San Luis Obispo-San Mateo-Marin County CA Archives Biographies.....Steele, Edgar Willis 1830 - 
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Author: Thompson & West (1883)

E. W. STEELE

  THE development of the resources of California after its acquisition by the
United States opened a new field for the energies of the young men of the East.
The State was not subject to the slow growth, the crowding of time upon events,
the doing of things as our fathers did; but young men came with inborn
intelligence and native energy who at once took a stride forward to invent new
appliances for works new to them, and enlarge methods in conducting those in
which they had but slight experience. The mines were the first attraction; then,
to those who had the sagacity to forecast the future, the fertile soil and
genial climate drew the attention of the agriculturist. Mr. Steele was one of
those who, as a young man, made California his home and entered the agricultural
list, and who by his unwavering enterprise, unbounded energy, and great success
has exemplified this prelude. His name has become intimately connected with the
history of agriculture in this State, several counties having been the field of
his operations, and all advanced by his labors and well directed enterprise. The
small farms of the East were the primary schools where he received his
rudimentary lessons, fitting him for the enlarged sphere which opened in the
great State of the Pacific Coast, and here he has expanded with the true spirit
of the Californian.

  Edgar Willis Steele was born in the pleasant village of Delhi, the county seat
of Delaware County, New York, March 4, 1830, being the son of Nathaniel and
Damaris Steele, his mother being the daughter of Silas Johnson, Esq., of the
same county. The family consisted of two daughters and seven sons, the eldest,
Emily E., becoming the wife of Mr. Moore, for many years Sheriff of Delaware
County, and now living in Delhi; Osman N., who, as Under Sheriff, was killed by
riotous "anti-renters" while in discharge of his duty; Mrs. Anna Cordelia Howe,
now of Boston, Massachusetts; the late Hon. John B., an eminent lawyer of New
York, and for several terms Representative in Congress; Gen. Frederick Steele, a
distinguished officer of the army in the war with Mexico, and during the
Rebellion, now deceased; Isaac C., of San Mateo County; Judge George Steele, of
San Luis Obispo; E. W., the subject of this sketch, and William, who died when
young. The father and mother died in 1860 and 1861, in Sonoma County, California.

In the days preceding the construction of railroads the name of N. Steele & Co.
became familiar to the people of southeastern New York, being emblazoned on
nearly all the gaily painted stage coaches, that were then the pride of the
country, traversing that section of the State. Nathaniel Steele was the
proprietor of the great line of stages from Catskill on the Hudson River,
through Delhi, to Ithaca, traversing the counties of Greene, Delaware, Otsego,
Chenango, Broome and Tompkins, being one of the main thoroughfares of travel
connecting the metropolis with the West. He had as a "silent" partner an astute
and cunning lawyer, who is remembered as Old Sam. Sherwood, who, being
unscrupulous as well as able, finally caused the ruin of Mr. Steele. Sherwood
was the agent of the granters to much of the land about Delhi, and sold a large
tract to Steele, who paid him for it, and built saw-mills, and transported large
quantities of lumber by rafts on the Delaware River to the Philadelphia market.
Sherwood never accounted for the money paid, and Steele was compelled to pay a
second time. He besides became involved by indorsing notes for others, debts
accumulated against the stage company, and in the financial revulsion of 1835 he
failed in business. Then in 1836 he removed with the younger children of the
family to the forests of Ohio, settling on the "Western Reserve," and there
proceeded to make a new home. The location was upon a half acre of clearing, and
out of the abundant timber he went to work with such tools as the pioneer
possessed, to make a dwelling. In such a manner were the farms of Ohio hewn out
of the woods.

