Benton Co., AR - Biographies - John B. Steele

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John B. Steele, mayor of Rogers, Ark, and secretary of the Rogers 
Canning & Packing Company, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1838, 
and is a son of C. D. and Catherine Steele, who were also Tennesseeans 
by birth. After residing on a farm until thirteen years of age he 
began serving an apprenticeship at the turner's and machinist's 
trades, and in connection with this attended school until 1859. From 
that time until the breaking out of the war he worked at the turner's 
trade, and at the latter date joined Col. Carroll's Arkansas Cavalry, 
and served in different companies for four years. He was lieutenant 
for the First Battalion Arkansas Cavalry, and was finally promoted to 
brevet-major. He was in a number of hotly contested battles, and was 
in over fifty skirmishes. He was wounded twice, was in prison six 
months, and was paroled from Vicksburg, Miss., at the close of the 
siege. After the close of the war Mr. Steele went to Texas, but after 
a short time returned to Arkansas, and engaged in the saw-mill 
business, which occupation he followed for about five years, and then 
turned his attention to merchandising at Springdale, Ark. About three 
years later he moved his stock of goods to Van Winkle Mills, but 
[p.897] about six months later (in 1880) he abandoned this business 
and opened the Van Winkle Hotel, in Fayetteville, which he 
successfully managed for two years. He then returned to Van Winkle 
Mills, and spent one year in the wholesale and retail lumber business, 
when he sold out and followed the same occupation in Rogers for some 
time. Since 1885 he has held the position of mayor of Rogers, except 
about nine months, and has also been justice of the peace for several 
years, Since November, 1887, he has been connected with the Rogers 
Canning & Packing Company. In 1868 he was married to Miss Mary Van 
Winkle, who was born in Illinois in 1841, and by her is the father of 
three children: Guy C., Richard St. Clair and Harry. Mr. Steele is a 
stanch Democrat, and a member of the A. F. & A. M.