William John Steele and Jennie Spear

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Husband William John Steele ¹

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           Born: 1 Oct 1849 - Washington Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 1
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         Father: Absalom Steele (1820-Aft 1891) 1 2
         Mother: Susan Kistler (Abt 1826-1886) 1

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Wife Jennie Spear ³

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         Father: Armour Spear (      -      ) 3
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Children

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1 F Ethel Steele ³

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2 F Etta Steele ³

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3 M Clifford Banks Steele ³

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4 M Maurice Edgar Steele ³

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5 M Irma Steele ³

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General Notes: Husband - William John Steele

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He was born on the old Steele homestead, two miles south of Oakland X Roads in Washington township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the common schools of his native township and Delmont academy. Leaving the academy, he taught four terms in the common schools,\emdash three in Washington, and one in Salem township, Westmoreland County. In March, 1874, he became a member of the firm of Alcorn, Lauffer & Steele. Two and one-half years later he withdrew, and was a clerk for one year for C. G. L. Pfeffer, of Apollo. He next purchased an interest in the store known as the "Mill Store," which he conducted for a time with H. G. George for a partner, then became sole proprietor, and finally disposed of his building and goods to purchase the large Rugh farm, near Oakland X Roads, in Westmoreland County. After eighteen months' farming, he sold his farm, and in November, 1881, came to Leechburg, where he formed a partnership with Daniel Bowers, and they were engaged in the general mercantile business for several years. At the end of that time he purchased Mr. Bowers' interest, and continued to conduct the store with the best of success until April 1, 1889, when he sold, in order to accept a position as business manager of the Leechburg Foundry and Machine company, in which he and the president, W. A. Cochran, were the two heaviest stockholders.
He was a member of the Leechburg Presbyterian church. In politics he was a protection or high-tariff republican, who believed in a strong protective tariff.

The Leechburg Foundry and Machine company was incorporated October 11, 1887, and enlarged and built to the old works, which they purchased. In March, 1888, the entire plant was destroyed by fire; but soon erected was another works, which were very capacious, covering a large area of ground and fully equipped with all modern improvements, as well as furnished with the latest improved machinery. Their mill, blast furnaces and foundries turned out principally heavy work, such as steel-works and rolling-mill machinery, rolls and ingot molds. The company had a capital stock of $100,000, and employed from one hundred to one hundred and fifty men. The office of the company was in the Lewis block, Pittsburgh, and was connected with the works by telephone. The officers were W. A. Cochran, president; George Mesta, vice-president; W. D. Rowan, secretary, and R. R. Moore, treasurer.

1 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: John M. Gresham & Co., 1891), Pg 457.

2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 624.

3 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: John M. Gresham & Co., 1891), Pg 458.