  There E. W. remained until thirteen years of age, when he was invited by his
uncle, Dr. Ebenezer Steele, a prominent physician of Delhi, to return to his
native place, receive a thorough education, and learn the profession of doctor
of medicine. Three elder brothers and two sisters had remained East; John B.
Steele was a practicing lawyer in Otsego County, Osman Steele was Under Sheriff
of Delaware County, and Frederick Steele was a cadet at the Military Academy. E.
W. returned to Delhi and passed the first winter in the office of his brother
Osman. He had attended school in Ohio, where, by hard study, he had become
proficient in arithmetic, grammar and other elementary branches constituting a
fair education for that period at this age. When fourteen years of age he
entered the office of Dr. Steele, who, as was then the custom of many country
physicians, also kept a drug store, and E. W. was clerk as well as student. He
nominally attended the Delhi Academy, studying in the office, attending to his
duties in the drug store, and going to the academy to recite his lessons. In
this time he studied Latin under the instruction of General Root, who was for
several terms Member of Congress from the Delaware District Dr. Steele had a
partner in the drug store who was a tyrannical and passionate man, with whom the
young student could not abide, and after remaining in the office one and a half
years he left and resided with his sister, Mrs. Moore, and attended the academy
one year. There he finished his studies of algebra, geometry, and surveying,
standing at the head of his class, where were a number of proficient scholars
striving for the position. Then in his seventeenth year he returned to Ohio, and
through the winter of 1847-48 was engaged as school teacher at a salary of
$12.00 a month. When the term of teaching was over, he, with his brother George,
went to Oberlin, to the college at that place, his father and mother moving to
the town to board and care for the young students. He remained at the Oberlin
College one year, studying, among other branches, Latin and Greek, having
General Cox, afterwards Governor of Ohio, for tutor, and among his classmates
was L. N. Sheldon, now Governor of New Mexico.

  When the year was past the family returned to the farm, and E. W. again
engaged as school teacher through the winter, receiving a salary of $16.00 a
month, which was then thought quite munificent.

  Closing his school, in the spring of 1850 he took the farms of his father and
his brother Isaac to work on shares, and also took a contract for clearing land.
At these he worked with all his power and energy, and in the season of his
lease, ending in the fall, had cleared $150. He then resumed teaching through
the winter, and when spring came entered upon a new enterprise. A system of
teaching geography by outline maps had been introduced, and Steele expended the
greater part of his capital in the purchase of maps, and went into the southern
part of the State to establish and teach the new method. He went to several
places and taught evening schools, meeting with poor success, until all his
means were exhausted, having but one copper cent in his purse. Then at
Centerville he at last got a paying class and was making five dollars each
evening, when he was taken with typhoid fever, which nearly cost him his life.
Fifteen persons boarding at the same hotel were taken sick at the same time, and
all died but two. He was at last taken to his parents' home but a wreck of his
former self. Upon his recovery he again found a school on the shore of Lake
Erie. This was attended by young men who were employed as sailors on the lake
during summer and attended school during winter. The rough manners of their
sailor life they brought with them to the temple of learning. Being accustomed
to authority supported by physical force, they thought to override the slight
young teacher, and one of the bullies of the school engaged him in pitch battle,
in which the teacher came out triumphant, when all acknowledged obedience, and
the school became remarkably orderly and successful.

  Mr. Steele's ambition was for a high, classical, and scientific education, and
his early years were a struggle under adverse circumstances to obtain the
desired object. With the little means accumulated he went to Cleveland, and
§pent one year at the university. To assist in bearing his expenses he rented a
few acres of land in the vicinity, and a room in which he could board himself,
and thus, by cultivating his ground, selling the products, and by his economy he
was enabled to pass the term. He also attended a singing school, and became so
proficient that before leaving Cleveland he was chosen as leader of the choir in
the Presbyterian Church. At that time the father's little farm on the Reserve
was heavily encumbered with debt, and E. W. returned to it to aid in its
redemption. That being accomplished the desire arose to seek a brighter home in
California. Gen. Fred. Steele, then a Captain, had accompanied his old
commander, General Riley, the hero of Contreras, to California, at the close of
the Mexican War, and had told his brothers, in glowing terms, of the beauties
and promises of the golden land, and in 1855 George and his cousin, Rensaelur E.
Steele, had migrated thither, leading the way for the family.

