James Steel

He moved to Chicago, IL as a child in 1836, where his Scottish-born father George was the first president of the Board of Trade. In 1850 James took over his father's grain shipping business, from 1853 - 1858 he was in the lumber business in Chicago, then he bought a shipload of trade goods and took it to Africa. By 1860 he was a miner and operated a quartz mill at Lake Gulch in Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory (now Colorado), but sold that at the start of the war and returned to Chicago.

He enrolled as Captain of the Sturges Rifles on 6 May 1861 in Chicago, his commission issued on 22 July 1861.

He commanded the Sturges Rifles, part of the Headquarters Guard, Army of the Potomac. Most of his Company were not at Antietam, having been detailed to Washington, DC on 7 September 1862.

He resigned his commission on 16 October 1862 His company mustered out on 25 November 1862).

By 1870 he was a commission merchant in Chicago, had paving and public works contracts with the city, and invested in at least one mine in Nevada. In 1880, still living in Chicago, he gave his profession as "retired miner."

His service basics from the Adjutant General.1 Personal details from family genealogists (also as James Steele), the US Census of 1860-1880, and his obituary in the Chicago Tribune of 2 February 1898. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Emma Tracey (1843-1922) in 1864 and they had 3 children.

10/29/1832; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA

01/31/1898; Cleveland, OH; burial in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, IL