William Lindsay Steele (1814 - 1870)

Born 30 Mar 1814 in Daviess, Indiana

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy Logan McClelland — married 14 Sep 1837 in Huntington, Indiana

Descendants

Died 23 Oct 1870 at age 56 in Clear Creek, Huntington, Indiana

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Biography

• Son of James Armstrong Steele (1784–1855) & Anna Belle Johnston (1788–1862), who were married in 1805 in Bourbon County, Kentucky
• Middle name alternates: Lindsay, Lindsey, "Lenzey"
• Portions of what is now known as Daviess/Davis County, Indiana, were previously known as Knox County.

• Siblings:
  • Ninian Charles Steele 1807– , m. Harriet N Olmstead in 1836
  • Margaret Ella Steele Modrell 1808–1851
  • Jane Armstrong Steele Burk 1811–1845
  • William Lindsay Steele 1814–1870
  • Elizabeth Ann Steele Snoddy 1816–1889
  • Martha Tabitha Steele Rho(a)des 1818–1860
  • John Johnston Steele 1821–1898
  • Samuel Hamilton Steele 1823–1861
  • Mary Ellen Steele Ladd 1826–1905
  • Nancy Matilda Steele 1828–1841 ‡
  • Dr. Armstrong Thomas Steele 1833–1884

• Married Nancy Logan McClelland (1813-1898) in Huntington on 14 Sep 1837. The couple settled initially in Logansport, then in Owen County. Children:
  • James McClelland Steele 1838–1892, m. 1838 to Harriett Bromley Hoyt. Served in the Civil War. Harriett d. 1882. Married for the second time in 1890 to Emma Ager.
  • Spear Spencer Steele 1840–1926, m. Nancy McGuire. Served in the Civil War.
  • Caroline Cecilia "Carrie" Steele 1841–1923. Born at the "Rock House" hotel, Huntington. Married 1861 to James William Cail ^[1]. Seven children.
  • John Samuel Steele 1843–1922
  • Edwin Beecher Steele 1844–1920, m. 1870 to Clara E Marshall. Served in the Civil War. One child died early.
  • Sarah Catherine Steele 1846–1850 ‡
  • Anna Ella Steele McCombs 1847–1924, m. 1873 to John Martin McCombs (1852-1917)
  • Margaret Ellen Steele 1850–1851 ‡
  • Harriet 'Hattie' Belle Steele Anglemyre 1852–1940
  • William Irvin Steele 1854–1920, m. Mary Weaver. One child, Nettie May Steele 1883-1983. Mary Jane Bone Roth (1920-1999) was Nettie May's daughter.
  • Charles Howe Steele 1856–1946, m. in 1881 to Anna Melissa Brown (1860- )

• Arrived in Huntington County about 1840, and resided there until his death. In the early years they were proprietors of the "Rock House" hotel, which previously stood on the site of the Carnegie Library in Huntington. (By that time, it was owned by a syndicate of investors.) Subsequently they lived in a private home which previously stood on the site of what is now the Dan Quayle Museum. After this he acquired the farm propety in Clear Creek Twp., where he lived the rest of his life.
• Before the war, his usual occupation was as a carpenter and cabinet/furniture maker, as well as farming. He sometimes made coffins and worked as undertaker.
• William L. Steele was an accomplished musician. He conducted several singing schools and also played in bands. He taught all of his children to read music and to sing. His Aunt Margaret Steele has married the Rev. John M. Dickey, early Presbyterian minister in southern Indiana, who was famous as a teacher of vocal music.
• Converted from Methodist to Presbyterian, presumably at the behest of his wife. Founding member of the First Presbyterian Church of Huntington in 1843, and elected a ruling elder at that time.
• Veteran of service in the Civil War: Enlisted as a Union army Private on 29 December 1863 at the age of 49: Company D, 130th Infantry Regiment Indiana. William enlisted the same day as his son James McClelland Steele, and they apparently served in the same company. William was discharged a Private on 08 May 1865. He had been badly injured in action at Kingston, Bartow, Georgia.
• A badly injured right foot in the war left him disabled from working after 1865. He suffered from chronic stomach ailments, and use of patent medicines. His younger brother, Dr. A T Steele attempted to treat him on visits to Huntington.
• Died 23 Oct 1870 in Clear Creek, Huntington, Indiana. He developed pneumonia after fighting a fire on his farm. Buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ The Huntington (Indiana) Herald, Saturday, 18 Nov 1922, pp. 1, 8 newspapers.com 40264678. Carrie was apparently the first person of European descent born in Huntington County.
2. ↑ Mt Hope, Sec C, Lot 20 Blk 8. GPS: 40.876557, -85.517556