  In the middle of April, 1856, E. W. Steele, with his father and mother, and
Mrs. R. E. Steele and two children, left New York on the steamer George Law for
the Isthmus and California. The passage of the Isthmus was most eventful. As the
great train of cars, crowded with passengers, neared Panama it was learned that
a riot was in progress, and the train must return to Aspinwall. The locomotive
could not be changed and the train was backed. In crossing a deep, marshy stream
the bridge gave way and several cars plunged beneath the water, with others
piled a wreck upon them. Upwards of 200 people were drowned or killed by the
accident, and many more injured. The details and extent of this terrible
disaster were carefully suppressed by the railroad officials. The car in which
were Mr. Steele and family remained on the track and none in it were injured.

  The steamer Golden Age brought them to San Francisco on the day of the funeral
of James King of Wm., and the passengers, in landing, witnessed the execution of
Casey and Cora by the Vigilance Committee. The city was then in the possession
of the Vigilance Committee, and defying the State and national authorities. But
there was no occasion for the new-comers remaining, as George and R. E. Steele,
who had rented a farm near Petaluma, were there to meet them and conduct them to
their home.

  In June, 1856, E. W. commenced his California career, beginning by taking a
contract to cut and bind a field of oats at $2.50 an acre. The work was done
with cradles, E. W., in one day, binding eight acres, where the yield was fifty
bushels an acre. When harvesting was done he bought five cows, paying for the
same $75.00 per head, and commenced making butter. Thus opened the winter of
1857, and in addition to his dairy work he leased some land for farming, and,
becoming acquainted with the people of the neighborhood, organized a singing
school, which he taught one day each week, and realized from it $40.00 a month,
which seemed like showering wealth upon him. During the winter he put in eighty
acres of grain and potatoes. George Steele was teaching school in the meantime.
In the spring Isaac C. Steele joined the family, and then they purchased of
Tustin & Lewis twenty-five head of cows; and extended their dairying business.
Tustin & Lewis had been engaged in dairying, and the brand of C. T., being the
initials of Columbus Tustin, has been the cattle brand of Steele Bros, ever
since.  Prosperity had attended their work in California, and the brothers and
cousin joined together for work on a larger scale. Isaac and E. W., in company
with Lewis, went exploring for land suitable for dairying purposes. They visited
Point Reyes, on the ocean coast, and at once Lewis ejaculated, "It is low
Heaven!" They decided to locate. There appeared an abundance of rich bunch grass
and clover, with many springs of cold water, and the prevalent fogs gave
encouragement of maintaining fresh feed. Some people discouraged the enterprise,
saying the cold fogs kept the grass in such a condition that it would support
only the lank Spanish cattle, and that butter-making at Point Reyes was utterly
out of the question. A man named Richards claimed the land, having derived title
through Dr. Randall, the supposed owner of the grant. Richards willingly leased
one and a half leagues of the land, granting the privilege of purchase at $3.00
an acre when he obtained a patent, or at a rental of $25.00 a month for the
whole. The Steeles then took 125 head of cows of Lewis, giving half the butter
or cheese made and one-sixth of the calves when weaned. They then had 155 cows,
took possession of their land on the 4th of July, 1857, being the first dairy at
Point Reyes, or on the coast of Marin County. Richards lost the land, and
therefore the Steeles had no rent to pay for their occupancy. Shafter, Park, and
Hydenfeldt, attorneys, became the owners of the land. They would not sell, but
granted a lease of eight years on the terms of giving every sixth calf. The
.Steeles had then increased their number of cows to 355, and maintained three
dairies. Butter and cheese were made, the cream being taken for the first and
the buttermilk returned to the cheese vats, adding enough value to pay for all
the hired help employed. Butter was sold readily at $1.00 a pound, and cheese at
twenty-seven cents, the demand for them being greater than they could supply.
The wages of dairymen and manufacturers then were the same as at present.
One-half the butter and cheese from 125 cows the first year went to Lewis, who
received $6,000 for same. At the end of three years the Steeles had paid for all
their improvements and had 400 head of cows of their own. In 1859 they bought
125 cows at $26.00 each, and started two dairies independent of the Lewis stock.
In 1861 their cows had increased to 600 head, besides some young stock, all
their improvements were paid for, and they had $10,000 cash as the result of
four years' dairying. In 1862 they greatly extended their business by leasing
for ten years the Pescadero Rancho of 18,000 acres in San Mateo County, paying a
rental of $6,000 and taxes, and having the privilege of purchasing 7,000 acres
at six dollars an acre, the rate to increase ten per cent, per annum. This ranch
they afterwards bought. Eleven hundred head of cows were bought for the
Pescadero at an average of fifteen dollars per head. The cold fogs of the ocean
swept over Pescadero, and the same stories were told of its inaptitude for a
dairy farm as of Point Reyes, but the Steele's believed it would prove as much
of a cow heaven as the other had. In the first year $18,000 was paid out for
improvements, and $17,000 cleared on the cheese made, besides the increase of
stock. The Point Reyes'dairies were also yielding large profits. The years 1863
and 1864 were the disastrously dry years of California, but there was rain at
Pescadero and Point Reyes, and the business of the dairies went on. The products
were then in great demand, and the cheese sold as fast as it could be made at
twenty-five cents per pound. During this long period, E. W. Steele performed his
daily task of milking twenty cows, as did the hired men. He also made cheese,
attended to the outside business, and kept the books of the firm, working
regularly sixteen hours each day. At that time the State had eleven dairies,
including those at Pescadero and Point Reyes, the first paying a net profit of
$18,000, and the latter $9,000 per annum.

