George A. Steel (Michigan politician)

George A. Steel (born June 19, 1862) was a Michigan politician.

George A. Steel
Treasurer of Michigan
In office 1897–1900
Preceded by	James M. Wilkinson
Succeeded by	Daniel McCoy
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 19th district
In office January 4, 1893 – December 31, 1894
Preceded by	William Toan
Succeeded by	Chester W. Martin
Personal details
Born	June 19, 1862 St. Johns, Michigan
Political party	Republican

Early life and education

Steel was born on June 19, 1862 in St. Johns, Michigan. There, Steel received a public school education.[1]

Career

In July 1878, Steel went to Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, where he took the position of bookkeeper and paymaster for the bridge construction firm James McIntire & Company. Steel then moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he worked in the same position for the same firm. In 1879, Steel worked as a paymaster in Nevada during the construction of the Nevada Central Railroad. In 1880, Steel became general paymaster and purchasing agent for the Oregon Construction Company, where he aided in the construction of four hundred miles of railroad in the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Later, the duties were combined, and Steel had full control of the company's finances.[1]

In 1885, Steel returned to Michigan. He became vice president of the St. Johns National Bank that same year. From 1892 to 1893, Steel served as a member of the Michigan Republican State Central Committee. On November 8, 1892, Steel was elected to the Michigan Senate where he represented the 19th district from January 4, 1893 to December 31, 1894.[2] In 1893, Steel organized the Ithaca Savings Bank, to which he became president. In January 1895, Steel formed a firm with F. A. Smith named Steel, Smith, and Company which bought and sold municipal bonds and commercial paper. Steel served two terms as Michigan State Treasurer from 1897 to 1900.[1][3]

Personal life

On January 28, 1885, Steel married Cora Stout. Together, they had two children.[1]

References

1. Michigan Historical Commission (1924). Michigan Biographies: Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Michigan Legislature, Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Education, Volume 2. Google Books.
2. "Legislator Details - George A. Steel". Library of Michigan. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
3. "Former Officials of Michigan" (PDF). Michigan Legislature. Retrieved August 17, 2020.