JOHN N. STEELY, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Wayne Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Pickaway County, February 21, 1828, a son of REUBEN and ELIZA (RAUB) STEELY.  His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1807, of German ancestry, and his mother was morn in New Jersey, July 7, 1807.  They moved to Pickaway County in an early day, and were there married March 22, 1827.  In 1832 they came to Tippecanoe County, arriving in Wayne Township September 15.  The father bought 240 acres of unimproved land, which he cleared and made his home until 1843, when he sold it and bought a farm east of Lafayette, where he lived until the spring of 1858, when he moved to the city, living there until 1865, when he returned to Wayne Township and bought forty acres of land, where he lived until his death.  In politics he was originally a Whig, and on its organization became allied with the Republican party.  In 1861 he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, and was assigned to Company G, Tenth Indiana Infantry, and served until discharged for disability, the result of injuries received while in the discharge of his duty.   From the effects of this he never recovered, his death taking place January 13, 1868.  The mother still lives in Tippecanoe County, and is now in her eighty-first year of her age.  They had a family of three children, one of whom died in infancy, and two, JOHN N. and WALLACE W., are living.

JOHN N. STEELY was four years of age when his parents moved to Tippecanoe County, and here he was reared, remaining at home until his marriage, April 11, 1850, to ELIZABETH J. BLONTON, daughter of THOMAS and JANE S. BLONTON, early settlers of the county.  After his marriage he lived on his father's farm eight years, and then he rented land on Wea Prairie until 1865, when he bought the farm where he now lives, to which he moved in 1866.  His farm contains 130 acres of valuable land, and on it is a fine spring of pure water which contains 23 ½ grains of minerals to the gallon, and is beneficial for different diseases.  MR. and MRS. STEELY have had one daughter, who died in infancy.  They are members of the Presbyterian church.  He was at one time a member of the West Point lodge of Odd Fellows which has now disbanded.  In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.  He is one of the representative famers of Wayne Township, and has been one of the foremost in promoting all enterprises of public benefit, assisting liberally with his means and influence anything that promises the advancement of religious, social, educational or material prosperity.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 592,595
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888