George Riley (abolitionist)

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]

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.
  2. "Riley, George Putnam (1833-1905) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". blackpast.org. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  3. "PIONEER COLORED MAN PASSES AWAY" (PDF). Tacoma Daily Ledger. October 5, 1905. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  4. "Attack on Title". The Oregonian (Morning Oregonian). October 9, 1904. p. 6.
  5. "George P. Riley Dead". The Seattle Republican. 12. October 6, 1905.
  6. "Funeral of George P. Riley" (PDF). Tacoma Daily Ledger. October 4, 1905. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  7. Riley, George Putnam (May 17, 1878). "Card". The state rights democrat.
  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.
  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.

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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