My Genealogy Hound

HON. WILLIAM D. STEELE, who is said to be the best posted and most successful criminal attorney-at-law in Pettis County, was honored by being elected to serve as a Representative from the Sedalia District in 1884 in the State Legislature, on the Democratic ticket, and was made Chairman of the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. He has always been one of the strongest supporters of Sedalia enterprises, and made a sturdy fight to have the capitol removed to this city, only lacking three votes of having the measure pass the House at that time.

Mr. Steele was born in Windsor, this county, April 24, 1855, being a son of William Steele and grandson of Robert M. Steele. The latter was born in Charleston, Kanawha County, Va., and was the owner of large salt works, shipping the products of his mine down the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers to Cincinnati. He died in the faith of the Presbyterian Church at a good old age. His father, Richard Steele, of English descent, was born in Richmond, Va. William Steele, who, like his father, was a native of Charleston, Va., was educated in the college at Marietta, Ohio, from which he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Subsequently he studied law and was admitted to the Bar in Missouri. He commenced practice in St. Clair County, Mo., afterwards moved to Henry County, and died in Windsor, Mo., October 7, 1872, aged fifty-four years. His wife, Frances E., was born in Morganfield, Ky., and was a daughter of Dr. Fortunatus F. Du Laney, who was a graduate in medicine and practiced in Kentucky. He was of English descent, and was a faithful member of the church to which his wife belongs. The latter is now living with her daughter. Mrs. Du Laney was a daughter of Capt. William Bayliss, who was born in Virginia, and who won his title in the Revolutionary War. Under General Washington he fought at the siege of Yorktown, witnessing the surrender of Cornwallis, and during the service was wounded several times. Later in life he became a resident of Morganfield, Ky., where he was an early settler. Mrs. Steele, who was an only child, was only twelve years of age when she was left an orphan. She was reared by her grandfather, Captain Bayliss, who lived to attain the good old age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Steele resided in Windsor until 1879, when she came to Sedalia.

In his youth our subject read law with Gen. B. G. Boone, ex-Attorney-General of Missouri, and was admitted to the Bar in Clinton, Mo., after studying in the St. Louis law department of Washington University. Coming to Sedalia, he opened an office for practice, and has met with gratifying success. November 28, 1894, he was united in marriage in this city with Helen Gallie, one of Sedalia’ s most accomplished daughters. She received her education in the Wesleyan College and afterwards attended Bartholomew School of Music in Cincinnati. Her father, John B. Gallie, is a well known citizen of Sedalia.