He was born in 1837/38, in Pennsylvania, probably to James and Elizabeth Steel. [sources: date: 5 (25 in 1863), 6 (25 in 1863), 13 (13 in 1850), 14 (31 in 1860). place: 5, 6, 13, 14). parents: 13]
In 1850, he was living in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was living with James and Elizabeth Steel (presumably his parents), with William G and Elizabeth Steel (presumably his siblings), and with Melisa O Hanger. [source: 13]
On 1 September 1859, he married Elizabeth Shokley. She was born in 1837. He was living in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; she was living in Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. They were married in Fairview Township, Armstrong County, by William Hagerson, Justice of the Peace. They had two children:
[sources: 12, 17]
In 1860, he was living in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Elizabeth, their child Reuben H, and with John Sholl. He was a farmer, and owned $123 in personal property. [source: 14]
When he enlisted, he was a farmer. [sources: 5, 6]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 9-1/4 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, hazel eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 5, 6]
He was drafted. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 17 July 1863 in the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry. He enlisted for three years. His service was credited to the 23rd congressional district. He served in company M. [sources: 1, 5, 6, 11, 12]
On 5 May 1864, he was captured, during the Battle of the Wilderness. [sources: 4, 12]
He was transferred on 20 July 1864 from company M of the 62nd Pennsylvania to the 91st. On 21 July 1864, he, and the other members of companies L and M, were assigned to company G. On 22 July 1864, they were transferred to company K, following brigade orders to assign them to the smallest company. He was then absent, as a private. He was a private in company K. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 11, 21]
He died on 2 September 1864 in Andersonville, Georgia, of diarrhea. He was a private, in company K. He is buried there, in grave 7,638. [sources: 1, 4 (in parole camp), 11, 12, 18, 21]
At the end of June 1865, the regiment reported him absent, in Pittsburg Hospital. [source: 10]
On 13 June 1865, his widow, Elizabeth Steel, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension under the Act of 14 July 1862. Her application was approved on 21 August 1865, and she received $8.00 per month, retroactive to 2 September 1864. [sources: 7, 8, 12, 19, 20]
On 18 September 1867, Elizabeth Steel applied for an increase of pension under the Act of 25 July 1866. She was a resident of Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. She had last been paid her pension through 4 March 1867, at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania agency. Her application was approved on 2 May 1868, and she received an additional $2 per month for each child under 16, retroactive to 25 July 1866. [source: 12]
In 1870, his widow, Elisabeth Steel, was living in Fairview, Butler County, Pennsylvania. She was living with their children Reuben and Ephraim. She owned $500 in real estate, and $175 in personal property. [source: 15]
In 1880, his widow, Elizabeth Steele, was living in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania. She was living with their chidlren Reuben H and Ephraim J Steele. [source: 18]
In 1882, his widow, Elizabeth Steele, died. She was buried in the North Side Cemetery, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania. [source: 17]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 special order 65, HQ 91st PA, 21 July 1864 (James B Steelle)
3 special order 66, HQ 91st PA, 22 July 1864 (James B Steelle)
4 company K, second register of deaths (Jas B Steele)
5 company K, third descriptive roll (James B Steele)
6 company K, fourth descriptive roll (James B Steele)
7 pension index, by name (James B Steel)
8 pension index, by regiment, 62nd PA Infantry, company M (James B Steel [sic])
9 company K, monthly report, April 1865 (Jas B Steele)
10 monthly return, company K, June 1865 (James B Steele)
11 Page 263. Floyd G Hoenstine. Military services and genealogical records of soldiers of Blair County, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Telegraph Press, 1940. (James B Steele)
