Winlock W. Steiwer
Encyclopedia
Winlock W. Steiwer was an American
banker, rancher, and politician
in the state of Oregon
. Born in the Willamette Valley
, he made his name in Eastern Oregon
as the founder of a bank and as county judge. A Republican, he twice served in the Oregon State Senate
and was involved in the Oregon land fraud scandal
.
, to Frederick and Susan Looney Steiwer on August 7, 1852. His nephew was U.S. Senator Frederick Steiwer
. He was educated in the local schools there before he enrolled at Willamette University
in Salem
where he graduated from in 1871. After briefly working as a teacher, he moved to Eastern Oregon
.
In Eastern Oregon Steiwer became a rancher and a banker. On July 14, 1886, he married Annie Jeriah Hoover, and they had five children together, including William Hoover Steiwer who would serve as President of the Oregon Senate. After accumulating a fortune in the cattle business, he sold out and moved to Fossil
. He established the first bank in Wheeler County
in 1912 with George S. Carpenter in the that town. Steiwer also owned and operated a mercantile in Fossil until 1910. That year he moved to Portland
, but still was part owner of the bank he helped found.
, serving until 1890. In 1892, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate
to represent Gilliam, Wasco
, and Sherman
counties. A member of the Republican Party, he served during both the 1893 and 1895 legislative sessions in Salem. In 1901, he returned to the Senate after winning a new four-year term. After reapportionment, he represented District 21 composed of Sherman, Wasco, Gilliam, Grant, and Wheeler counties in the 1903 legislature.
along with John Hicklin Hall
and Binger Hermann
among others. Steiwer had served as president of the Butte Creek Land, Livestock and Lumber Company that had illegally acquired land in Wheeler County. He pled guilty and was not sentenced after he testified against Hall and Edwin Mays. Steiwer had been pressured by Hall to support Charles William Fulton
in his election by the state senate to the United States Senate in order to secure continued appointment of Hall as U.S. District Attorney for Oregon.
Winlock Steiwer died of pyonephrosis
in Portland on July 18, 1920, at the age of 67.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
banker, rancher, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
. Born in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
, he made his name in Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
as the founder of a bank and as county judge. A Republican, he twice 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 was involved in the Oregon land fraud scandal
Oregon land fraud scandal
The Oregon land fraud scandal of the early 20th century involved U.S. government land grants in the U.S. state of Oregon being illegally obtained with the assistance of public officials. Most of Oregon's U.S. congressional delegation received indictments in the case: U.S. Senator John H....
.
Early life
Winlock Steiwer was born in Marion County, OregonMarion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
, to Frederick and Susan Looney Steiwer on August 7, 1852. His nephew was U.S. Senator Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer was an American politician and lawyer in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he was county district attorney and member of the Oregon State Senate from Eastern Oregon and a veteran of World War I. A Republican, he was elected to the United States Senate and served there...
. He was educated in the local schools there before he enrolled at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
where he graduated from in 1871. After briefly working as a teacher, he moved to Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
.
In Eastern Oregon Steiwer became a rancher and a banker. On July 14, 1886, he married Annie Jeriah Hoover, and they had five children together, including William Hoover Steiwer who would serve as President of the Oregon Senate. After accumulating a fortune in the cattle business, he sold out and moved to Fossil
Fossil, Oregon
Fossil is a city in and the county seat of Wheeler County, Oregon, United States. The name was chosen by the first postmaster, Thomas B. Hoover, who had found some fossil remains on his ranch. The population was 473 at the 2010 census.- History :...
. He established the first bank in Wheeler County
Wheeler County, Oregon
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,547 people, 653 households, and 444 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile . There were 842 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile...
in 1912 with George S. Carpenter in the that town. Steiwer also owned and operated a mercantile in Fossil until 1910. That year he moved to 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...
, but still was part owner of the bank he helped found.
Political career
In 1886, he became the judge for Gilliam CountyGilliam County, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,915 people, 819 households, and 543 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,043 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, serving until 1890. In 1892, he 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,...
to represent Gilliam, Wasco
Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe who lived on the south side of the Columbia River. In 2010, its population was 25,213...
, and Sherman
Sherman County, Oregon
Sherman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Union general in the American Civil War. In 2010, its population was 1,765. The seat of the county is Moro. The largest city is Wasco....
counties. A member of the Republican Party, he served during both the 1893 and 1895 legislative sessions in Salem. In 1901, he returned to the Senate after winning a new four-year term. After reapportionment, he represented District 21 composed of Sherman, Wasco, Gilliam, Grant, and Wheeler counties in the 1903 legislature.
Land fraud scandal
In 1905, he was indicted for his role in the Oregon land fraud scandalOregon land fraud scandal
The Oregon land fraud scandal of the early 20th century involved U.S. government land grants in the U.S. state of Oregon being illegally obtained with the assistance of public officials. Most of Oregon's U.S. congressional delegation received indictments in the case: U.S. Senator John H....
along with John Hicklin Hall
John Hicklin Hall
John Hicklin Hall was a politician and attorney in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of the Portland area, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives in the early 1890s before appointment as the United States District Attorney for Oregon...
and Binger Hermann
Binger Hermann
Binger Hermann was an American attorney and politician in Oregon. A native of Maryland, he immigrated to the Oregon Territory with his parents as part of the Baltimore Colony. Hermann would serve in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly and as a Republican in the United States Congress...
among others. Steiwer had served as president of the Butte Creek Land, Livestock and Lumber Company that had illegally acquired land in Wheeler County. He pled guilty and was not sentenced after he testified against Hall and Edwin Mays. Steiwer had been pressured by Hall to support Charles William Fulton
Charles William Fulton
Charles William Fulton was an American lawyer and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he grew up in Iowa and Nebraska before settling in Astoria, Oregon...
in his election by the state senate to the United States Senate in order to secure continued appointment of Hall as U.S. District Attorney for Oregon.
Winlock Steiwer died of pyonephrosis
Pyonephrosis
Pyonephrosis is an infection of the renal collecting system. Pus collects in the renal pelvis and causes distension of the kidney.It can cause kidney failure.-Causes:...
in Portland on July 18, 1920, at the age of 67.
External links
- One by One - Oregon & California lands