MERL STEELE FAMILY REUNION
This website is dedicated to the memory of Merl and Emma Steele.
Merl Steele - Biography
Grandparents - Henry Steele of Pennsylvania and Abigail Lane married (date unknown) in Troger City, N.Y., Aswego County. They had 9 children, the 4th being Simeon Steele, Merl's father. Henry Steele died 5/6/1897 and Abigail died 6/25/1868. Both are buried at Old East Cemetery in New Haven, Ohio.
Parents - Simeon Steele (2/9/1849 to 3/18/1938) married Amy Spilette (birth & death unknown) on May 13, 1873. They had a houseful with 6 boys. One of these was Merl, born 6/27/1882. Simeon is buried at Westside Cemetery in New Haven, Ohio and Amy is buried at Goodwill Cemetery outside Tiro, Ohio.
Emma Matilda (Fox) Steele - Biography
Grandparents - William Fox (6/30/1819 to unknown) and Elizabeth (9/5/1826 to unknown) were married in England. They had 12 children. Their first child was Joseph Fox and he was born in England. Joseph was about 6 weeks old when he and his parents arrived in America. It is know that a black man traveled with them to Ohio. It is not known what his place was with the family (slave, indentured servant, etc.). Both William and Elizabeth are buried at Swamp Cemetery, Seneca County, north of New Washington, Ohio.
(Note: English relatives corresponded with family until World War I, thought to live in Sussex County.)
Parents - Joseph Fox (12/9/1852 to 2/3/1929) married Barbara Light (1858 to 1931). Emma Matilda Fox was the 2nd of 8 children. Joseph and Barbara are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Plymouth, Ohio.
Merl and Emma Steele
Merl (6/27/1882 to ) and Emma (6/6/1887 to 6/27/1962) were married 12/23/1903. Originally they set up housekeeping west of Celeryville, Ohio and later moved between Indiana and Ohio. They had 12 children. Ten of the 12 grew to adulthood while 2 died early in childhood (Albert, shy of 2 years old and Bulah, 17 months old).
Name D.O.B. Place Death Burial Place
Lester Pearl 08/08/1904 Willard 08/04/1985 Elkart, IN
Myrtle Theresa 01/28/1906 Willard 06/03/1982 Elkart, IN
Albert 12/06/1908 11/18/1910 Plymouth, OH
Clarence Charles 04/21/1911 06/07/1972 Shiloh, OH
Roy Daniel 08/24/1913 02/28/1982 Shiloh, OH
Bulah Lucille 06/30/1916 11/11/1917 Elkart, IN
Proctor Lewis 03/06/1919 Elkart 01/07/1993 Shiloh, OH
Goldie Bessie 02/08/1923 Elkart
Claude Eugene 04/12/1925 Shiloh 06/04/1996 Shiloh, OH
Cleo Rosella 09/05/1928 Shiloh 10/28/1992 Warner Robins, GA
Leo Robert 09/05/1928 Shiloh 04/18/2000 Plymouth, OH
Note: Cleo and Leo were twins
Rose Rebecca 06/08/1931 Shiloh
Merl worked the railroad until he received a disabling back injury and Emma would do laundry and ironing to help make ends meet. They enjoyed playing cards and going to the free movies in Plymouth on Saturday night.
Merl and Emma lived together in a farmhouse located between Shelby, Ohio and Tiro, Ohio. Emma contracted cancer and had to be moved to a nursing home where she later died. Merl stayed a few more years at the farmhouse with their son, Leo. Later he moved in with his daughter, Rose, and her family. After beating surgery for a brain tumor, a broken hip and other minor illnesses, he died one spring morning after his daily routine. Merl and Emma Steele are buried at the Plymouth Cemetery.
(Family history provided by Goldie Steele Crabaugh and Rose Steele Mount to Sheila Mount Sear)