Tulare County Biographies

FRED D. STEEL

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        In every state of the American Union the sturdy Scotch-Irish character 
has been a factor in the general development, and at least six presidents of the 
United States have claimed a Scotch-Irish ancestry. Fred D. Steel, now engaged 
in a general insurance business in Visalia, California, is of Scotch-Irish 
extraction. He is a son of Warren B. and Elizabeth (Harnar) Steel and was born 
on a farm near Xenia, Ohio, November 23, 1875. He was educated in the common 
schools, the first union high school ever established in the state of Ohio, and 
in 1901 received the degree of Ph. B. from Antioch College.
        Upon completing his education, Fred D. Steel took up railroad work and 
during the next four years was employed in various positions in that connection 
in Colorado and Wyoming. On March 29, 1905, he landed in Visalia and took a 
position with the Earl Fruit Company. After a time with this concern he was for 
two years bookkeeper for the Griffin &. Skelly Company. He then purchased an 
interest in the Visalia Abstract. Company and a little later opened the first 
exclusive insurance office between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some who were 
inclined to see. only the dark side of things predicted failure when he opened 
his office at No. 110 South Court street on the first day of May, 1908, but for 
more than sixteen years he has gone steadily forward, each year bringing an 
increased volume of business. He still occupies the office where he first 
started in this new enterprise.
        Mr. Steel is a prominent figure in Masonic circles, being a member of 
both the York and Scottish Rites. In the latter he has attained the 
thirty-second degree. He is recognized as one of the progressive men of Visalia, 
always ready to lend a helping hand to any project for the advancement of the 
general welfare. Mrs. Steel, before her marriage, was Miss Grace Robinson. She 
was born in Texas, but grew to womanhood in Colorado. They have two children : 
Helen and Harry. Mr. Steel owns valuable vineyard and orchard property adjoining 
Visalia, besides holdings in Nevada.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 277