S T Steelsmith

STEELSMITH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 11:16:16

S T Steelsmith is filling the position of township trustee in Beaver township, Boone county, Iowa, where he is well known as an extensive stock buyer and a prominent farmer, his home being on Sec 16. A native of Ohio, he was born in Tuscarawas county, on September 19, 1847. He is a son of John and Lydia (Foreman) Steelsmith, the latter a native of Ohio and the former of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1805 and from his native state removed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he resided until 1859, when he came direct to Iowa by was of the river route, the water being very high at that time. He first settled in Warren county, but after a short time came to Boone county, because of an uncle living here. He settled upon a farm near Boone , then in Worth township, and there spent his remaining days, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died June 20, 1865, and his wife, long surviving him, passed away in November 1888. In their family were six children: John, who in now living on the old homestead in Worth township, Solomon W, who resides upon the home place, Peter W, a carpenter residing in South Prairie, Washington, Samuel T of this review, Luther M, who is engaged in mining in Troy, Idaho, and Benjamin F, who died in California in 1880.
Like the other members of the family, S T Steelsmith was educated in the common schools. His early boyhood days were spent in the county of his nativity. When about twelve years of age he accompanied his parents to Iowa, where he has since remained, being a resident of Boone county during the greater part of the time. After arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Catherine A Davis, of this county, a daughter of Lewis Davis, of Worth township, one of the early settlers and a representative of an eminent family of Boone county. Her ehe died in 1898. Unto Mr and Mrs Steelsmith have been born six children: Lydia, who died in infancy, Clarence, who is engaged in teaching school and is making his home with his parents, for his wife, who bore the maiden name of H Nolin, is now deceased, C Fred, who married Effie Gonder and resides two miles south of Boone, John A, Benjamin F, and Florence Belle, all at home.
After his marriage MR Steelsmith rented a small farm in Sec 16, Beaver township, where he resided for two years, when he removed to the old Ten Eyck place, making it his place of residence until the spring of 1878. He then removed to this present far, known as the old Lloyd property. His farm is well improved, the buildings have all been erected here since its purchase. He has 160 acres on Sec 16, Beaver township, and is accounted one of the prominent, progressive and practical agriculturists of his community. He carries on general farming and stock raising, also buys and sells cattle. He now holds the office of township trustee in Beaver township and has filled other local positions. In politics he has always voted with the Republican party and is unfaltering in his allegiance thereto and in the support of any measure or movement which he believes will contribute to the general good. He keeps well informed on the issues and questions of the day, both political and otherwise, and is wide awake, representative American citizen who realizes that industry is the foundation of all success and has therefore made it one of the salient features in his career.

1902 Boone County History Book