Elijah Steele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elijah Steele
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| Judge of the California Superior Court for Siskiyou County |
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| In office November 1879 – June 27, 1883 |
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| Succeeded by | E. Shearer |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the Siskiyou County district |
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| In office December 2, 1867 – December 6, 1869 Serving with John A. Fairchild
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| Preceded by | Thomas H. Steele and J. K. Luttrell |
| Succeeded by | William Shores and R. M. Martin |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 16th district |
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| In office January 7, 1850 – January 1851 |
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| Preceded by | Christopher Latham Sholes |
| Succeeded by | Orson S. Head |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 13, 1817 Watervliet, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 27, 1883 (aged 65) Yreka, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery, Yreka, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Relatives | William Steele (brother) |
Elijah Steele (born November 13, 1817, died June 27, 1883) was an American lawyer and judge. He was also an important early settler in Wisconsin and Northern California.
Steele helped write Wisconsin's first constitution. He also served in the state governments of both Wisconsin and California. Later in life, he became a judge in California.
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Early Life and Education
Elijah Steele was born near Albany, New York. He grew up in Oswego.
He studied law by working in a law office. This was a common way to become a lawyer back then. In 1840, he became a lawyer in New York.
Political and Legal Career
In 1841, Steele moved west. He practiced law in both Illinois and Wisconsin. He was part of the first group that wrote Wisconsin's constitution in 1846. He also served a short time in the Wisconsin State Senate. This is part of the state government that makes laws.
In 1850, Steele traveled to California. He looked for gold in places like Shasta and Yreka. Before becoming a full-time lawyer again, he worked many different jobs. He was an express company operator, a butcher, and a rancher.
Public Service in California
Steele was a leader in the Democratic Party. He actively supported Abraham Lincoln in 1860. In 1867, he was elected to the California State Assembly. This is another part of the state government that makes laws. There, he led the committee that dealt with legal matters.
In 1879, Steele was elected a judge for Siskiyou County. He held this job until he passed away.
Work with Native Americans
In the early 1860s, Steele worked as an Agent of Indian Affairs. This meant he was a government official who worked with Native American tribes in Northern California. He helped create a treaty with the Modoc Indians. This agreement, known as the Valentine's Day Treaty, could have stopped a war. However, the treaty was never officially approved by the government.
During the Modoc War (1872–1873), Steele worked hard for peace and fairness for the Modoc tribe. He faced criticism for this, especially from settlers in Oregon. They wanted the Modoc fighters to be punished.
Personal Life
Elijah Steele was married three times. His wives were Lucia Hart, Louisa B. Hamblin, and Louisa Lanze.
Sometimes, people mistakenly call him "Elisha" Steele. This error started from a mistake in an old California voter list. However, his grave marker and his obituary confirm his name was Elijah.
