"The Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana"
1988 Page 482
BURTON STEELE, son of BASIL and MARTHA A. (McALLISTER) STEEL, is one of the
leading citizens of Sheffield Township. He was born in Ross County, Ohio,
August 6, 1842, and was about four years of age when brought to this county.
He was reared on the old homestead in Sheffield Township, and was educated
in the schools at Wyandotte and the Stockwell High School. He was married
March 6, 1866, to MIss SARAH E. MICHAELS, a native of La Fayette Indiana,
and daughter JOHN B. and SARAH (LEE) MICHAELS. Her father was an active and
influential man in the early history of the county, and for some time was
connected with the press of La Fayette. JOHN B. MICHAELS was a son of MOSES
and SARAH MICHAELS, and was born at Albany, Edwards County, Illinois, in
1818. Mrs.. MICHAELS was a daughter of WILLIAM and HANNAH LEE, and was born
in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1819. They were untied in marriage May 26,
1840. Mr.. and Mrs.. LEE were among the earliest settlers of Sheffield
Township, and one of their sons, SMITH LEE, was at one time auditor of the
county. He was a Mason of high standing, and also an Odd Fellow, and was
one of La Fayette's most esteemed citizens. He was holding the office of
county sheriff at the time of his death, which occurred December 8, 1847.
To BARTON STEEL and his wife were born two children--MAY, born February 2,
1869, and FRANK, born October 15, 1870. Mr. STEELE has lived on his present
farm since his marriage, with the exception of ten months spent in Texas,
and in 1880 he erected his present substantial residence, and the same year
built a fine barn. His farm consists of eighty-three acres of choice land,
and everything about the place indicates care and thrift. In politics, Mr.
STEELE is a Republican.
He was elected township trustee in April, 1886, which office he still holds
with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He has always
taken an active interest in the advancement of religion, education and
temperance, and every enterprise for the advancement of the same has his
encouragement and support. Both he and his wife are active members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church at Dayton, and he is superintendent of the
Sabbath School.