He was born in 1817/20, in Ireland.
[sources:
date: 3 (43 in 1861), 11 (30 in 1850).
place: 11]
On 18 April 1845, he married Ann Campbell.
She was born in 1823/24, in Ireland.
They were married by Reverend Samuel Stevenson, of the Second Reformed Presybterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
They had no children less than sixteen years old in 1864, but seem to have had these two children:
John Steel (b. 1845/46, PA)
Margaret T Steel (b. 1849, PA)
[sources: 10, 11]
In 1850, he seems to be the Samuel Steel, weaver, living in ward 3, Moyamensing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He was living with Ann (presumably his wife), John and Margaret (presumably their children), Maria N Campbell (perhaps a relative of Ann's?) and others.
[source: 11]
During the war
He enlisted and was mustered into service, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 8 October 1861.
He was mustered in as a private, in company F.
[sources: 1, 3 (8 Nov), 10, 12-14]
He was transferred on 4 December 1861 to company D.
[sources: 1, 3, 4]
He was killed on 3 May 1863, at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
He was a private, in copmany D.
He was not on the prisoner lists, and the regiment, his family, and his friends did not hear from him or see him after that.
By September 1866, when his widow's pension application was accepted, the government had accepted that he was dead.
[sources: 1 (13 Dec 62, Fredericksburg [sic]), 2 (missing 3 May 63), 3 (missing and supposed killed, 13 Feb 1863 at Fredericksburg VA [sic]), 8 (missing 3 May 63), 8 (missing 3 May 63), 9 (missing 3 May 63), 10 (missing and presumed dead 3 May 63), 12-14]
After the war
On 27 January 1865, his widow, Ann Steel, applied successfully for a pension from Pennsylvania, under the act of 14 July 1862.
John Hamill certified on 23 September 1864 that Steel was killed in action, but presumably rendered his report useless by adding that '[t]his man was missing after the action and so reported on the muster + pay rolls of the Company + dropped from the Roll as is usual in such cases', which showed clearly that the only evidence he had of Steel's death was that Steel was missing.
Nevertheless, after Ann Steel and others swore that they had not heard from him (in August 1866), and that they would have heard from him if he were alive, her application was approved.
Her application was accepted on 5 September 1865, and she received $8 per month, retroactive to 3 May 1863.
[sources: 5, 6, 10]
Sources
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)
(Samuel Steel)
2consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863
(Steele)
[I can't identify anyone else this could be; although the report is obviously inconsistent with Bates, see the widow's pension certificate file abstracted below]
10abstract of widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, widow's certificate 82,809
(Ann Campbell widow of Samuel Steel)
111850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Moyamensing, ward 3, microfilm series M432, film 809, page 345 recto = 687 handwritten (FamilySearch)
(Samuel Steel)
12index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(Samuel Stell)
13index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(Samuel Steelle)
14index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania
(Samuel Steel)
Note on identification
Beyond Samuel's age (43 in 1861) and birthplace (Pennsylvania), the only evidence I have is that Samuel was married to Ann Campbell in 1845, that she was 38 when she applied for a pension in September 1864, and that Samuel had no surviving children less than 16 then.
Samuel (b. 1810/12, PA) m. Anna (b. 1811/13 PA)
The Samuel (b. 1810/12, PA, stablekeeper in 1850, stockbroker in 1860) and Ann/Anna (b. 1811/13, PA) Steel with Henry (b.1834/35, MD), Israel (b. 1835/38, PA), Anna (b. 1835/36, PA), and Agnes (b. 1835/36, PA) seems to be ruled out because of Anna's age
1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Spring Garden, ward 4, microfilm series M432, film 819, page 71 recto = 141 handwritten, (37, with Saml 38, Henry 16, Israel 14) (FamilySearch)
1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 24, microfilm series M653, film 1175, page 982 = 68 handwritten (FamilySearch)
Ann Steel (b. 1827, Ireland)
She apparently was widowed by 1870, but has children living with her less than sixteen, and was living with John (b. 1819/20, England) in 1860
1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Darby Borough, microfilm series M653, film 1105, page 320 = 41 handwritten (FamilySearch)
1870 US census, (Ann 42, b. Ireland, with John 16, Joseph 14, Oswald 13, James 12, George 10, Wesley 7, and Mary A 4), in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 28, microfilm series M593, film 1445, page 171 recto = 83 handwritten (FamilySearch)
1870 US census (Ann Steel 42, with John 16, Joseph 14, Osborn 12, Wesley 8, and Mary A 5), in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 27, district 90, 2nd enumeration, microfilm series M593, film 1443, page 118 verso = 14 handwritten (FamilySearch)
1880 US census (Ann 50 b. Ireland, John 27, Joseph 25, Oswald 23, James 21, George 18, Wesley 16, A Mary 14), Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, enumeration district 578, microfilm series T9, film 1186, page 160 C (FamilySearch)
