John Samuel Steele
The year of 1854 was an uncommonly dry year and the grasshoppers had destroyed most of the crops in Grantsville Tooele. The spring and summer was a "season of much suffering" Greesewood and various kinds of weeds were cooked as greens for food. Roots and sego were eaten to sustain Life. The lucky people of Grantsville had Milk In these desperate circumstances John Samuel Steele was born on 25 Mar 1854 to Samuel Hamblin Steele and Nancy Bailey Steele in this town of Grantsville, Tooele, Utah. He arrived into this little blended family consisting of two surviving children of Samuel Hamblin Steele and Elivra Thayer Lovina Ann who was then 10 years old, and Albert Almon who was six years old. (Three of the children died at an early age they are Almira Jane, Mary Ann and Samuel Chester.) Nancy had two children with her previous husband Herito Orton while living in Nauvoo- Ruth Ellen who was also 6 years old and Jamima Jane who was only 4 years old. Nancy and Samuel had an older son who had been born to them in Grantsville by the name of Charles Almon who died, 4 Jun 1853. He was only, 7 months 2wks 4 days when he passed away. He is buried in the Grantsville cemetery. This was a tremendous trial to them both and when John Samuel was born their hearts rejoiced once again. It was not an easy life for this little family. Brigham Young had asked them to help settle Grantsville Tooele. They were among the first eight families there. Samuel was a wonderful veterinarian and also a great doctor and dentist. He was the town referee, which is similar to the sheriff now days. He was a friend to the Indians and had to spend a lot of time away from home. The fort had been built to protect the families from the Indians just before John was born. His first home was safe inside the fort. Nancy learned to rely on John at a very young age and he was soon helping the little family all he could with the farming and taking care of the animals. On the13th of July, 1856 a new baby brother was born. His name was William Bailey.
In 1857 Johnston's Army caused some worry and stress for the people of Grantsville. The government accused the Mormons of rebelling against the authority of the United States, mostly because of the issue of polygamy. This gave Buchanan the pretext he needed. He removed Brigham Young as governor and appointed Alfred Cumming in his stead, and ordered five thousand troops to accompany him to the territory, under the command of Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston. They were threatened and feared for their home and families. When the Army left and peace was once again restored.

Then on the 27th of July, 1858 a new little sister came to live with the Steele family in Grantsville. They named her Roswell. She was a beautiful little girl. During this year many families began to move south leaving some of the men to set fire to the homes. This was also due to the return of Johnston's army. The Steele family stayed in Grantsville for a while longer. Then on the 8th of May, 1860 a little boy Charles Owen was born. When he was only six months old, tragedy struck once again on the 13th of November, 1860. Little Roswell returned to her Father in Heaven and the whole Steele family were broken hearted. On September 28th 1861 John's half Sister Lovina Ann was married to Benjamin Franklin Barrus. He was born on the 30th of May 1838 in CATTERAUGUS, CHAUTAUQUA, New York. He was the son of Emery Barrus and Huldah Abigail Nickerson Barrus. Their family was also one of the first eight families to settle Grantsville.

On the 23rd of April 1862. a little baby girl was born She was named Nancy after her mother. The little family was living in Grantsville in 1862 but by the16th of July, 1864 when Susan Cynthia was born they had moved to Goshen, Utah. John was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints on the 15th of August, 1864. He was 10 years old. His Father and Mother were personal friends of the Prophet Joseph Smith and His father was a body guard for him before he was martyred. So John Samuel had quite a legacy handed to him. Then on September 11, 1864 John's other half sister Ruth Ellen Orton was married to William Henry Page. William was born the 25th of August 1838. in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. Ruth was sixteen years old and William was 26. They were married in Goshen and raised their family of eleven children there.
On September 5th 1865 President Brigham Young and several of the Apostles and other leading men of the Church, stopped at Goshen on their way to the southern wards. The travelers were tired and very dusty from the loose clay alkali soil they encountered in Goshen Valley west of Utah Lake. A news reporter noted at that time that Goshen consisted of Log cabins adobe houses and dugouts. A green tree would be hard to find. Fruit trees would not survive. They had a meeting in the bowery located on the south side of the log schoolhouse. This is how Goshen was when John Samuel came to Goshen with his family. Franklin D Richards, Brigham Young and Ezra Taft Benson and Lorenzo Snow spoke at the meeting encouraging the saints to improve the land that the Lord God had given them. They were told to do this and in a few years Goshen would be see beautiful orchards here shade trees and good houses to live in.
Jemima Jane Orton, John's other half sister was married to Benjamin Leonard Thayer on the 10th of October, 1965 in Salt Lake City Utah. They had five children. The railroad came to Utah and went through Goshen. John Samuel's father Samuel Hamblin Steele and one of his older sons, (it could have been John or Albert.) helped to complete the line.
While living in Goshen, Almira Bertha was born on the13th of April, 1867. Then another llittle brother was born on the 30th of December, 1867. They named him Brigham Bailey. On the first of January 1968, John Half brother, Albert Almon Married Ellen Wilson. She is the daughter of Wellington Paul Wilson and Rebecca McBride. She was born on the 2ed of November 1850 in Taylor, Appanoose, Iowa. They raised 10 children in Goshen, Utah.

