John Steele (pioneer) facts for kids
John Steele (born March 21, 1821 – died December 31, 1903) was an important Irish-American pioneer. He was also a local politician and a unique doctor. Born in Ireland, he and his wife became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Glasgow, Scotland. They then moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, in the United States. Steele joined the Mormon Battalion and traveled to Salt Lake City with other Mormon pioneers. He helped found the city of Parowan, Utah. He also played a role in developing Iron, Kane, and Washington counties in Utah.
In Toquerville, Utah, he practiced medicine using herbs, astrology, and some magic. He couldn't practice as a doctor after licenses were required. However, people still wanted his knowledge of astrology and his skill at setting broken bones. His daughter, Young Elizabeth Steele, was the first white child born in Utah.
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Early Life and Family
John Steele was born on March 21, 1821. His birthplace was Holywood, in County Down, Ireland. His parents were John and Nancy Steele. He had two older sisters named Elisabeth and Jane.
When he was fifteen, Steele started working as an apprentice shoemaker. In 1839, he moved to Belfast to open his own shoemaking business. At nineteen, he met Catherine Campbell. She was the daughter of Michael and Mary Campbell. John married Catherine Campbell on January 1, 1840. Their first daughter, Mary, was born on December 23 of that year. Steele's father passed away the following January.
John Steele's shoemaking business in Belfast struggled in 1840. This was due to tough economic times. He then moved to Glasgow, Scotland, to find new work. In 1841, Steele joined a group called the Independent Order of Rechabites. Steele was not happy with his Presbyterian religion. After his son John was born on June 2, 1842, Steele read the Book of Mormon. John Steele and his wife were baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Glasgow in 1843. John was baptized on April 10, and Catherine on May 3. Their daughter Margaret was born on June 17, 1844. Sadly, she died on December 18 the next year.
Journey to Utah
John Steele and his family left for New Orleans in the United States. They sailed on the ship Palmyra on January 21, 1845. After arriving in New Orleans on March 7, they traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. Soon after, they reached Nauvoo, Illinois. In Nauvoo, Steele joined the Tanners and Shoemakers Association. He also became part of the Nauvoo Legion and the Masons. While Steele was away on a Nauvoo Legion trip, his family became ill. His children John and Margaret died on December 10 and December 18.
Moving West
Steele joined the Mormon pioneers moving west on May 4, 1846. They traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa. There, he joined the Mormon Battalion. He was part of Company D, led by Nelson Higgins. Instead of going to California through Santa Fe, New Mexico, Steele was sent to Salt Lake City with other Latter-day Saints. Steele arrived in Salt Lake on July 29, 1847. His daughter, Young Elizabeth Steele, was born on August 9 that year. She was the first Mormon child born in Utah. Young Elizabeth Steele later studied how to help with births and became a midwife. Steele was skilled in building with stone. He said he built one-third of the first fort in Salt Lake City.
Steele faced many challenges during his first winter in the Salt Lake valley. His crops were ruined by cattle belonging to new pioneers. However, his family survived by eating cornmeal and trading milk from their cow. Steele's crops in 1848 were also destroyed by insects, frost, and cattle. Steele's son Mahonri Moriancumer Steele was born on May 1, 1849. In late 1850, he was asked to go to Iron County, Utah to help start a farming community for the Iron Mission.
Founding Parowan
Steele was made a Lieutenant in the Light Infantry Company. He also led ten wagons in the "Iron Battalion." They faced frostbite and freezing temperatures during their journey to southern Utah. They also had minor issues with Native Americans. Their arrival on January 13, 1851, marked the founding of Parowan, Utah. His daughter Susann was born on April 28. Steele was elected town marshal on May 24, and he served for two years. He led trips against Native Americans who were stealing their cattle. Steele became a U.S. citizen on June 1, 1852. He was elected mayor of Parowan on June 2, 1853. He also served as a recorder and judge for Iron County.
John C. Frémont and his group, who were starving on their way to California, stopped in Parowan. They arrived on February 8, 1854, and stayed for three weeks. Steele took in some of Frémont's group. He also loaned the explorer eight maps to copy, but they were never returned. Frémont's report mentioned learning about a route down the Virgin River. This route had been explored by a Mormon group led by Major Steele. Steele's main job as county recorder was to write down the Latter-day Saints' consecration deeds. Steele also kept a journal during trips on the Virgin River in 1852. Much later, Steele and James Jepson discovered how to get water from the river to the Hurricane bench. This led to the creation of the Hurricane Canal and the city of Hurricane, Utah. Native Americans led them to their chief, who was farming at the future site of Toquerville, Utah. During the founding of the Parowan Iron Company, Steele wrote for George A. Smith. Steele was one of the people who signed the important document.
Las Vegas Mission
Steele was called to the Las Vegas Mission in 1855. Santa Clara Native Americans traveled with the missionaries. They helped protect them from other tribes. Steele and the other missionaries started a fort and a garden in Las Vegas. Many settlers and Native Americans passed through this area. Steele returned to Parowan on November 17, 1855. However, he went back to Las Vegas. There, he became the first postmaster and president of the mission. In Las Vegas, he helped look for lead mines for Brigham Young.
Settling in Toquerville
Steele and his family were among the first people to settle in Toquerville. He was asked to go on a mission to the Navajo and Moqui Nations with Jacob Hamblin. He was made postmaster of Toquerville on March 22, 1865. He became a major in the Nauvoo Legion's 10th regiment. Steele was elected justice of the peace in Toquerville on April 15, 1868. He was re-elected several times after that. In 1873, he was elected county surveyor for Kane County. He was also county assessor in 1874 and 1875. Steele and his son Mahonri served missions in England from 1877 to 1878.
Medical Practices
In Toquerville, John Steele was the town's main doctor. He was known for combining medicine, magic, and astrology in his treatments. He followed the ideas of Samuel Thomson. One of Thomson's ideas was that removing bad substances from the body was key to healing. Sometimes, a medicine called calomel was used to make patients vomit. Steele's son Robert Henry died from calomel. Because of this, Steele preferred Thomson's herbal medicines. He also saw himself as a veterinarian. He used an herbal mix to "tame" horses. He was very good at setting broken bones.
Steele was also known for using "black magic" to solve problems. People in town often asked him for horoscopes. He was called "Doc" by many. He was often seen wearing a blue cape with red lining. He also carried a cane and rode a horse named Charlie. While working as a doctor, Steele still ran his shoemaking business.
After his wife Catherine died on June 15, 1891, Steele hired a temporary housekeeper. Then, at 72 years old, Steele married Tamer Elizabeth Booth on April 8, 1893. Booth was 25 and had been married twice before. This marriage was difficult and only lasted a few years. After Utah started requiring doctors to have licenses, Steele could no longer practice medicine. However, he was still listed as a physician in the 1903 Utah State Gazetteer and Business Directory. People still wanted his knowledge of astrology and his skills for setting broken bones.
Later Years
In his old age, John Steele regularly went to LDS Church services. He also worked in the St. George Utah Temple. Steele was made a patriarch for the LDS church in 1903.
Steele got a serious infection called gangrene after stepping on a nail. He spent the end of his life with his daughter Elizabeth in Kanarraville, Utah. He passed away on December 31, 1903. He was buried in Parowan with Catherine, who had not liked Toquerville. The John Steele House in Toquerville was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 7, 1988.
See also
- Cunning Folk Traditions and the Latter Day Saint Movement
