Person:John Steele (70)

Notes and Queries: Chiefly Relating to Interior Pennsylvania edited by William Henry Egle Published by Daily telegraph print, 1887

[The first burial in the Harrisburg cemetery was General James Steele, a brother of Col John Steele, of whom we have this interesting sketch by a valued correspondent.] John Steele, son of William Steele, was born in Drumore township, Lancaster county, in tbe year 1758. His father sent him to Rev. James Lalta's academy at Chestnut Level, ami while pursuing his studies he formed an attachment for Abigail Bailey, which was reciprocated by her. Her father hoped to sue her marry a son of a wealthy neigh-bor, and was very much opposed to his daughter marry ing young Sleele, whom he thought did not have estate enough to support her befitting her position in society. He was therefore forbidden to pay his addresses to Miss Abigail, who in a very spirited manner told her father that she loved Mr. Steele and that if she did not marry him she never would wed another. Mr. Steele's father sent him to the Academy lo be educated with a viey of entering the ministry; but while at school be heard the call of his country lo arms, and he told the venerable Dr. Latta that until his country was free, he would relinquish his studies for the duties of the camp. His three brothers, Archibald, James and William, enlisted on the same day.

John Steele entered the army as a volunteer, and although but eighteen years of age his soldierly bearing soon •won for him the command of a company, • which he led into battle at Brandywine, where he received a British ball through his shoulder. From loss oF blood from the wound which he received, he was reduced to the point ot death. Six faithful soldiers carried him upon a sli.ii several inil»s to a house occupied by two elderly maiden ladies, who nursed him faithfully until he was able to be removed. He never forgot their kindness to him. Before be could return to active military duly his father heard that he had been wounded, and after much search found him in Bucks county, whither he had been carried, after many removals, to a place of safety. He returned to his home before he bad entirely recovered from his wound, and while there an unskillful surgeon thought it necessary to probe the wound, and in so doing divided an artery, and he had no means of tying it; to prevent him from bleeding to death his sister held the orifice with her fingers until a messenger was despatched to Lancaster, a distance of sixteen miles, tor a physician, who came, and when he arrived he discovered that he left his case of instruments in Lancaster, to which place he returned for them and during this time his faithful sister never look her flngers from the wound, an example of patience and heroic courage seldom seen anywhere. As soon as Captain Steele recovered, he returned to his companions in arms, and follnwed General Washington through many battles, and participa'ed in thecap-. lure of Cornwallis at Yorktown. When in New Jersey he was a member of Gen'l Washington staff. At the conclusion of the war he returned to his home with an arm disabled, poor and pennyle.-s, but with the consciousness that he had served his country faithfully. In 1780, when he arrived in sight of his father's mansion on leave of absence, be observed a large number of carriages and horses surround ing his home, he knew that it meant a funeral procession. His heart was filled with agony, not having the remotest idea as to which member of his honored family was about to be consigned to the grave. It was his falher, the noble sire who sent forth every son of his to the war. This was a sad affliction to the young soldier, Miss Bailey, who had waited seven long years for the return of Captain Steele, remained true to her pledge, and they were married in the year 1784. For several years prior to her marriage this remarkable lady had been living with her brother, Francis, in Lancaster and kept bouse for him. She frequently took her needle and work with her to the- printing offlceof her brother, and watched him wi'h great interest when settina type. She said, one day, "Brother, I think lean help you," and she immediately commenced lo set up the form from which was printed the first Packet Almanack ever published in Pennsylvania. The knowledge of printing thus obtained was- of great value to her husband in after life. Captain, subsequently General Steele, soon after his marriage removed from. Lancaster to Philadelphia and embarked in the printing and publishing business, and with bis own hands cast the type with which Mrs. Steele set up the first American edition of "Dil worth's Spelling Book," and a copy ot the new testament. His business was successful, and bis restless and ambitious spirit prompted him lo embark in other branches and more extensive business. He built a paper mill along the Octorara in connection with his brother-in-law,Col. James Thompson, and his nephew, Col. James Steele. To Ibis place he removed from Philadelphia with his family. While there he multiplied copies from his standing type, I'rom which many editions of standard works were printed. The late Matthew Carey purchased these forms to prevent rivalry in tha publication of the same works. He was a person of undoubted genius, that could not be tied down to a particular avocation. Agriculture was a favorite pursuit, and be retired from his printing and paper manufacturing to his farm at Octorara. He did not remain long in retirement. Being one of the most ardent and ablest Jeflersonian Democrats in the State, he was not permitted to live in retirement; his friends insisted upon electing him to the Lower House and afterwards to the State Senate in 1801 — a year of bitter partisan warfare, in which the Federal and ami Federal parties were nearly evenly divided. General Steele's election was contested in the Legislature, for the reason that he held an office supposed to be incompatible with that of Senator, and after a bitter flgbt the Federals ousted him from his seat in the Senate. He was re elected in 1803, and was admitted to his seat, and was Speaker of the Senate in 1805. Governor McKean caused William Dizon, the publisher of the Lan castei Journal, to be thrown into prison for libel, which was published in the heat of a political campaign. When he was released from prison the Democrats made all the political capital they could out of the affair, and got up a grand demonstration in Lancaster. Gen. Steele was made chief marshal, and he made an eloquent, but inflammatory speech upon the occasion.

In 1806 he was the candidate of his party for United States Senator, and tied Andrew Gregg on several ballots, but was finally defeated by a few votes. In the year 1808 he was appointed Collector ot the Port in Philadelphia, a position he held until 1826, when he resigned on account of declining hea'tb, and died February 2nh, 1827. His wife died on the 13th of March following.

In all the years Gen. Steele held the office of Collector he never suffered a dollar of the Government money to remain in his hands, but deposited every cent in bank, and the Government never lost a penny of the moneys collected by him. He was a strong advocate of domestic manufactures and the system of internal improvements by the State. In religious circles he was a ruling elder of the Third Presbyterian church, in Philadelphia, for many years. Captain John Steele, son of the above, died at his home near Gordonville. Lancaster county, October 27th, 1853. He had been a member oi Lodge No 51 of Ancient York Masons of Philadelphia, and Past Master. Appropriate ceremonies were held by the Masons, in memory of their distinguished deceased brother. Captain Steele commanded a company in the war of 1812, and subsequently was appointed Collector of the Port of Phila delphia, a position he held forsome years, a trust he executed with the strictest integrity. He was also controller of the public schools of Philadelphia. For more than thirty four years, he served in the capacity of Secretary and Treasurer, Warden and Master in Lodge No 51 and filled the chair of the Right Worshipful Grand Master, in the Grand Lodge of Masons. Captain Steele married Jane Porter, (1791—1867). Their daughter Abiann married Col. ReahFrazer, a distinguished member o( the Lancaster Bar, and their children (surname Frazer) were: i. Susin- Carpenter. ii. Hrnry- Carpenter, of Pittsburgh. iii. Reah, Paymaster in the U. 8. A. iv. ,/. P. Wilson, a merchant of Phila. Capt. Steele's second daughter, Dolly, married Henry E. Slay maker, Esq , a prominent citizen of Lmcaster. It may be related in this connection that James Buchannan was always ea» teemed a valued friend of the family, bat for some reason, best known to himself, declined to support Captain Steele for appointment as Collector of the Port of Philadelphia. Captain Steele, his friends, and especially his son in-law, Colonel Frazer, became very much angered at him, and opposed him politically with great spirit thereafter. A daughter of General John Steele, No. 1, married the Rev. Doctor Milldol- lar. SAMUEL EVANS.