Steele, Arthur Daly

Notes:

Art Steele was grocery clerk and grocery delivery man in his young years, 1925 to 1929 (approx.). Then Art became a milkman and delivered milk to the "South-Side" of Huntington, WV for many years, approx. 1929 to 1957. He worked for Guyan Creamery, Sunrise Creamery, and Kennedy Dairy, which later became Borden's Dairy. He worked in-plant at Borden's approx. 1957 to 1959 when he could no longer walk a milk route and he retired from Bordens's when his arthritic knees became to painful to enable him to work. He was badly crippled with arthritis.

Arthur married Trowbridge, Margaret Irene on 9 Jan 1929 in Gallipolis, Gallia, Ohio, USA. Margaret (daughter of Trowbridge, Malcolm and Sams, Nora Kate) was born on 7 Mar 1906 in St Albans, Kanawha, West Virginia, USA; died on 16 May 1970 in Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia, USA; was buried on 19 May 1970. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ervin Steele was a coal miner in the Wellston, OH area during his young adult years. He moved his family to Huntington, WV in 1913, at age 38, when the local Wellston coal mines closed and he needed employment. He went to work for his brother Robert, who owned a Furniture store in Huntington, and the great influenza epidemic of 1918 resulted in the evolution of "The Steele Funeral Home" from the furniture store. Ervin became the undertaker of the Steele Funeral Home and remained in that position until he retired in 1941. Ervin was a 32nd degree Mason.
I never saw my grandfather, Ervin, without his being clothed in a suit and tie, except in his home where he would remove the suit coat but still had his tie on. He was very distinguished looking as one would expect an undertaker to be. As a child I remember that he and his brother Robert, my uncle Bob, had the baldest and shiniest heads I ever saw. Grandpa Steele always gave me a nickle when he came to visit and drove a 1937 Packard - a great, classic automobile. Comments by: Arthur D. Steele, Jr.

OBIT (Huntington Herald Dispatch, May 22, 1946) : Ervin D. Steele, 75, 835 Twelfth Avenue, who had been associated with the Steele Funeral Home since 1913 died at his home last night. Burial will be in an Ohio cemetery but other arrangements are incomplete. The body is at the funeral home. Mr. Steele was a patient in a Huntington hospital recently but recovered sufficiently to return to his home. Death was unexpected. He was born in Sciotoville, O., August 15, 1871, and came to Huntington in 1913. He was the brother of R. R. Steele of the Steele Funeral Home. Mr. Steele was a member of the Methodist Church and was a 32nd Degree Mason. Surviving are two sons, Harold and Arthur Steele of Huntington, three daughters, Mrs. Alice Raines of Wilkesville, 0., Mrs. Harry Ouenon of Keystone, W.Va., and Mrs. T. A. Martufi of the Twelfth Avenue address; one sister, Mrs. Rhoda Braley of Wellston, O., and two brothers, J. D. Steele of Tonkawah, Okla., and R. R. Steele. His wife preceded him in death more than a year ago.

Ervin married Williams, Joanna Belle on 3 Mar 1900 in Wellston, Jackson, Ohio, USA. Joanna was born on 17 Jan 1876 in Franklin Furnace, Scioto, Ohio, USA; died on 9 Dec 1944 in Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia, USA; was buried . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Grandma Steele could make the best Angel Food cake in the whole wide world!!!!

OBIT (Huntington Herald Dispatch, December 10, 1944) : Mrs. Joanna Williams Steele, wife of Ervin D. Steele of the Steele Funeral Home, Huntington, and a resident of this city for the past 35 years, died in a Huntington hospital at 3:45 p.m. yesterday, following an illness of ten days. She had been in frail health for several months preceding the acute illness. Her residence was at 835 Twelfth Avenue. Mrs. Steele was a native of Bloom Furnace, Jackson County, O. She attended public schools of Jackson County and taught school there later. She moved to Huntington in 1909. She was a member of the First Methodist Church and of Chapter 8 of the Eastern Star. Her husband, who survives her, is associated with his brother, Robert R. Steele in the Steele Funeral Home. Mrs. Steele s body will be taken from the Steele Funeral Home to the residence at 10 a.m. today and will be returned to the funeral home tomorrow morning for brief services at 10 a.m. Further services will be held later at Wellston, O., with burial in Ridgewood cemetery there. Besides her husband, Mrs. Steele is survived by three daughters, Mrs. E. L. Raines, Wilkesville, O., Mrs. Harry Ouenon, Keystone W. Va. and Mrs. T. A. Martufi at home; two sons Harold B. Steele and Arthur Steele, and 11 grandchildren.