12 widow's pension certificate file, National archives and records administration, record group 15, certificate WC 54,163 (Elizabeth Shokley widow of James B Steel)
13 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Perry Township, microfilm series M432, film 749, page 3 recto = 5 handwritten (FamilySearch) (James B Steel)
14 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Perry Township, microfilm series M653, film 1070, page 514 = 79 handwritten FamilySearch) (James B Steele)
15 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Fairview, microfilm series M593, film 1315, page 221 verso = 18 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elisabeth Steel)
16 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Butler County, Butler, enumeration district 59, microfilm series T9, film 1109, page 530 = 46 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Elizabeth Steele)
17 Find a grave, memorial 20745230 (Elizabeth wife of J B Steele)
18 US National Cemetery interment control forms, 1928-1962, from records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, National Archives and Records Administration record group 92 (James B Steele)
19 pension index, by name (James B Steele)
20 pension index, by unit (James B Steel)
21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James B Steele)
| line | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Dwellings visited | 29 | |||||
| Families visited | 29 | |||||
| Name | James Steel | Elizabeth " | James B " | Wm G " | Elizabeth " | Melisa O Hanger |
| Age | 53 | 52 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Sex | m | f | m | m | f | f |
| Color | ||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Farmer | |||||
| Real estate owned | 1500 | |||||
| Birthplace | Pa | " | " | " | " | |
| Married within year | ||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Dwelling number | 244 | |||
| Family number | 568 | |||
| Name | James B Steele | Elizabeth " | Reuben H. " | John Sholl. |
| Age | 31 | 22 | 1 | 13 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M |
| Color | ||||
| Occupation | Farmer | |||
| Value of real estate owned | ||||
| Value of personal estate | 123 | |||
| Place of birth | Pa | Do | Do | Pa |
| Married within year | ||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | |||
| Cannot read & write | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Dwelling-house number | 141 | ||
| Family number | 141 | ||
| Name | Steel Elisabeth | Reuben | Ephraim |
| Age | 30 | 12 | 9 |
| Sex | F | M | M |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | wid | ||
| Real estate value | 500 | ||
| Personal estate value | 175 | ||
| Birthplace | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| Father foreign born | |||
| Mother foreign born | |||
| Birth month if born within year | |||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | |
| Can't read | |||
| Can't write | 1 | ||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| street name | Mercer Street | ||
| house number | |||
| dwelling visit # | 415 | ||
| family visit # | 436 | ||
| name | Steele, Elizabeth | Steele Reuben H | Steele Ephraim J |
| color | W | W | W |
| sex | F | M | M |
| age | 42 | 21 | 18 |
| month born if born in year | |||
| relationship | Son | Son | |
| single | 1 | 1 | |
| married | |||
| widowed/divorced | 1 | ||
| married during year | Keeping House | Laborer | At Home |
| occupation | |||
| months unemployed | |||
| currently ill? | |||
| blind | |||
| deaf/dumb | |||
| idiotic | |||
| insane | |||
| disabled | |||
| school this year | 1 | ||
| can't read | |||
| can't write | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| NAME OF SOLDIER | Steel, James B. | |||
| NAME OF DEPENDENT | Widow | Steel, Elizabeth | ||
| Minor | ||||
| SERVICE | M. 62 Pa. Inf | |||
| DATE OF FILING | CLASS | APPLICATION NO | CERTIFICATE NO | STATE FROM WHICH FILED |
| Invalid | ||||
| 1865 June 13 | Widow | 97679 | 54163 | |
| Minor | ||||
| ATTORNEY | ||||
| REMARKS | ||||
| DEAD NAME OF SOLDIER | Steel, James B | |||
| SERVICE | Late rank Pvt | Co. M, 62 Reg't Pa. Inf | ||
| TERM OF SERVICE | Enlisted | Discharged | ||
| DATE OF FILING | CLASS | APPLICATION NO | LAW | CERTIFICATE NO. |
| Invalid | ||||
| 1865 June 13 | Widow | 97,679 | 54,163 | |
| Minor | ||||
| ADDITIONAL SERVICES | ||||
| REMARKS | ||||
| Died [check mark] | at | |||