Edwin Steel, retired farmer, was born in Ontario County, N.Y., June 3, 1808. His parents, Roderick and Rhoda (Merrill) Steel, were natives of Connecticut, who settled in New York in an early day. He assisted on the farm, and attended school until he was 21 years old when he married Charlotte Barber, on Nov. 4, 1829. She was a daughter of Shubael and Charlotte (Pierce) Barber, and was born in New York. After his marriage Mr. Steel moved to Genesee County, N.Y., and farmed there two years, then went to Seneca County, O., and engaged in the same occupation. His wife died there in 1843, having been the mother of five children, four living-- George N., William W., Herman E. and Isaac B. Mr. Steel was again married on Oct. 9, 1845, in Ontario County, to Caroline, daughter of William and Polly (Stuart) Stuart. They have had six children, five living-- Rhoda, Horace G., Lucinda E., Orsemus S. and Jennie. In June, 1847, the subject of this memoir came to Iowa, and settled in Delaware County, a portion of his land lying in Clayton County. In 1873 he removed to Strawberry Point, where he resided two years, then located on the farm on section 32, Elk Township, where he now resides. He owns a farm of forty acres of choice land, and is now enjoying the fruits of a life of industry and economy. He is justly entitled to be called one of Clayton County's pioneer settlers, having lived here since 1847, and has seen the rapid development of the county, from an uncultivated state to its present flourishing condition. In politics he is a Republican. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 904 |