Notes:

Jasper N. Steele was a school teacher. He lived most of his life in South-Eastern Ohio as can be seen in the birthplaces of his children. Jasper moved from Wellston, OH to Huntington, West Virginia with his son Ervin in 1914. Nothing much is known of his wife, Mary Ervin.

OBIT (Huntington Herald Dispatch, Nov 26, 1921): After funeral rites are observed at the late home in this city, the body of J. N. Steele 75, who died yesterday morning after a brief illness, will be taken to Wellston, O. Services will be held at the Methodist church there and interment will be made at the Wellston cemetery. Mr. Steele had resided in this city for the past eight years, living with his son, E. D. Steele at 1207 Ninth Avenue. He is survived by three sons, E. D. and R. R. Steele, local undertakers, John D. of Hamden, 0., one daughter, Mrs. Rhoda Braley of Ewington, O., a sister, Mrs. R.A. Swearingen of West Carrollton, 0., and one brother, William Steele of Cambridge 0. He was born in Pennsylvania, May 18 1846 and while very young moved to Jackson County, 0., Where he obtained his early education. He was graduated with a law degree but never practiced, although he was admitted to the bar. For twenty-eight years he was active in schoolwork, both in his old home at Wellston and in the Ohio State schools. After coming to Huntington he retired from active work. The funeral services are to be held here at the late residence at four o'clock Sunday afternoon. Rev. C. E. Goodwin will conduct the services.

Jasper married Ervin, Mary on 9 Oct 1873 in Jackson, Jackson, Ohio, USA, and was divorced about 1890. Mary was born in 1856; died in 1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Their sons never knew their mother and in later life her son Robert searched for her, found her and tried to talk to her. But, she wouldn't even talk to her son.
This story was related to me by my father (comment by Arthur Steele, Jr.)

Notes:

- Rev. Peter Gray

Robert Moore Steele appears to have lived in Centre County, Pennsylvania until 1846 (34 yrs. old). He is listed as a Justice of the Peace in Huston Township on 4/15/1846 and his son Jasper was born there 5/18/1846. Shortly thereafter he removed his family to Lawrence County, OH. Census reports list him as a laborer in Elizabeth Township in 1850, and as a collier in Milton Township, Jackson County, OH in 1860. Robert enlisted in the U.S. Army on 12/10/1861 to serve for 3 years. He was 1st Sergeant to Captain John Cook, Company K, 56th Regiment, OH Volunteer Infantry. He received a medical discharge on 9/6/1862 at Columbus, OH. The reason given for the medical discharge is "Eczema". His address on the discharge was Reeds Mills, Vinton County, OH. His Army discharge describes R.M. Steele as 6 feet in height; dark complexion; Hazel eyes; Grey hair. His occupation when he enlisted was "Furnaceman". His age on the discharge was 44, however he was actually 50 according to family records and census reports. This discrepancy implies that Robert reduced his age (lied?) so as to be able to enlist in the Army. His son Robert added a couple years to his age so as to enlist, and his son's George and James were also in the Army.

Robert married Leebrick (Lebrick), Caroline Belinda on 21 Oct 1836 in Petersburg, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, USA. Caroline (daughter of Leebrick, Daniel Henry and Peters, Elizabeth) was born on 6 Apr 1816 in Virginia, USA; died on 11 Apr 1900 in Hamden, Vinton, Ohio, USA; was buried . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

- Rev. Peter Gray