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Submitted: 3/29/12 • Approved: 3/31/12 • Last Updated: 11/10/12 • R668998-G668997-S3
Nov 29 1841 - Nov 27 1922
*Obituary
Rogers Democrat
Thursday, November 30, 1922
STEELE, Mary VAN WINKLE - Word was received Tuesday of the death of Mrs. J.B. Steele, a former well known Rogers citizen, at the home of her oldest son, Guy C. Steele, at White Eagle, Okla., where she had made her home for a number of years. The body arrived in Rogers Wednesday noon and was taken to the cemetery where brief services were held and interment was made by the grave of her husband, Capt. J.B. Steele, who died here nearly twenty years ago. Mrs. Steele has many relatives in Rogers for before her marriage to Capt. Steele she was Mary Van Winkle, a daughter of Peter Van Winkle, the first lumber king of Northwest Arkansas, a pioneer in Benton county and one of the best known men of his day. Mrs. Steele, who was 81 years old at the time of her death, was born in Illinois but came to Arkansas with her parents when but an infant. They settled in Washington county in the early 40's but came to Benton county in 1850 and built the famous Van Winkle mills at War Eagle. There were twelve children in the family. The oldest son was killed in the Confederate army; another died in infancy. But two of the sons are living now: Jeff Van Winkle, who has a large book store at Dallas, Texas and Lee Van Winkle of Oklahoma City, a former mayor of that city. Mrs. Steele was the last of the daughters. The oldest sister, Mrs. Anne Walker of Lowell, mother of Mrs. W.A. Hall and H.W. Walker of this city, died only last year. Mrs. J.A.C. Blackburn, mother of Mrs. Ed Kruse and Mrs. Arthur Miller, died many years ago. A brother, Norman Van Winkle, was the father of Cal and Lon Van Winkle of Rogers. Mary Van Winkle married Capt. J.B. Steele in 1868 and to them were born three sons: Guy C. Steele of White Eagle, Okla.; Richard Steele of DeQueen, Ark. and Col. Harry Steele, who has been in the Coast Artillery service for the last twenty-five years. The family lived in Rogers from the early days until the death of Mr. Steele in 1903 occupying the residence now owned by Dr. C.S. Rice. The sons were already in Oklahoma and Mrs. Steele joined them there. Each succeeding year sees the passing of the pioneer women of Rogers and the list has been painfully long the last three or four years. When one has, however, passed the eightieth mile stone there can be little hope of long years ahead and blessed is that one who can face the future with the knowledge of a long life of usefulness to their credit.
Contributed on 3/29/12 by wfields55
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Record #: 668998