George Riley (abolitionist)

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George Putnam Riley (1833–1905) was an African-American abolitionist in the United States. He was referred to as the "Fred Douglass of Oregon" by the Oregonian newspaper.[1]

Poster advertisement for George Riley, 1870.

Early life[]

George Putnam Riley (Geo P. Riley) was a native of Boston born on March 29, 1833. His grandfather was a participant in the Revolutionary War. Riley's father was engaged in the clothing trade in Boston. His mother, Elizabeth Riley, was an active abolitionist.[2] George moved to San Francisco at the age of 16 in the historic Gold Rush of 1949.[3] Several years later he moved to Oregon.[3]

Later life[]

In Portland he was employed by the federal customs department.[3]

In 1869, Riley and twelve other Black men and two white men, organized the Workingmen's Joint Stock Association (WJSA) in Portland, Oregon.[4] Riley was president of the WJSA. They bought property in Seattle (20 acres) and Tacoma on speculation.[4] The land was under litigation at the time of his death, where it had been under litigation for more than 20 years.[5]

In 1887 he moved to Tacoma, Washington.[3]

He died on October 2, 1905. Congressman F.W. Cushman attended his funeral.[6]

Politics[]

Riley was a republican, described as, "the ablest orator among the Republicans of Multnomah County."[7] He was a candidate for legislature, but did not win. In a "card" published in an Oregon newspaper Riley writes:

Portland, May 14, 1878 Editor Standard: -Noticing an article in your paper requesting me to reply to a question as to why I was not indorsed [sic] by the Republican Convention, or rather a clique who assume to be dictators of the party, I have only to remark that while they admit I have the ability, they discarded me on account of color. - Geo. Putnam Riley.[7]

Legacy[]

He had one daughter, Bonita Riley Wright.[8] She was a founding member of the Seattle NAACP in 1913.[9]

In 2004, a housing and commercial development group in Seattle was named in honor of George Riley Putnam. The company has taken its roots since 1983 as a result of the activities of African American businessmen followers of Riley.[10]

Speeches[]

1870, April 7, The Ratification Jubilee, Portland, Oregon.[11]

1870, April 26, "The Colored Citizen and the Ballot" Portland, Oregon.[12]

1871, February 7, "Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Hero of San Domingo" Salem, Oregon.[13]

References[]

  1. ^ "Grant and Wilson". The Oregonian (Morning Oregonian). November 5, 1872. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Riley, George Putnam (1833-1905) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". blackpast.org. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  3. ^ a b c d "PIONEER COLORED MAN PASSES AWAY" (PDF). Tacoma Daily Ledger. October 5, 1905. Retrieved February 20, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b "Attack on Title". The Oregonian (Morning Oregonian). October 9, 1904. p. 6.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "George P. Riley Dead". The Seattle Republican. Vol. 12. October 6, 1905.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Funeral of George P. Riley" (PDF). Tacoma Daily Ledger. October 4, 1905. Retrieved February 21, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b Riley, George Putnam (May 17, 1878). "Card". The state rights democrat.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "George Augustus Wright, Seattle, ca. 1914". digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  9. ^ "1913-1948". Seattle King County NAACP. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  10. ^ Cohen, Aubrey; Reporter, P.-I. (2007-12-28). "Housing group continues mission of pioneering black developer". seattlepi.com. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  11. ^ "The Ratification Jubilee". The Oregonian (Morning Oregonian). April 7, 1870. p. 3.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Broadside: Lecture by Mr. George P. Riley". www.oregonhistoryproject.org. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  13. ^ "Morning Oregonian". The Oregonian (Morning Oregonian). February 6, 1871. p. 2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Sources[]

  • Chandler, J. D. Hidden History of Portland, Oregon. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2013.
  • Moreland, Kimberly Stowers. African Americans of Portland. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2013.
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