My Genealogy Hound

JOHN STEELE, who was for many years a successful and prominent general agriculturist of Washington County, and a public-spirited citizen, widely and highly esteemed, entered into rest September 11, 1882, mourned by a host of old-time friends, in whose hearts his memory will long be green. In 1865 he removed to Sparta, where he led a retired life until his decease.

James Steele, the father of our subject, was born in Franklin County, Pa., where he was reared to mature years. In 1835 he decided to better his financial condition by coming to Illinois, and located on Elk Horn Prairie, where he was residing at the time of his decease, in 1860. He was very prosperous in his calling of an agriculturist, and there was scarcely a man in his vicinity who possessed a better knowledge of the Scriptures than did James Steele. He was an Elder of the Covenanter Church and was one of the organizers of the congregation at Elk Horn. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and was one who had the confidence of all, his word being considered as good as his bond.

Mrs. Isabel (McClintock) Steele, the mother of our subject, was likewise a native of the Keystone State, and was married to James Steele in 1802. The eight children of whom they became the parents were, John, James (deceased), Alexander, Ezekiel, Cyrus, Robert, Emily and Isabel. Mrs. Steele departed this life in 1833.

Our subject was born March 4, 1804, in Franklin County, Pa., and there resided with his parents until 1835, when they removed farther west. Two years later he joined them, locating in Elk Horn, where he purchased three hundred and eighty acres of land, which he improved and resided upon until 1865. He was very methodical in his work, and was self-made in the truest sense of the word, all of his property being the result of much hard labor on his part. His life was an eminently useful one and he was one of the foremost of the venerable citizens of his township. Few residents of the county were more widely known and none more favorably than he.

In 1837, in Fayette County, Pa., John Steele married Miss Jane Sitherwood, a native of the above county. She was the daughter of Edward and Mary (Walker) Sitherwood, natives respectively of England and New Jersey, and both are now deceased. In his political relations our subject was a member of the Republican party. He never held nor aspired to public office, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his private affairs. He was a member of the Covenanter Church and was Elder in the Elk Horn congregation.