Ann Steel b. 1808/09, PA
She seems to be excluded by her age (note her apparent son John--he's the closest match I've found)
1870 US census (Ann 61 b. PA, Martha 34 b. PA, John 23 b. PA), Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 15, district 45, microfilm series M593, page 578 verso = 72 handwritten (FamilySearch)
Ann Steel b. 1829/30
She is excluded by the 1871 city directory, which list her as the widow of John
1870 US census (Ann 40 with Mary J 20, and with Richard and Sarah A Nelems), Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 2, district 5, 2nd enumeration, microfilm series M593, page 597 recto = 3 handwritten, (FamilySearch)
Sources checked unsuccessfully
1860 US census
FamilySearch and Ancestry indices (accessed September 2012)
1870 US census
FamilySearch and Ancestry indices (accessed September 2012)
1880 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed September 2012)
1890 US census, veterans schedules
Ancestry index (accessed 26 September 2012)
1900 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed September 2012)
1910 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed September 2012)
1920 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed September 2012)
1930 US census
FamilySearch index (accessed September 2012)
RootsWeb WorldConnect
searched Samuel Steel born 1818 +/- 2; Samuel Steel d. 1863; and Ann Campbell born 1824 +/- 2 in Ireland (accessed 26 September 2012)
Display
Samuel Steel in the 91st PA gedcom on RootsWeb WorldConnect
[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Moyamensing, ward 3, microfilm series M432, film 809, page 345 recto = 687 handwritten FamilySearch]
[identification is speculative; see the note on identification above for some other candidates]
[might Maria Campbell be related to Ann, whose birth surname was 'Campbell' if this is the correct Samuel Steel?]
[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 19 April 2015, from Fold3]
Stell, Samuel
Co. D, F, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Steel Samuel
GENERAL INDEX CARD.
[card 2, transcribed 21 Apr 15]
Steelle, Samuel
Co. D, F, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Steel, Samuel
GENERAL INDEX CARD.
[card 3, transcribed 22 Apr 15]
Steel Samuel
Co. D, F, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Pvt | Pvt
See also [blank]
[abstract of widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, widow's certificate 82,809, Ann Campbell widow of Samuel Steel]
[abstracted from 16 pages on Fold3, 22 September 2012]
18 April 1845
Samuel Steel married Ann Campbell, by Rev Samuel Stevenson, in Philadelphia PA (pp.4, 9)
no children less than 16 when she applied for a pension (pp.3, 4)
the Second Reformed Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia had no record of their marriage (p.8)
Ann Brittain was present at the wedding (p.9)
8 Oct 1861
Samuel Steel mustered as private co. D
3 May 1863
Samuel Steel missing in action (p.6)
the Adjutant General had not evidence that he had died, as of 2 May 1865 (p.6)
last paid by Major Sheridan to 28 Feb 1863 (p.6)
Samuel Steel killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville (p.4)
23 Sep 1864
John Hamill certified (at Camp on Weldon R R Va) that Steel was killed in action at Chancellorsville in May 1863, giving the following explanation: "This man was missing after the action and sow [sic] reported on the muster + pay rolls of the Company + droped [sic] from the Roll as is usual in Such Cases" (p.13)
26 Jan 1865
Ann Steel, 38 years old [sic], widow of Samuel Steel (D 91 PA) applied for a pension under the act of 14 July 1862 (p.4)
resident of Philadelphia, post office address 1213 Brinton Street between Shippen and Fitzwater (p.5)
attorney W N Ashman (p.4)
dated 8 September 1864
witnesses Cath Brittain (Philadelphia) and Saml Campbell (Gloucester NJ) (pp.4-5)
accepted 5 September 1866, retroactive to 3 May 1863; initially received $8 per month; certificate dated 8 Sep 66 (pp.3, 12)
7 June 1865
the Pension Office sent circular 14 to the Surgeon General and circular 16 to the "P.G." [?] (p.11)
21 June 1865
the Surgeon General returned circular 14 to the Pension Office with no evidence (p.11)
21 Aug 1865
the second auditor responded to circular 16, with evidence (p.11)
the Pension Office sent circular 9 to the attorney (p.11)
4 September 1865
the attorney [?] responded to circular 9, that Steel had been missing in action since May 1863 (p.11)
24 Jan 1866
Steel is not on the prison rolls (p.11)
the Pension Office sent circular 9 to the attorney (p.11)
5 March 1866
the Pension Office sent a letter, presumably to the attorney: "A.G. reports missing in action if killed in action fact must be established in AG's office that rolls may be corrected +c" (p.11)
31 Aug 1866
Ann Steel swore that Samuel had not been seen or heard of since 3 May 1863, and she believes he was killed, because he would have returned home if he was alive: "He was a man of domestic habits--kind + attentive to his family + never unduly absenting himself from them" (p.14)
Joseph Campbell and John Wilkins (both residents of Philadelphia) swore that they had neither seen nor heard from Steel since 3 May 1863 and believe him dead; "Steel was a man kind and affectionate to his family, never unduly absenting himself from them, and constantly keeping them advised of his whereabouts while in Army" (p.15)