File contributed & permission given for use in the Ohio Biographies Project by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman <73777.25@compuserve.com> & Submitter**************************************************************************File Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives byGina M. ReasonerAUPQ38A@prodigy.comJanuary 24, 1999***************************************************************************From the The OHGenWeb Archiveshttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/ohfiles.htma part ofThe USGenWeb Archiveshttp://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/*************************************************************************** WEST VIRGINIA In History, Life, Literature and IndustryThe Lewis Publishing Company, 1928 - Volume 4, page 55-56 with photo ROBERT R. STEELE, well known West Virginia funeral director, isproprietor of the Steele Funeral Home, Incorporated, at Huntington, locatedat 1126 Third Avenue. Mr. Steele was born at McArthur, in Vinton County, Ohio, May 6,1877, son of Jasper N. and Mary (Ervin) Steele. His grandfather, Robert M.Steele, was a native of Pennsylvania, a cabinetmaker by trade, moved fromhis native state to Ohio, and during the Civil war was a soldier in CompanyH of the Fifty-third Ohio Infantry. The maternal grandfather, Nelson Ervin,was born in Ohio and spent his life as a farmer, dying at the age offorty-nine. Jasper N. Steele was born at Clearfield, Pennsylvania, in 1846,was reared and educated in Ohio, taught school in early life, and in 1877was admitted to the bar. Shortly after being admitted he was engaged inhandling a murder case for a college friend, whom he succeeded in clearing.He became so dissatisfied with the law as a profession that he never tookanother case. He removed to Huntington in 1913, and was retired until hisdeath on November 26, 1922. His wife was born in Jackson County, Ohio,September 9, 1855, and died in 1925. They were members of the MethodistEpiscopal Church and Republican in politics. In their family were fourchildren: Mrs. Rhoda Braley, wife of a farmer in Gallia County, Ohio; ErvinB., who is associated in undertaking business with his brother Robert;Robert R.; and John D., a farmer at Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Robert R. Steele grew up on an Ohio farm, attended schools in thatstate, and as a youth clerked in a grocery store three months, and for fiveyears was with a shoe and leather business. He learned undertaking atRutland, Ohio, beginning in 1895, and at the end of a year the business wasturned over to his management and he continued it five years longer and wasoffered the business if he would remain. Seeking a larger field for hisoperations, he removed to Charleston, West Virginia, in 1899, and in 1900became a member of Simpson & Steele, undertakers. He was with that firmuntil 1905. He also was a traveling salesman, covering twenty-two states,but in 1911 left the road and located at Huntington, where he was connectedwith an undertaking firm until May, 1915. On August 13, 1915, he started abusiness of his own on Eleventh Street. At that time his total cash capitalamounted to $19.20. He was a man of experience and thorough qualificationsfor his work, and his business has grown and prospered. Since 1918 it hasbeen located at 1128 Third Avenue, and in 1926 he incorporated the SteeleFuneral Home. At that time each of the employees was given a share of stockapportionate to his years of service with the company. The business has allthe facilities and equipment for expert service, including eleven motor cars. Mr. Steele married, in 1899, Miss Ethel Hooper, who was born inMeigs County, Ohio, daughter of Ira W. Hooper, an Ohio farmer. Mr. and Mrs.Steele have a daughter, Alice Pauline, who is the wife of Rev. L.Riggleman, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Milton,West Virginia. Both Rev. and Mrs. Riggleman are graduates of the SouthernMethodist University of Dallas, Texas. They have a daughter, Alice RobertaRiggleman. Mr. and Mrs. Steele also have a daughter, Anna Byrne, now twelveyears of age. The family are members of the Johnson Memorial MethodistEpiscopal Church. Mr. Steele is a York and Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner,member of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Guyanand Spring Valley Country Clubs, Guyandotte Club and is former president ofthe Kiwanis Club. He is a member of the County Anti-Tuberculosis League,the State Board of Embalmers, West Virginia Funeral Directors Association,and is now president of Capitol No. 2 District Funeral DirectorsAssociation and a member of the National Selected Morticians. He is aRepublican. His hobby is golf. Mr. Steele is on the Board of Stewards of theJohnson Memorial Church. He and his family reside in a beautiful homelocated a mile from the corporation limits of Huntington.