William Hoover Steiwer (September 18, 1896 – January 18, 1972) was an American rancher, banker, and legislator. He served ten years in the Oregon State Senate from 1935 through 1944. Steiwer was a conservative Republican who represented three rural Eastern Oregon counties in the state senate. He was President of the Oregon State Senate during the 1943 legislative session. His election to that post took 45 ballots. Throughout his adult life, Steiwer operated a sheep and cattle ranch in Wheeler County, Oregon. He also served as a director of the Steiwer and Carpenter Bank for many years. Later, he was appointed a director of the Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. In addition, he served as president of both the Oregon Wool Growers Association and the National Wool Growers Associations.
Early life
Steiwer was born on September 18, 1896, in Fossil, Oregon. He was the son of Winlock W. Steiwer and Anne Jeriah (Hoover) Steiwer. He grew up on a large ranch in Wheeler County, near the town of Fossil. His father was a successful cattle and sheep rancher and founder of the Steiwer and Carpenter Bank in Fossil, the first bank in Wheeler County. His father also served one four-year term in the Oregon State Senate from 1892 through 1895."Steiwer, William", Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, January 20, 1972; reproduced in Wheeler County, Oregon Genealogy and History Obituaries and Death Notices website."Steiwer, Winlock W.", Dictionary of Oregon History, Binford &Mort Publishing, Portland, Oregon, 1989, p. 234.
Steiwer attended high school at Portland Academy in Portland, Oregon. His education was based on a classical curriculum. He was also captain of the school's baseball team while at the academy. He graduated in 1915 with a Latin classical degree. After graduating from Portland Academy, Steiwer went on to Stanford University, where in addition to his academic work, he planned to try out for Stanford's baseball team."Girl Holds Prize Record", Sunday Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, August 22, 1915, p. 14."35 Graduates of Portland Academy to Receive Diplomas", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, June 10, 1915, p. 9."Diplomas are Given 35", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, June 12, 1915, p. 2."Oregonians at Last Stanford Band Dance of Year", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, May 6, 1916, p. 2. However, when the United States entered World War I in 1917, Steiwer joined the United States Army. During his military service, he was promoted several times, leaving the Army as a sergeant."William H. Steiwer, 4 June 1917", citing military service, Portland, Oregon, Oregon World War I, Veteran State Aid Applications, 1921–1938, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon; accessed via www.FamilySearch.org on October 25, 2022. In 1917, while still serving in the Army, Steiwer was elected to the board of directors of the Steiwer and Carpenter Bank.Sargent, S. G., "Steiwer and Carpenter Bank", Tenth Annual Report of the State Banking Department of the State of Oregon , Salem, Oregon, 1917, p. 48.
By 1920, he had left the Army and returned to Eastern Oregon. He continued to work at the Steiwer and Carpenter Bank and became involved with community organizations, joining the American Legion and the local Elks lodge.Bennett, Will H., "Steiwer and Carpenter Bank", Thirteenth Annual Report of the State Banking Department of the State of Oregon , Salem, Oregon, 1920, p. 48."Elks' Lodge Growing", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, July 21, 1920, p. 2. During the early 1920s Steiwer also experienced both good and bad events in his personal life. His father died in 1920, so he took charge of his family's sheep and cattle ranch."Former Resident and Native of County Passes", Heppner Herald, Heppner, Oregon, May 18, 1920, p. 1. A year later, on October 15, 1921, Steiwer married Dorothy A. Kerns at the Kerns family home in Portland."Dorothy Kerns Beautiful Bride of Past Week", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, October 16, 1921, p. 39.
In 1927, Steiwer became vice president of the Steiwer and Carpenter Bank.Schramm, A. A., "Steiwer and Carpenter Bank", Twentieth Annual Report of the Superintendent of Banks, State of Oregon Banking Department, Salem, Oregon, 1927, p. 57. Three years later, he was named Wheeler County committeeman on the state Republican central committee."State Republican Committee Named; to Meet July 25", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, July 17, 1930, p. 4. During the Great Depression, he began helping farmers and ranchers secure the loans they needed to stay in business. In 1931, United States Secretary of Agriculture, Arthur M. Hyde, appointed Steiwer to the Oregon Drought Relief Committee. The committee was responsible for organizing an agricultural credit corporation in Oregon to facilitate the farm loan process."Pick Board on Drought Relief", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 9, 1931, p. 1.
