Robert Williamson Steele

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Robert Williamson "R.W." Steele (1820-1901) was the first and only Governor of the extralegal United States Territory of Jefferson from 1859 to 1861.

Contents

[edit] Early Life

Robert Williamson Steele was born near Chillicothe in Ross County, Ohio, on 1820-01-14. Steele farmed in Ohio until 1846 when he began the study of law at Fairfield, Iowa. Steele married Susan Nevin in 1848 at Hillsboro, 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 western Kansas Territory reached Omaha. On 1859-03-25, Steele set out for the gold fields with his wife Susan and four children in an ox-drawn prairie 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 a log cabin home along the Ute Trail midway between Denver City and Central City at a place Steele named Mount Vernon in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States.

[edit] Governor

On 1859-09-29, Steele was nominated for Governor of the proposed Territory of Jefferson. At an election on 1859-10-24, 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 one mile farther north 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 Provisonal 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 for Abraham Lincoln and precipitated the succession of seven slave states and the formation of the Confederate 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 the Territory of Colorado. The bill was signed into law by U.S. President James Buchanan two days later on 1861-01-28. Most citizens of the region welcomed their new government. On 1861-06-06, 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.

[edit] 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 to Iowa. 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.

[edit] References

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