilhelm (Denver, 1866) Transcribed by Leona L. Gustafson
- "Gold Fever in Kansas Territory: Migration to the Pike's Peak Gold Fields, 1858-1860" by Calvin W. Gower, Kansas Historical Quarterly, Spring, 1973 (Vol. 39, No. 1), pages 58 to 74