My Genealogy Hound

A. Steveley, the proprietor of the Newport Lumber Company, was born in Essex County, N. J., May 1, 1824, and is a son of Andrew and Jeannette (Hay) Steveley, who were of Scotch descent. The genealogy of the family can be traced back 300 years. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents died in New Jersey, in which State Andrew Steveley also died, his death being caused from cholera, in 1848. He was a copper refiner by occupation, and made this his calling through life. A. Steveley, the subject of this sketch, is the only one of the two children, born to himself and wife, now living, and after his death his widow married again, becoming the worthy companion of John Frame, who was a participant in the War of 1812. She also died in New Jersey. A. Steveley was reared and educated in his native State, and in his youth learned the cabinet-maker’s trade. At the age of twenty-one years he left his home and parents to take up his abode in New York City, and after working at his trade in that city for about five years he removed to the “Nutmeg State.” In 1857 we find him in Wisconsin, which State continued to be his home until 1873, in which year he removed to the city of Chicago, where he acted as foreman for different establishments until 1884. At that time he removed to Newport, Ark., and became manager for the Newport Lumber Company, continuing as such until February, 1889, when he bought out the entire establishment, and has since managed affairs alone. He manufactures lumber of a fine grade, and ships to many different points, but principally to Chicago, and his establishment gives employment to about forty men the year round. Mr. Steveley is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, is a public-spirited citizen, and in the interest of all good works has been an active participant. In 1846 he was married to Maria Adair, a native of Pennsylvania, and by her he has five children: Eliza, Benjamin, Walter, John and William.