Andrew Lathrop Steele

A. L. STEELE, Dover, was born in Erie County, N. Y., March 8, 1827. His parents, Danford and Lydia (Abel) Steele, were both natives of Vermont, and were early settlers in Erie County, N. Y. Danford Steele was born A ril 19, 1797, and his wife, September 11, 17 . They were the parents of three children: Henry D., a successful merchant of Denver, Col.; our subject, and a daughter subject was about four years old. His mother being left destitute, he was bound out to a farmer, and his opportunities for an . education were of ‘the most meager description. When he was ten years old, the wife of the man to whom he was bound died, and he was sent to his grandfather, Simon Abel, and worked at whatever he could find to do till 1848. Simon Abel was a native of Lebanon, Conn., born October 2, 1767. His wife, Rachel Farnsworth, was born in New Ipswich, N. H., September 9, 1770. In 1848 they came to this county, and our subject and his mother accompanied them. Simon Abel died here September 28, 1851, and his widow March 20, 1857. Mr. Steele’s mother died in Dover, January 3, 1861. The first two years in Bureau County, Mr. Steele farmed on rented land, but on account of his health left the farm and clerked in Dover till 1858, for M. W. Abel, and also for Stacy Bros. In 1858 he engaged in business for himself in partnership with C. D. Hubbard and after four years became sole owner. He still continues in the business and is one of the oldest merchants in the county. He began the mercantile_business with a cash capital of $500, and he and his partner borrowed $5,000. He now has, besides his mercantile and other interests, 460 acres of land in Dover and Princeton Townships. Mr. Steele was married at Dover, November 28, 1852, to Miss Susan Zearing, born April 2, 1829; she is a daughter of Martin Zearing, deceased (see sketch). Mr. and Mrs. Steele have seven children living: Charles D., born November 16, 1853; George, June 24. 1855; Lydia, April 12, 1857, died October 21, 1858; John A., born August 21, 1859; Dick, November 18, 1861; Louis L., May 18, 1863; Lottie, October 18, 1866; Harry D., June 17, 1869. Mr. Steele is a member ofI. O. O. F.

Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois. edited by Henry C. Bradsby. Page 661