Steinbeck

STEINBECK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/18/2010 at 20:34:16

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Steinbeck
By Marian L (Mrs C Elmer) Steinbeck

Shortly after the end of the Civil War, 1865, the Nils O Steinbeck family arrived in Sioux City, Iowa, the first Scandinavians to settle here.

A story has been handed down concerning an incident that established the fact that Nilla O Steinbeck was the first Scandinavian: It is said that any event of importance in early Sioux City called for a parade. Because it was taken for granted that he was a first, Mr Steinbeck was asked to lead a parade. Just as the line of march started, another Scandinavian stepped in ahead of the leader. After quite a skirmish and play of fisticuffs, typical of the manner by which arguments were settled in those rugged river-front days, it was definitely established that Nils O Steinbeck would thereafter be unchallenged as the first Scandinavian to come to Sioux City.

This fact is also stated in the book, Svenskarna i Sioux City, written by Gustaf N Swan, the Swedish Vice Consul.

The Steinbeck family established a home at 312 Wall Street and the head of the family organized a crew of men for railroad construction over a large area. Later, the family moved to a large house they had built on the then ‘North Side’ at 507 Iowa Street.

The children attended school in the first brick schoolhouse, named the Central School. It was located near the site of the former E & W Building. At recess, the children played around a deep pond north of the schoolhouse.

As the Steinbeck boys grew older, their favorite sport was to swim across the Missouri River to Covington, Nebraska.

Chris Steinbeck, a son, later became one of the city’s first policemen, whose beat was in the Steuben Street area. A typical river-front character, he was known as ‘The Kaiser of Steuben Street’.

The youngest in the family of fourteen children, the late CJ Steinbeck was engaged in cattle business at the Sioux City Stockyards for more than fifty years.

An excerpt from an old news item printed in the year 1900, at the time of the death of Mrs Nils O Steinbeck, stated: ‘She was the first Swedish woman to buy property in Sioux City. She had good business ideas, was frugal, invested in city property in Sioux City. She had good business ideas, was frugal, invested in city property when prices were low, with the result that at the time of her death, property holdings in her own right made a sizable fortune.’

While engaging in property transactions, she and her daughters served many meals to newcomers. She would loan them money to get started, then charge them interest. She would walk along the Fourth Street area, her starched apron draped over her arm. Inside this, she would place the money she’d use in the buying selling of lots.

Nils O Steinbeck died in the year of 1906, after being engaged extensively in railroad construction work. Years later, in 1939, his name was listed with achievers during the Golden Spike Ceremonies in Omaha, Nebraska.

There were many descendants of this early-day family in the Siouxland area: many Carlsons and Johnsons and Nelsons. The late C Elmer Steinbeck was a grandson; Thomas E Steinbeck is a great grandson; and Carl E and John T Steinbeck are great great grandsons.