  In 1864, when the War of the Rebellion was at its height, the Steele's made a
monstrous cheese, weighing 3,850 pounds, and presented it to the "Sanitary
Commission." This mammoth cheese was the product of all the dairies of the
Pescadero Rancho for two days. A gigantic hoop and press were made for the
purpose, and novel appliances were required to handle the great weight and
safely transport it to San Francisco, it being over twenty feet in circumference
and eighteen inches thick, thoroughly made, and of the richest quality. When at
its destination, it was announced as the "Sanitary Cheese," and placed on
exhibition at the Mechanics' Fair, where it attracted great attention. While
there, it was cut up and sold, realizing $3,000 net for the "Sanitary Commission."

  In 1864, Mr. Steele leased his dairies and went East on a visit to his old
home, and when the war closed in 1865 took a tour through the Southern States,
spending two years in travel. His excessive toil and many cares through his
eight years of California life had almost broken him down, and he was compelled
to take a rest, but he had made a comfortable fortune, his property bringing him
an income of between $5,000 and $6,000 a year.

  He returned to California in 1866. Then the lease of the Point Reyes' property
expired, and it was necessary to find new land for the cows.

  The drought of 1864 had destroyed the cattle of the southern counties, and the
great ranchos were reported for sale at low rates. He visited San Luis Obispo,
and took a ride over the Corral de Piedra, Pismo, Balsa de Chemissal, and Arroyo
Grande Ranchos. He at once declared, "This, too, is cow heaven," and at once
decided on the purchase. Forty-five thousand acres were offered him at one
dollar and ten cents an acre, and without haggling he bought, or contracted for
the purchase, and soon thereafter took possession, the firm of Steele Brothers
joining. There was afterwards found a defect in the signature of one of the
heirs to the Corral de Piedra, although a complete understanding and payment was
proven, but the opportunity was given for a legal sharp to extort money, and
suit for the land was commenced. A man from New York was brought in to act as
plaintiff for the purpose of getting the case in the United States Courts. Upon
trial before the United States District Court, the case was decided in favor of
the Steeles, Judge Hoffman delivering a long and able opinion upon it, covering
all the points and so plainly showing the correctness and justice of the
Steeles' actions that there appeared no question of the validity of their title.
But the case was appealed to the United States Supreme Court where the decision
of Judge Hoffman was reversed, and they were compelled to pay others for their
property, costing them over $150,000, making the land quite dear. This entailed
debts and mortgages at enormous rates of interest, and blocked the prospect for
the great fortune they would have otherwise secured.

