George Anson Pease

George Anson Pease (September 30, 1830 – January 22, 1919) was a steamboat captain in the Pacific Northwest region on the United States, who was active from the earliest days of steamboat navigation on the Willamette River in the 1850s. He worked in various roles until the early 1900s, commanding numerous vessels during that time. During a flood in 1861, while in command of the sternwheeler Onward, Pease rescued 40 people from a flood in the area of Salem, Oregon.

Family George Anson Pease was born at Stuyvesant Landing, Columbia County, New York State, on September 30, 1830. His father was Norman Pease (b. 1805; d. Jan 4, 1847, age 43), who was an architect and builder in New York State.

Elk was built in 1857 at Canemah, Oregon, by Capt. Christian E. Sweitzer, François X. Matthieu, George A. Pease, and John Marshall

In 1858, with others Pease bought Elk, and, in 1860, Onward

During the great flood of the Willamette River in November and December 1861, which among other things destroyed Champoeg and Linn City the steamer Onward, under Captain Pease, was able to run through the streets of Salem to rescue people. For Onward this started out as a routine upriver journey from Canemah. The river was cluttered with debris from riverside houses and landings that had been washed downstream by the flood. By the time Onward reached Salem, her ordinary commercial operation turned into one of rescuing people from the flooded city.

In 1863, Pease built a new independent steamer, also named Enterprise, at Canemah, Oregon. The new Enterprise was launched in November 1863, and ran independently for a short time under Pease.

Pease become connected with the People's Transportation Company in 1865. On Friday, March 8, 1889, the pilots and the engineers appointed three men each to negotiate with the company, with George Pease being one of men selected by the pilots. and Harriet M. Pease Colbert (1861–1948), both of whom were married and had children as of 1904.

Pease also belonged to the Pioneers' Association of Oregon and Historical Society, the Masters and Pilots' Association of United States Steam Vessels, and of the American Brotherhood of Steamboat Captains and Pilots.

Around the state in the summer of 1861, flag poles were being set up in various towns, on which the national colors were hoisted. Confederate sympathizers in Oregon, referred to derogatorily as "secesh" by opposing Unionists, occasionally replaced the flag of the Union with that of the Confederacy. Interment was at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City.

Vessels commanded, built, or piloted The following is a non-exclusive list of vessels owned (in whole or in part) commanded, built or piloted by George A. Pease. All were sternwheel river steamers, except as stated: Active. Alert Bonita (1875). Canemah (sidewheeler) Dixie Thompson. Elk E.N. Cooke. Emma Hayward. Enterprise (1860) Enterprise (1863) Onward (1858) Oregon (sidewheeler 1852) Pioneer, steam tug. Rival Senator. Success. Welcome.