STEELE, Dr. Nathaniel

STEELE, MAXEY, KELLY, CUMMINGS, ALSTEN, WARE, DAVID, EVANS, CRAINE, MENDENHALL, CUNNINGHAM, MEKEMEY, MAXSON, VAN DORIN, ACHESON, SLAGLE, TITUS, WILKINSON, BROWN, SHAFFER, ECKERT, BYRKIT, TEMPLE, ALEXANDER, OTHERS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 6/8/2006 at 14:16:04

"Fairfield Ledger", Feb. 22, 1893, Pg. 3, Col. 4

DEATH OF DR. NATHANIEL STEELE. Dr. Nathaniel STEELE, whom all the older residents of Fairfield will remember, died at his home at Eldorado Springs, Mo., Thursday...

Dr. STEELE was a native of Ohio and came to Fairfield with his wife in 1845. From that time until 1878 he resided in this city, engaged in the practice of his profession and in the sale of drugs or both. He was a very successful practitioner and a man who was very generally known and respected. He went to Beloit, Kan., first and afterwards to Council Grove. He had resided at Eldorado Springs about three years.

Dr. STEELE's first wife died in this city several years prior to his removal. He was afterwards married to Miss Kittie MAXEY, who survives him. There were no children by either marriage. Dr. STEELE was 81 years of age. His remains were interred at Eldorado Springs Sunday.

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"Fairfield Tribune", Wed., Feb. 22, 1893, Pg. 2, Col. 3

AN OLD RESIDENT OF FAIRFIELD PASSES AWAY.... Dr. N. STEELE, whose death occurred at his home at Eldorado Springs, Mo., on the 16th inst.... Funeral at Eldorado Springs on the 19th. Dr. STEELE was a native of eastern Ohio and was in the 81st year of his age. He studied medicine with Dr. KELLY at St. Clairsville, Ohio, and engaged in practice at that place and at Belleville. In 1845 he emigrated to Iowa and took up his residence in this city, where he established a large practice and was for many years the leading physician of the place. In 1878 he again moved westward, settling first at Beloit, Kansas, and then at Council Grove in the same state, removing from there three years ago to Eldorado Springs, Mo..

Dr. STEELE was twice married, his first wife being Miss Martha KELLY of Belmont County, Ohio, who died about 20 years ago. He was again married to Miss Kittie MAXEY, who survives him, the marriage taking place at Council Grove, Kansas, about seven years ago. Never having any children of his own, he adopted a niece and nephew of his first wife, who took his name and became in all respects as his own. Both have long since passed away, Frank having died about 1859 and Mrs. J. J. CUMMINGS, of this city, in 1867.

Old residents of Fairfield well remember the time when Dr. STEELE was looked upon as the foremost physician and surgeon in the city.....

The announcement of Dr. STEELE's death brings to mind many reminiscences of events occurring during the Doctor's long residence among us. One of the most pleasing is of a party given by the doctor to some of his old time friends in 1870, of which a reprint of the notice may prove interesting to many of the Doctor's long-ago friends. It will be observed that of the number present and participating on that pleasant occasion there now remains only nine living. Those who have died since are designated by a star. This interesting report is handed to us by one who was there, and is as follows:

Last Monday, Nov. 28, 1870, completed a quarter of a century since our townsman, N. STEELE, M.D., took up his abode in Fairfield.... In commemoration of the anniversary, he invited all the men who were living in the village at that time, and who are now residents here, to his hospitable home, and set them down to a table laden with substantials and luxuries. There were present:

Name, Time of Arrival, and age

Wm. ALSTEN, June, 1840, age 58
* J. C. WARE, Oct., 1840, age 58
Chas. DAVID, Feb., 1845, age 52
*T. D. EVANS, Nov., 1842, age 61
*Geo. CRAINE, Oct., 1842, age 56
*D. MENDENHALL, May, 1842, age 51
*J. A. CUNNINGHAM, Aug., 1842, age 56
J. A. McKEMEY, Nov., 1842, age 55
*Wm. MAXSON, Aug., 1842, age 62
R. H. VAN DORIN, May, 1842, age 47
*Geo. ACHESON, Apr., 1843, age 49
*C. W. SLAGLE, Apr., 1843, age 49
*T. W. TITUS, Nov., 1843, age 60
*Geo. WILKINSON, May, 1843, age 67
*A. H. BROWN, July, 1844, age 75
C. S. SHAFFER, Apr., 1844, age 47
Jas. ECKERT, Apr., 1844, age 47
Jessie BYRKIT, Oct., 1844, age 65
G. D. TEMPLE, Sept., 1845, age 43
W. K. ALEXANDER, May, 1845, age 56
*Philip HUFFMAN, May, 1845, age 55
*N. M. BRIGHT, Nov., 1845, age 51
N. STEELE, Nov., 1845, age 58

.... Many a blithesome joke passed round the board at the recital of the times long since passed away... The arrival of the first four horse coach in the village was an epoch... Dr. STEELE. on his arrival, moved into a room 16 ft. square. Today his large and commodious residence stands forth in pleasant contrast....

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Surname should be STEEL, without the final 'e'; it can be found in sources both ways however