- Robert Williamson Steele
Robert Williamson "R.W." Steele (1820-1901) was the first and only
Governor of the extralegalTerritory of Jefferson that existed in the western United States of America from 1859 to 1861.Early life
Robert Williamson Steele was born near Chillicothe in Ross County,
Ohio , on1820-01-14 . Steele farmed in Ohio until 1846 when he began the study of law atFairfield, Iowa . Steele married Susan Nevin in 1848 atHillsboro, Ohio . Steele graduated from the Law School of Cincinnati in 1852. In 1855, the Steeles moved to Omaha in Douglas County,Nebraska Territory . In 1857, Steele was elected as a Democrat to the Territory of Nebraska House of Representatives to represent Douglas County.In August 1858, news of gold discovered along the
South Platte River in westernKansas Territory reached Omaha. On1859-03-25 , Steele set out for the gold fields with his wife Susan and four children in an ox-drawnprairie schooner . The Steeles arrived at Denver City in May 1859. The following month, Steele moved to Central City where he engaged in mining. Steele served as president of the Consolidated Ditch Company. Steele built alog cabin home along the Ute Trail midway between Denver City and Central City at a place Steele named Mount Vernon in honor ofGeorge Washington , the firstPresident of the United States .Governor
On
1859-09-29 , Steele was nominated forGovernor of the proposedTerritory of Jefferson . At an election on1859-10-24 , the formation of a provisional government was approved by a vote of 1,852 to 280 and Steele defeated J.H. St. Matthew for Governor.On
1859-11-07 , Governor Steele opened the first session of the provisional Jefferson Territorial Legislature in Denver City with the following proclamation:Let us then enter upon our duties with a determination of spirit that conquers all difficulties: working for the benefit of the whole commonwealth, encouraging moderation and conservation in all our acts, that we may never be ashamed of having taken an humble part of the organization of a Provisional Government for the Territory of Jefferson.
Governor Steele called the second session of the provisional Jefferson Territorial Legislature to meet at Denver City on
1860-01-23 .In 1860, Steele formed the Apex and Gregory Wagon Road Company to build a toll road from Denver City to the gold fields at Gregory Gulch. When the Steeles' home at Mount Vernon burned, the family built a new home at Apex on the toll road. The name of the toll road was later changed to the Denver City, Mt. Vernon, and Gregory Toll Road.
Governor Steele attempted to reach accommodation with the officials of the Kansas Territory, which was still the legal government of the region. On
1860-08-07 , Steele issued a proclamation requesting that the Provisional Government of the Jefferson Territory be merged into the Kansas Territory. Kansas officials would have no merger with what they considered to be an outlaw government, so the stalemate continued.On
1860-11-06 , the U.S. presidential election produced a victory forAbraham Lincoln and precipitated the secession of sevenslave states and the formation of theConfederate States of America . These events eliminated any chance for federal endorsement of the Territory of Jefferson and any role in government for Governor Steele, a staunch pro-Union Democrat and vocal opponent of Lincoln and the Republican Party.On
1861-01-26 , Congress passed a bill organizing theTerritory of Colorado . The bill was signed into law by U.S. PresidentJames Buchanan two days later on1861-01-28 . Most citizens of the region welcomed their new government. On1861-06-06 , Governor Steele issued a proclamation declaring the Territory of Jefferson disbanded and urging all employees and residents to abide by the laws governing the United States.Later life
In 1862, the Steeles moved to
Gilpin County, Colorado , and in 1863 the family moved first to Empire and then to Georgetown. In 1865, the family returned toIowa . In 1867, the Steeles moved back to Georgetown where they lived many years before spending their final years in Colorado Springs. Robert Steele died at Colorado Springs in 1901, two days after the death of his wife Susan.Robert Williamson Steele has been called the "Father of Colorado" for his tireless efforts to develop the region.
ee also
*
History of Colorado
*List of Governors of Colorado
*Pike's Peak Gold Rush
*Territory of Jefferson External links
* [http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~rocky/1866_History/pg3.html "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]
* [http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1973/73_1_gower.htm "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]
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