Steele - William S.
Source: H. W. Beckwith (Chicago: HH Hill) History of Montgomery County, 1881 p 310
William S. STEELE, retired, Crawfordsville, an old settler of Montgomery County was born Jan 24, 1809 in Ky, and is a son of Thomas and Catharine (McCLURE)
Steele. His father was a Virginian and his mother was born in South Carolina.
They came to Montgomery Co in 1827, and settled near Yountsville, where they
engaged in milling. They ran about the first mill built in the County,
controlling it about 15 years, then rented the Spring Mill near Yountsville.
Thomas Steele was ill, was conveyed to the home of his son, William Steele
where he died at the age of 72 years, and his wife followed him a few years
afterward. They sleep the sleep of pioneers, and it is well their names should
live as such. Wm. S. Steele knew how to use the axe and follow the plow, and
has seen the time when he could not own a team yet by hard labor and care he
has accumulated until he now owns 400 acres of land, well stocked in Rip. Twp.
In 1870 he retired from active labor, and moved to Crawfordsville to spent his
old days in comfort. He was marr. aug 3, 1837 to Rebecca SMITH, daughter of
Jacob and Ellen Smith of Rip. Twp. Her people came from Ohio. She d. in 1851
age 32. They had 6 children: James S. and Anna are living. James S. was b.
April 27, 1838 in Wayne Twp, Montgomery County Indiana. He was raised on the farm, and
educ. in the common school on rainy days. Jan 3, 1866 he was marr. to Louisa
McCLURE, daughter of Matthew and Teressa (GUDGELL) McClure of Ky. Her father
was a bro. to D.F. McClure of Crawfordsville. Mrs. Steele was born July 15, 1847 in
Ky. They have had four children: two dead, James W. and Wm. M. and two living,
Guy and Roy. Both Mr. & Mrs. Steele are members of the Christian Church. He
is a democrat, as is also his father. Mr. S. came to Crawfordsville in 1870 and
teamed for some time, then in 1874 opened a grocery store on Wash. St, where he
kept until the spring of 1880, when he built the present neat building on
Chestnut St. and moved his stock in July. He is now engaged in a lucrative
trade on t he corner of College & Walnut. - transcribed by kbz