State senator
In late 1934, James P. Yates, the District 18 state senator who represented Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties resigned halfway through his four-year term. The state's Republican and Democratic parties were allowed to nominate a replacement candidate to run in the out-of-cycle 1934 general election to replace Yates. Oregon's Republican central committee nominated Steiwer."Locals", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, October 25, 1934, p. 13."Locals", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, October 16, 1934, p. 7. The state Democratic central committee nominated George H. Wilcox of Grass Valley."Asks Filing of Campaign Costs", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, October 23, 1934, p. 10. In the general election, held two weeks after the nominations were filed, Steiwer won the District 18 seat, allowing him to finish the final two years of Yates' four-year term."Neophytes to Run New Legislature Few Veterans Left", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 9, 1934, p. 10.
Steiwer took his seat in the Oregon State Senate on January 14, 1935, representing District 18. He served through the 1935 regular legislative session which ended on March 13. During the session, Steiwer served as chairman of the livestock committee. He was also a member of the assessment and taxation, fishing industries, Insurance, and irrigation and drainage committees."Senate", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, 1935 Regular Session (38th): January 14 – March 13, 1935, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 23, 2022."Walker Heads Ways & Means", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 14, 1935, pp. 1 & 8. He was a leading advocate for a state highway bill that directed the state highway commission to finish the existing highway system before initiating any new highway construction projects."Law Makers Busy at Salem", Gate City Journal, Nyssa, Oregon, February 7, 1935, p. 1. Later that year, the legislature convened for a special session. Steiwer represented District 18 at the special session which began on October 21 and finished its business and adjourned on November 9."Senate", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, 1935 Special Session (38th): October 21 – November 9, 1935, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 23, 2022.
In 1936, Steiwer decided to run for re-election. This time, he was seeking a full four-year term in the Oregon State Senate. He was the only Republican to file for the District 18 senate seat."Many File for Public Office", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 23, 1936, p. 4. On the Democratic side, George H. Wilcox filed for the District 18 position."GOP May Get House Control", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, May 19, 1936, p. 9. However, before the general election was held, Wilcox was forced to withdraw from the race after he moved out of the district."Local News Briefs", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, September 22, 1936, p. 5. As a result, Steiwer was unopposed in the general election and retained his senate seat representing Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties."Democrats Control Oregon House with Senate Republican", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 4, 1936, p. 11.
The 1937 legislative session began on January 11 and lasted through March 8. During the session, Steiwer was appointed chairman of livestock committee. He also served on assessment and taxation, banking, insurance, military affairs, public lands, resolutions, and roads and highways committees."Senate", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, 1937 Regular Session (39th): January 11 – March 8, 1937, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 23, 2022."Senate", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 11, 1937, p. 8.
Since state senators served four-year terms, Steiwer did not have to run for re-election prior to the 1939 legislative session. He took his District 18 senate seat when the session opened on January 9. During the session, he served as chairman of assessment and taxation committee. He was also a member of the livestock, forestry and forest products, irrigation and drainage, resolutions, and revision of law committees. The session finished its business and adjourned on March 15."Senate", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, 1939 Regular Session (40th): January 9 – March 15, 1939, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 23, 2022."Legislature's Committees", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, January 10, 1939, p. 2.
In 1940, Steiwer once again ran for the senate seat in District 18. He was the only Republican to file for the position. In addition, no Democrats filed in District 18 so he was unopposed in both the Republican primary and the general elections."State Political Surprises Occur", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, April 2, 1940, p. 2."Legislature's Control Held", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, November 7, 1940, p. 2.
The 1941 regular session of the Oregon legislature opened on January 13. Steiwer was appointed chairman of the assessment and taxation committee. During the session, he also served as a member of the livestock, elections and privileges, industries, and resolutions committees. The session closed on March 15."Senate", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, 1941 Regular Session (41st): January 13 – March 15, 1841, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 23, 2022."Legislators Assigned Duties", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, January 15, 1941, p. 3. After the session was adjourned, the senate president appointed Steiwer to an interim study committee on industrial development. The committee was directed to review tax laws and other incentive that might help encourage new businesses to locate in Oregon. The results of the study were used by the next legislature to craft laws that helped the state's economy grow."State Senators Named On Interim Service Groups", Roseburg News-Review, Roseburg, Oregon, May 22, 1941, p. 2.
President of the Senate