Biographies of the Governors of the Territory and State of Oklahoma

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Biographies of the Governors of the Territory and State of Oklahoma Territorial Governors George Washington Steele, the first Territorial Governor, was born December 13, 1839, in Fayette County, Indiana. He read law and was admitted to the bar after he had completed his studies at Ohio Wesleyan University. Leaving his law practice in Hartford City, Indiana, he volunteered for service in the Union Army and served throughout the Civil War. Then he returned home and entered business at Marion, Indiana. As a Republican he served his locality in Congress from March 4, 1883, to March 3, 1889. Probably his Army experience as an officer influenced President Harrison in selecting him as the initial Governor of Okla homa Territory. He took the oath of office on May 22, 1890, in Guthrie and found his hands full trying to bring order out of the chaotic legislative fights that he encounter- ed. The school systems, including three colleges, and the State Library were established in the course of his term. He resigned effective October 18, 1891, and returned to Indiana. There he continued in public service until shortly before his death in Marion on July 12,1922. Robert Martin, Secretary of the Territory, served as Acting Governor from November 8, 189 I, when Mr. Steele left for Indiana, until February I, 1892 when Governor Seay took office. Martin was born in Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania in 1833. After a law career in Ohio, Martin moved to Wichita, Kansas and then to Harrison in Oklahoma Territory in April 1889. He was instrumental in activity leading to adoption of the Organic Act and after moving to EI Reno he was named Secretary of the Territory. In later political life, he became mayor of Guthrie and he died there March 2, 1897 and was buried in Summit View Cemetery just north east of Guthrie. Abraham Jefferson Seay, a native of Amherst Court House, Amherst County, Virginia, was born November 28, 1832. Three years later his family moved to Osage County, Missouri, where he made valiant efforts to educate himself while assisting in caring for his ten brothers and sisters. He read law and was admitted to the bar in 1861. He also served during the entire Civil War and became a colonel in the Union Army by the end of the fighting. He returned to Missouri and alternated between private practice and ser ving as district judge. Later he became President of the First National Bank of Rolla, Missouri, an office he held until his death. In the course of that time he served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma Terri tory, from which office he was advanced to the governorship. He took office February I, 1892, and served until May 7, 1893. He centered his business and banking activities in Kingfisher thereafter, and was interred in its cemetery after his death on December 22, 1915. 39 .

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