  When Steele came to San Luis Obispo in June, 1866, there were no dairies in
the county, and the country was a wilderness. They stocked the ranchos with 600
cows, employed 100 men, and during the first five years expended $20,000 a year
in improvements, building fences, dairy houses, etc. As it was necessary to
raise feed for their cattle, some of their land was devoted to farming, and so a
general extensive business was carried on.

  In later years the great ranchos have been divided into small farms and sold,
and are now occupied by hundreds of the most thrifty and prosperous farmers of
the State. The Steele's brought to San Luis Obispo $40,000 in money besides
their large stock of cattle, and have here continually prospered, but by
enterprises in other parts of California have met with losses aggregating near
half a million dollars, besides interest on debts incurred in their first
unfortunate law suit and other embarrassments. The fertile San Luis Obispo,
however, with constant labor, indomitable courage, unyielding energy, and great
financial ability, has carried them through their difficulties and left them
with handsome fortunes.

  In 1875, E. W. Steele bought the Knight Valley Rancho, including the noted
Kellogg watering-place in Sonoma County, having as partners the notorious
Stuart, afterwards County Clerk of San Francisco, Elder, Kellogg, and Laird.
Entering with the same partners into quicksilver mining in Sonoma and Lake
Counties, and intrusting the management to Stuart, he soon became involved and
at last settled and retired from the concern with a loss of about $300,000. He
also attempted mining for quicksilver in his own county, in company with others,
and expended $10,000 without any returns. In many other enterprises in which he
has been engaged he has met with success. He was one of the incorporators of the
Bank of San Luis Obispo, and for a period was its President, and was also one of
the incorporators of the San Luis Obispo Water Company, both of which have
proven remunerative and of great benefit to the city and county. He is a
prominent member of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, and is a Director of the
Grangers Business Association. He is also a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, of the Chosen Friends, and of the Knights of Honor. In society he
is the most genial and pleasant of men, and his hospitality and generosity are
unbounded.

  Politically, he is a Republican, and has been invited to become a candidate
for the State Senate and Assembly, but his important business has always
compelled him to decline. But the business of the county and locality in which
he is so much interested demands and receives his attention, and these he has
served by acting as Road Overseer and County Supervisor, being at present
President of the Board. In public matters he is foremost, and in all questions
of public interest always takes a prominent part.

  In 1866, he married Miss Julia P. Stanley, of Ohio, daughter of General
Stanley, of the United States Army, and sister of Hon. H. Y. Stanley, of Arroyo
Grande. The marriage took place at Chattanooga, Tennessee, where General Stanley
was then in command. The lady died the following year.

  June 24, 1876, he married Miss Emma E. Smith, a lady of culture and
refinement. Mrs. Steele was born in Lockport, New York, her father being Pratt
Smith, a well-known lumber merchant of western New York and Canada. Her mother's
maiden name was Hopkins, and she was a granddaughter of Stephen Hopkins, one of
the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Steele received a superior
education, graduating at the Buffalo Female Academy, and adopted the profession
of teacher. She was invited to the position of teacher in the Santa Barbara
College, where she taught with great success until her marriage in 1876. Of her
profession and success as teacher she is justly proud, and in the wealth and
comfort of her present life, refers to it with pleasure as the evidence of
ability, strength of character, and the performance of noble duties. Mr. and
Mrs. Steele have one son, Edgar J., born August 26, 1878, a bright and promising
boy, and the hope of his happy and worthy parents. Their home is on their grand
farm of 2,000 acres of the choice of the Corral de Piedra, and in their pleasant
dwelling, surrounded by fruits and flowers, and embowered by lofty trees, they
welcome their many friends.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
CALIFORNIA

WITH

Illustrations and Biographical Sketches
OF ITS
PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.


OAKLAND, CAL.
THOMPSON & WEST

1883.


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