George Fox Steedman
American businessman and inventor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Fox Steedman (January 5, 1871 – April 28, 1940) was an American industrialist and inventor. He was the president of Curtis Manufacturing Co., a foundry and machine shop. He built Casa del Herrero, a National Historic Landmark in California.
George Fox Steedman | |
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| Born | January 5, 1871[1] St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 1940 (aged 69) Montecito, California, U.S. |
| Education | Harvard University |
| Occupation | Industrialist |
| Employer | Curtis Manufacturing Company |
| Spouse | Carrie Robb Howard |
| Children | Katherine Steedman, Medora Steedman |
Early life
Steedman was born on January 5, 1871, in St. Louis, Missouri.[2] His parents were Medora "Dora" Harrison and Dr. Isaiah George Washington Steedman.[2] His father was a doctor who also had business interests, including the foundry and manufacturing firm Curtis Company, [2] Steedman was the middle of three brothers.[3]
Steedman attended the Manual Training School, followed by Washington University in St. Louis.[2] He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1892.[3] While at Harvard, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon (aka The Dickey Club).[4]
Career
Steedman operated the Curtis Company with his two brothers.[2] The company made saws, air compressors, pneumatic equipment, and saws.[2] Steedman studied machinery, becoming knowledgeable about the design and production.[2] He received more than forty patents for his inventions.[3]
In 1903, Steedman became president of the Curtis Manufacturing Company. The company made a fortune by securing contracts with the American and British governments during World War I.[2][3] Steedman was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and shifted his focus from the business.[5] He retired from Curtis Manufacturing Co. on Armistice Day, 1918.[5]
Philanthropy
In 1926, George Fox Steedman and his sister-in-law, Virginia Clark Weddell, endowed the James Harrison Steedman Traveling Fellowship in Architecture at Washington University wiht $30,000 in memory of his late brother.[3][6][7]
Steedman donated a collection of 600 architectural and allied arts books to the St. Louis Public Library in 1928.[8][7] He amased the book collection duirng a trip to Europe with Louis LeBeaume, a friend and architect.[7] He gave $25,000 so that the public library could construct an addition to house the George Fox Stedman Architectural Collection and also provided $10,000 fund to add to the collection.[7]
Personal life
Steedman married Carrie Robb Howard of St. Louis on June 27, 1903 Christ Church Cathedral.[2][5] They had two daughters, Katherine and Medora.[5] They lived at 34 Westmoreland Place in St. Louis.[6]
In 1922, Steedman purchased eleven acres in Montecito, California.[5][9] He discovered the area earlier that year when visiting his brother James who was receiving treatment for diabetes at the Sansum Medical Clinic.[5] In 1925, George Washington Smith designed a summer home, Casa del Herrero (House of the Blacksmith), for the property.[2][9] The Steedmans moved into the house on the day of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake.[9] The house was decorated with antiques, tapestries, and tiles that Steedman shopped for in Spain in 1923.[9][5] It had elaborate gardens designed by Ralph Stevens and Lockwood de Forest.[2] In 1930, the Steedmans made it their permanent residence.[5]
Steedman took up silversmithing, training with leading silversmith George Gebelein in Boston in 1927.[5] Steedman worked with architect Floyd Brewster to design a workshop on the Casa del Herrero estate in 1930.[10] In his retirement, he used the workshop for metalsmithing, silversmithing, and photography.[5]
Steedman died on April 28, 1940 at his home in Montecito at the age of 69.[2][6] Carrie Steedman continued to live in Casa del Herrero until she died in 1962.[11][2] Casa del Herreo listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.[9][2]