History of Cherokee County Iowa United States of America

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Thomas H. Steele, one of the leading and most active men in the work of developing the varied interests of Cherokee county, especially in the way of securing eastern money for farmers who desired to improve their land and for individuals lacking capital for the promotion of different enterprises, is Thomas H. Steele, of Steeles' bank at Cherokee. The father, Thomas S. Steele, who was at the head of the firm until his death in 1896, did not give his personal attention to the business at Cherokee. The mother before her marriage was Isabella Fenwick, a niece of Rev. Alexander Bullions, for more than fifty years pastor of the Associate Presbyterian church at Coila, N. Y., and the Rev. Peter Bullions, author of a series of Latin school books. The early paternal ancestors came from Coleraine, Ireland, about 1760, and settled in Salem, Washington county, N. Y. The mother's parents were natives of Scotland, who came to Salem, N. Y., in 1810.

Thomas H. Steele was born at Salem, N. Y., May 2, 1844. He attended the district school, the Cambridge academy, and the Clinton Liberal institute at Clinton, N. Y. He came to Iowa in the fall of 1872, and through the assistance of J. H. Leavitt, of Waterloo, secured employment with Bowman & Burr, bankers, of Waverly. While thus engaged he became convinced of his own ability to undertake a like enterprise, and in the spring of 1874 communicated that belief to his father in the east, who at once authorized him to look up a location and promised to join him in the venture. The son decided upon Cherokee, and in the spring of 1874 a banking business was started there under the firm name of T. S. Steele & Son. The county at that time was new, and the pioneers stood in great need of money, so the business of the new firm grew to goodly pro-portions. More help being required for the transaction of the constantly increasing business, two brothers, D. T. and J. F. Steele, were taken into the firm, and continued the business for some years as T. S. Steele & Sons. Since the death of T. S. Steele, which occurred August 14, 1896, the bank has been known as Steeles' bank, the firm consisting of T. H., D. T. and J. F. Steele. These men have been of material assistance in promoting the prosperity of the town of Cherokee and the surrounding country, and are regarded as among the most progressive and useful citizens of that community.

Mr. Steele is a republican, but has held no political office except that of member of the school board. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, but is not a member of any social club or secret society. He was married August 25, 1875, to Miss Evaline M. Washburn. She was born in New York, but came to Iowa while yet young. Her education was secured in the high school of Cedar Falls and the Iowa college at Grinnell. At the time of her marriage she was principal of the Waverly high school. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living. The children are: Eva Belle, Grace S., Winifred, Mary B., Fannie Corey, Susan W., Margaret T., Harrison C. and Richard T., besides a son, Thomas H., Jr., who died in his fourth year.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

History of Cherokee County Iowa

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