Bradford County Archives Bios.....STEELE, Ira D. 1839-1900, Elwell, Bradford County, PA
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Jolene Barnhart Nagle jkjnagle@erols.com
  
  BIOGRAPHY & MEMORIAL OF IRA DANIEL STEELE
  BORN 07/11/1839 - DIED 06/26/1900
  PENNSYLVANIA, USA
  
  The following is a wonderful story portraying the life, times and
  character of IRA DANIEL STEELE.  It was written by an unknown cousin of
  Irašs at the time of his death.  There was no signature or date on the
  story and it is handwritten.  This handwritten story was given to me,
  Jolene Barnhart Nagle, by my father, Leon Arthur Barnhart in 1995.  Leon
  Barnhart is the son of Lillian Eleanor Steele and John Bernard Barnhart
  of Montrose, PA.  The following is exactly (mistakes and all)
  transcribed as written and it goes something like this:
  
  HERE AND THERE
  
  Thing old and new from Berwick to Wyalusing
  Life, death and funeral of Ira Daniel Steele
  
  While preparing to return to Berwick I refceived a telegram noting the
  death of my cousin Ira Steele of Elwell, Bradford County.  In 1898 I met
  for the first time the subject of this sketch and in 1899 I met him
  again.
  
  Ira Steele was born in or near Dallas about 61 years ago and was a son
  of William and Polly Steward Steele.  He died on June 26, 1900.  When a
  child his parents moved to Sciotavale beyond Mehoopany.  His grandfather
  was Peter Steele Jr. Who died in Jackson, Luzerne County about 43 years
  ago.  He was a great grandson of Peter Steele who came from North
  Ireland in 1763 and settled in Plymouth about 1860.  He married
  Margaret, daughter of John Hunsinger.
  
  He is survived by his wife, five boys, Orwell, Harvey, Clark Raymond and
  Maynard and three girls, Celina, Rebecca and Hannah, two brothers,
  William and Thomas and one sister, Jane Tuttle also survive.
  
  He had been complaining for some weeks of internal pains, but Monday,
  June 25, soon after 5 ošclock he was taken so violently ill that he left
  his work in the field and calling loudly for help, came slowly to the
  house.  A physician was hastily summoned from Wayalusing but care and
  medical skill and a ppowerful will could not save him and he died in
  great agony the following afternoon at 5:30 ošclock.
  
  His funeral took place on June 29 at the church at Cooley about three
  miles from his home.  Rev. Mr. (?) Stover of the Evangelical Church of
  Dushmore officiated at the grave as also did Jackson G.A.R. of
  Wyalusing.  The funeral procession was nearly a mile in length and was
  directed by ndertaker Wells of Wyalusing.  After  the funeral a large
  number of friends and relatives were invited to the house where after
  rest and refreshment the will was read.
  
  A brief sketch of his life and work may be of interest.  His parents and
  grandparents were poor but kind honest people.  And he determined when a
  very young man if hard unceasing labor would afford him property and
  plenty, he would have the so in 1861 possesing a wife, a child an ax he
  barganed for a piece of woodland in Wilmot Township, Bradford County.
  There was no road thrrough it, nor to it and he cut away trees and
  bushes for a place to set a small log house.  It was in a hollow almost
  surrounded by hills and he use to say the only way he could see the sky
  was to look straight up.
  
  He worked almost day and night and sold wood timbers, wheat and cattle
  and had the satifaction of hserving (?) barns and fields and flocks by
  the hundred of acres.  He not only a hard working man but his plans were
  remarkably fortunate and plenty smiled around him.  He delights in five
  large horses and an old gentleman in Sugar Run said Ira Steele had the
  best horses in this county and thats why I know when one of his sons
  drives past here.  The same man said he was a good man and his word was
  as good as his note.  A man in Wyalusing said "he would not cheat a man
  in the things he sold him".
  
  He had a powerful unyielding will and would let no pleasure or plan or
  person stand in his way of accumulating.  He gave almost no time the
  pleasure of visiting to church or to Lodge.  I would not call him an
  unbeleiver for while not taking time to attend church except at am
  occasional funeral he did not deny the scriptures not the creator and in
  the last painful hours of his left he tried to find inner pease of mind
  by calling on the name of the most high.  This proves that one thing is
  needful and it is needed when life work friends and property fail
  
  When in the procession near the top of the hill I looked forward nearlu
  half mile and backwards about the same distance.  I thought of the
  contrast for years ago he walked dow there into a pathless worrks with
  and ax - now in a magnificent casket he is follwoed by hundreds of
  friends and neighbors to the cemetary.
  
  END