Burpee Laban Steeves (1868-1933)

  This obscure man is Burpee L. Steeves, a physician who gained political distinction as the Lieutenant Governor of Idaho in the early 20th century. Few biographical sources could be found on Steeves, with the exceptions being a write-up in the Centennial History of Oregon, published in 1912, and a small passage in Volume 8 of the Success Magazine of 1905. Further research has indicated that the "L." in his name stands for Laban (a figure in the Book of Genesis) and that he was a Canadian by birth, being born in the province of New Brunswick on July 7, 1868. His parents, Aaron and Lydia (Steeves) Steeves were also New Brunswick natives.
   At the age of five, Burpee and his family are recorded as moving to Prince Edward Island, where he attended the Prince of Wales College. Steeves embarked upon a teaching career which extended until 1888 when he relocated to Oregon and began studying at the Willamette University at Salem. He graduated from here in 1891 and soon after began pursuing a career in medicine at Willamette University at Portland. He received his medical degree from the latter institution in 1894 and thereafter opened a practice in the town of Silverton. Burpee Steeves married in Salem on April 18, 1893, to Ms. Sarah Fiducia Hunt (1871-1939), with whom he would have one son, Laban Aaron Steeves (1894-1943).
   In 1897 Steeves removed from Salem to Idaho and reestablished his medical practice, "winning a wide reputation and large business" in the process. In 1904 he was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of Idaho on the Republican ticket, serving under Gov. Frank Robert Gooding (1859-1928). Steeve's term lasted two years (1905-1907) and is mentioned in the Centennial History of Oregon as "constituting a most commendable chapter in his life." 

From the Sunday Oregonian, November 10, 1912.

   Steeves returned to the medical profession after his term and in 1909 moved back to Salem, where for the remainder of his life he operated a practice specializing in the treatment and prevention of eye, ear, nose, and throat diseases. Steeves's work in this area earned him statewide repute, and it is noted in the Centennial History of Oregon that "his skill and ability today place him in the foremost ranks in the medical profession, not only of Salem but all of Oregon". Following his resettlement in Salem Steeves is remarked as "having invested heavily in property", and in November 1912  received further political honors when he was elected as the Mayor of Salem for one term. Steeves is mentioned by the History of Oregon as giving Salem "a most businesslike and progressive administration" and shortly after being sworn in in January 1913 announced a ban on smoking in the Salem city council chamber, and also approved eight saloon licenses.
   In the years following his mayoralty, Steeves continued in the medical profession, and in 1918 was elected as the President of the Oregon State Medical Association. He served in this post until 1920. The History of Oregon also lists him as being active in church work and was a parishioner at the local Methodist Episcopal Church. Steeves was also a delegate to that church's General Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1916. Burpee Laban Steeves died at the age of 65 on October 23, 1933, at his home in Salem. He was subsequently interred at the Mount Crest Abbey and Mausoleum in Salem. The portrait of him featured at the top of this article (and one of the few to be found online) was discovered in the earlier mentioned Success Magazine, Volume 8, published in 1905. 

                      This portrait of Burpee Steeves was found in the 1923 work "History of Oregon".