• 1850 United States Federal Census. Year: 1850; Census Place: District 52, Huntington, Indiana; Roll: M432_152; Page: 15B; Image: 35. William L Steel 36 b. Indiana and Nancy L W Steel 36 b. Kentucky, living with eight children, including John S Steel 7 b. Indiana
• 1870 United States Federal Census. Year: 1870; Census Place: Clear Creek, Huntington, Indiana; Roll: M593_325; Page: 9A; Family History Library Film: 545824. Wm L Steele 55 and Nancy L Steele 56
• U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865. William L. Steele, Side Union, Regiment State/Origin Indiana, 130th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D, Rank In Private, Rank Out Private, Film Number M540 roll 73.
• U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007; Record Group Number: 15; Series Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. William L Steele (L. 130. Ind. Inf.) filed as an Invalid on 9 Oct 1865. Nancy L Steele filed as his widow on 21 Nov 1873.
• Israel's Triumph: The Presbyterian Church Dedicated. Huntington Weekly Herald, Tue, 27 Mar 1894, p.3. Details the history of the First Presbyterian Church.
• Obituary, William L Steele, The Indiana Herald (Huntington). Wed, 23 Nov 1870, p.3
• Find A Grave: Memorial #73511511
  • Mount Hope Cemetery, GPS: 40.876557, -85.517556
• Newspaper article; Biography; Family history: Huntington (Indiana) Herald-Press, 4 Feb 1937, pp. 1 & 5, author not indicated.

Steele Family Head Observes 85th Birthday

On the occasion of her 85th birthday, Hattie was the subject of an extensive newspaper article, detailing her biography, and the Steele family history. See images. See text

• U.S., American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866:

Regiment 130th Infantry Regiment Indiana

Date of Organization 1 Dec 1863

Muster Date 2 Dec 1865

Regiment State Indiana

Regiment Type Infantry

Regiment Number 130th

Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded 2

Officers Died of Disease or Accident 1

Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded 36

Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident 146

Battles Fought on 9 Mar 1864 at Kinston, NC.

Fought on 30 Jun 1864 at Marietta, GA.

Fought on 21 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 22 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 23 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 28 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 30 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 3 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 5 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 6 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 3 Sep 1864.

Fought on 15 Oct 1864 at Tennessee.

Fought on 27 Nov 1864 at Tennessee.

Fought on 27 Nov 1864 at Piney Creek, TN.

Fought on 27 Nov 1864 at Centerville, TN.

Fought on 2 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN.

Fought on 15 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN.

Fought on 16 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN.

Fought on 12 Jun 1865.

Regiment History One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry INDIANA (3-YEARS)

One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry. -- Col., Charles S.

Parrish; Lieut.Cols., James R. Bruner, Elijah W. Penny; Majs.,

Joseph W. Purviance, Elijah W. Penny, Jesse Butler.

This regiment was organized at Kokomo during the winter of

1863-64, and was mustered in March 12. It left the state on

the 16th for Nashville, Tenn., where it was assigned to the

2nd brigade, 1st division, 23rd corps.

It left Nashville April 5 and marched to Charleston, Tenn.,

reaching there on the 24th. On May 3 it moved to Georgia,

engaging in the affair at Rocky Face Ridge and supporting the

detachment that drove the enemy from his strong position on

"Tater Hill."

It was in the series of skirmishes that terminated in the

battle of Resaca, in which the regiment received and repelled

a charge, joining in the pursuit after the battle. It was

engaged at Lost Mountain, and again at Pine Mountain, where

the enemy was repulsed, and on June 27 fought at Kennesaw

Mountain, driving the enemy into his works, holding the

advanced position thus gained for several days, and joining in

pursuit of the enemy on July 17, the regiment drove the enemy

from Decatur and assisted in destroying the railroad.

It was actively engaged at Atlanta; moved with its brigade

Aug. 6, upon a battery which was annoying the Union flank, and

participated in a charge that drove the enemy from the field.

It was engaged at Jonesboro; moved thence to Lovejoy's

Station, and from there to Decatur, where it went into camp.

Joining the pursuit of Hood on Oct. 4, it proceeded to

Gaylesville, Ala., at which point its corps was detached and

ordered to join Gen. Thomas' command at Nashville.

Stopping at Centerville, it was engaged in watching the fords

of Duck river until the last of November, in the expectation

of intercepting Hood's army; moving then to Nashville, it took

part in the work of fortifying that point, and in the battle

of Dec. 15-16, joining in the pursuit after Hood's defeat.

It was in camp at Columbus until Jan. 5, 1865, marching thence

to Clifton and taking transports for Cincinnati moving from

there to Fort Fisher via Washington. Proceeding to Fort

Anderson, it sailed on March 1, for Morehead City, thence to

New Berne.

It was engaged at Wise's Forks, 4 miles from Kinston. Leaving

Kinston on the 20th, it moved to Goldsboro, where it joined

Sherman's army. On April 10 it moved with the army to

Smithfield and Raleigh. At the conclusion of active

operations it moved to Greensboro, thence to Charlotte, N. C.,

where it remained on guard duty during the summer and fall.

It was mustered out Dec. 2, 1865. The original strength was

964; gain by recruits, 28; total, 992. Loss by death, 178; by

desertion, 21; unaccounted for, 9.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3, p. 184