THE STORY OF GEORGE STEELE
Just before the turn of the century, one of Dixon's early mayors
was George Steele. He was born in Lockport, a town located in the
north- eastern part of Illinois. His father, George Steele, Sr. was
one of the early settlers of Chicago, having located there in the
early 1830s and may well be considered one of the founders of that
city.
Mr. Steele, Sr. was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and came to
the United States as a young man. His venture from across the ocean
would then move westward into Illinois and settled in what was a
frontier village at the time. He was one of the first to engage in
the pork- packing business and later worked as a contractor on the
Illinois & Michigan Canal project. Additionally he was also
connected with the establishment of the Board of Trade in Chicago. It
was in Mr. Steele's building that the Board of Trade was organized
and he served as one of its first presidents.
Mr. Steele, Sr. was married to Anna Stein Morrison, also of
Scotland. They were the parents of nine children. As residents of
Lockport some years later, George Jr. was born on May 10, 1842. At
the age of two years his parents moved the family back to Chicago
after living in Lockport only a few short years.
George Steele, Jr. received his early education in Chicago and
then attended Mt. Pleasant Academy in New York State. He would
complete his studies at Lake Forest University near Chicago and then
assisted in his father's business for a short duration before
starting out on an enterprising career. At the age of twenty-one
George Steele, Jr. formed a partnership with his brother James. They
were contractors for the building and paving of streets in Chicago.
Their work would also include building the first crib for the water
works and the construction of the second lake tunnel during the years
they were engaged in business together.
During 1871 Mr. Steele was united in marriage with Louise Park
Van Epps, a native of East Bethany, New York and a daughter of
William and Mary Van Epps, who were prominent citizens of Dixon in
the late 19th century. The Van Epps family had moved to Dixon when
Louise was five years of age and attended school at the Dixon
Seminary. She later graduated from the Dearborn Seminary in Chicago.
In 1873, George Steele Jr. at the age of thirty-one moved to
Dixon and took up residence in a house located at 212 Ottawa Avenue.
Four children were born of the marriage; William Van Epps, Anna
Louise, Bella Georgiana (Fuller) and Gladys Katherine (Kehr).
Although Mr. Steele was financially independent and was involved in
various business holdings, the 1878-79 Dixon City Directory listed
Mr. Steele's vocation as a capitalist. In later years he was a member
of the Building and Loan Association, Lee County Old Settlers
Association and was secretary/treasurer of the Dixon Gas &
Electric Company.
Mr. Steele, a democrat, served on the city council in Dixon and
as a member of the school board. In 1891, Mr. Steele was elected as
Mayor of Dixon and won re-election the following year. He was deeply
interested in the community of Dixon and many of his business
ventures and activities were to this regard. George Steele died on
March 31, 1896 shortly before his 54th birthday. Louise Steele passed
away on Nov. 17, 1926 at the age of 75 years.
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