By this time the little family was not so little any more then on the 27th of January, 1870 the family grew again. This time twins were born a beautiful little girl they named Martha and a beautiful little boy they named Leonard B. The last addition to this family was Chester Bailey who was born on the 7th of January, 1871. John went with his family to the Manti Temple and they were all sealed to their parents on the 9th of January, 1889. This was a great deal of comfort to John to know that he would see all his family again and be with them.
John married Elizabeth GOURLEY . Elizabeth was born 1858 in Grantsville, Tooele, Utah.
John also married Minnie WEBB . Minnie was born in 1858 in Silver City,.
Not much is know at this time about these two marriages.

I guess with John the third time was the charm. When John was 38 years old he married Sarah Ellen SOMERVILLE daughter of William SOMERVILLE and Eleanor Jane DAVIS on the 8th of January, 1892 in Utah. Sarah was born on the15th of September, 1866 in Spanish Fork, Utah.
John and Sarah Ellen moved to Mona, Juab, Utah. This is where their first three children were born. Their first Daughter, Nancy Eleanor Steele was born on 1 Aug 1893 In Mona, Juab, Utah.(.She died on 11 Aug 1971) She married Hyrum Jensen On the 11th of November, 1910. He was born in 1888 in Mona Utah. They had at least one child.
A Son John Earl Steele was born on 9 Nov 1894 in Mona, Juab, Utah. (He died on 5 Apr 1941)
Another Son,.Lorus Ray Steele was born on 21 Sep 1896 in Mona, Juab, Utah. His stay was very short in the Steele home because he died on 28 Nov 1896. He was only two months old. John and Sarah were saddened by the loss of their infant son but found peace in the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ that they would one day be with him once more. Shortly after this John and Sarah moved their little family to back to Goshen. They had five more children in Goshen. A Son, Don Claude Steele was born on 27 Jun 1898 in Goshen, Utah.
He married Ruby Smith who was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, in1903 to John Moroni Smith and Ida May Foutz. She had 10 brothers and sisters and the lived in Pleasant Grove. Don and Ruby had seven children .
(He died on 8 Jan 1962 in Payson, Utah. He was buried on 12 Jan 1962.)
A daughter. Elgie Steele was born on 6 Jan 1900, in Goshen, Utah.(She died on 17 Nov 1991.) Elgie married Albion Kaparis SANDERSON on 12 Mar 1919. Albion was born on 22 Nov 1894 in Santaquin, Utah
They had two sons. Albion Dwaine SANDERSON and Don Samuel SANDERSON.
Don was born on 2 Mar 1921 in Goshen, Utah, Utah. He was christened in 25 MAR 1921.( He died Goshen, Utah, Utah.) Elgie married Israel Bernard BALE son of Israel Clifford BALE and Hannah SIMISTER on 29 Jan 1924 in Provo, Utah.
Israel was born on 2 Jul 1896 in Nephi, Juab, Utah.( He died in Jun 1971 in Santaquin, Utah.)

Another daughter,. Rhoda Steele was born on 20 Sep 1901.(She died on 6 September 1969.)
Rhoda married John Leo MALCOLM . John was born on 2 Jun 1893 in Eureka, Juab, Utah. He died on 16 Nov 1948 They had a son named
Wendel Leo MALCOLM . He was born in 1923 in Goshen, Utah (He died in 1924 in Goshen, Utah.)

Another daughter, Effie Steele was born on 3 Feb 1903 in Goshen, Utah. (She died on 22 May 1921) A daughter, Nellie Steele was born about 1907 in Goshen, Utah She married Charles Darwin BROADHEAD. He was born 19 Oct 1906 in Heber, Wasatch , Utah. He died on the 23rd May 1976 in Heber and was buried
27 May 1976 in Heber Utah. He was the son of David Broadhead and Lydia Ann Sweat. Nellie and Charles had five children, three boys and two girls. Charles had 11 brothers and sisters.


Sara Ellen died at a very young age she was only 42 years old. Sarah Ellen Somerville died on the 6th of February, 1908 in Goshen, Utah. She was buried in Goshen cemetery
Sarah left behind a large family. Nancy was the oldest at the time of her death and she was only 15 years old. John Earl was 14, Lorus Ray was 12, Don Claude was 10, Elgie was 8, Ronda was only 7 years old. And little Effie was only 5. Nellie was believed to be only a new baby. One can only imagine the overwhelming task of losing your beloved wife and having the total responsibility of the eight children to take care of.
John lived thirty one years after his beloved Sarah Ellen passed away. This was a long lonely time for John and he was grateful to his children and grandchildren for their love and concern for him.
A tragedy occurred once again when his daughter Effie died 22 May 1921 at the age of 18 years old. She never married and is buried in Goshen cemetery.
John Samuel died on 4 Oct 1939 in Goshen, Juab, Utah. He was buried in the Goshen city cemetery along side of his beloved Sarah in Goshen, Juab, Utah

Compiled and written by Rose Mary Downey Nyman



. Sources—
Family PAF files,
The History of Grantsville Toeele
The History of Goshen Utah by Raymond D Steele
History of Samuel Hamblin Steele
History of the LDS Church

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