NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME II 1804-1926 W. L. STEELE The field of architecture, which formerly was practically monopolized by the old world, is now conceded to have its ablest and most progressive exponents in the United States, where the spirit of open competition has always been an incentive for originality in conception and design. Among the more progressive architects of this country stands William La Barthe Steele, of Sioux City, whose work has attracted nationwide attention and who had designed and built many of the most important structures of the middle west, a number of these being outstanding examples of the development of the beautiful from the utilitarian. Mr. Steele was born in Springfield, Illinois, on the 2d of May, 1875, and is a son of Robert C. and Mary E. (La Barthe) Steele. His father was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, a son of Robert Steele, also a native of the Keystone state and a farmer by occupation. Robert C. Steele came west in young manhood, locating at Springfield, Illinois, where he was married and where he engaged in the grocery business. He was successful in his business affairs and became prominent and influential in his community, serving for a number of years on the city council. His death occurred there in 1909, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, who was born and reared in Springfield, Illinois, is a daughter of Jules A. La Barthe, who was born in Bordeaux, France, and came to the United States sometime in the '40s. She is still living and makes her home with her children. William L. Steele received his elementary education in the Springfield public schools, graduating from high school in 1892, and then entered the school of architecture of the University of Illinois, where he was graduated in 1896, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He next entered the office of Louis Sullivan, of Chicago, who had gained considerable note as the architect for the Chicago Auditorium, the Chicago Stock Exchange building, the old Schiller (now the Garrick) theatre and other important buildings. Mr. Steele served three years as draftsman in that office, and then went to the office of S. S. Beman, of Chicago, the architect who designed the Pullman building and laid out the town of Pullman. Later Mr. Steele went to Pittsburgh and spent two years in the office of Thomas Rodd, who was the architect for the Westinghouse people. While there the Westinghouse buildings for Manchester, England, were designed, and Mr. Steele was one of the factors in drafting the plans. Subsequently he went with Alden & Harlow, of Pittsburgh, who were drafting plans for the Carnegie Institute, in which work he took an active part. Mr. Alden, of this firm, had been a pupil of Henry H. Richardson, the first American architect to gain a national reputation. From there Mr. Steele went into the office of Sidney F. Heckert, also of Pittsburgh, who specialized in church architecture, and here Mr. Steele was made head draftsman. In 1904, feeling that he had made sufficient preparation, Mr. Steele came to Sioux City and for a time was associated with Wilfred W. Beach, under the firm name of Beach & Steele. Afterward he was alone until January 1, 1926, at which date he associated with himself George B. Hilgers, of Sioux City, whose faithful and able assistance had extended over a period of about fifteen years. In 1914 Mr. Steele was awarded the contract for drawing the plans and superintending the building of the Woodbury county courthouse. He associated with him in this work George G. Elmslie, of Chicago, who had served with him in Sullivan's office in that city a number of years before. The completion of this building brought him national prominence as an architect, it being a radical departure in design from the long accepted ideas of courthouse architecture. However, it is a real work of art and attracted attention from all the leading architectural publications, "The Western Architect," of Chicago, a leading monthly architectural magazine, sending out a special photographer from that city and issuing a special illustrated edition devoted to this building. Among other noteworthy structures designed and built by Mr. Steele are the First Congregational church of Sioux City, the Danish Lutheran church of Sioux City, the Scared Heart church, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and many smaller churches throughout this section of the country. He was the architect for the high school building at Sergeant's Bluff, the Parker (S. D.) high school, the three new parochial schools in Sioux City, the Immaculate Conception school in Morningside, the Blessed Sacrament school in Sioux City, as well as the St. Boniface school of this city, the St. AGnes Academy at Alliance, Nebraska, the buildings for Trinity College, Sioux City, St. Anthony's Home for Orphan Children, St. Monica's Babies' Home at Sioux City, St. Vincent's Hospital at Sioux City, Sacred Heart Hospital at LeMars, Iowa, St. Joseph's Hospital at Fort Dodge, Iowa, the Crane warehouse in Sioux City, Sacred Heart Hospital at LeMars, Iowa, St. Joseph's Hospital at Fort Dodge, Iowa, the crane warehouse in Sioux City, the O. J. Moore Grocery Company building, Sioux City, the H. H. Everest home in the Heights addition, the John McHugh residence, now the Catholic bishop's house, the homes of O. J. Moore and Hftor Sve, as well as many other structures of various classifications, in all of which his work has been high class and entirely satisfactory to those who have engaged his services. In 1901 Mr. Steele was united in marriage to Miss Mariana Green, of Champaign, Illinois, and to them have been born the following children: Mariana, who is a graduate of Rosary College, at River Forest, Illinois; Melissa, who is attending Rosary College; William L., Jr., who is a graduate of Trinity College, Sioux City; Jane Raymond, who is a student in the Cathedral high school, Sioux City; Sally Green and Philip Joseph, who are in the grade schools, and Harriet Gertrude, deceased. mr. Steele is a member of the Blessed Sacrament church, of Sioux City, and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He served three years as a director of the American Institute of Architecture, and in 1925 was elected vice-president of that body; is a past president of the Iowa chapter of the American Institute of Architecture; is a past president of the Iowa Society of Architects and a "Fellow" of the American Institute of Architects. He has delivered a number of lectures and written essays on architecture and other subjects. He was twice appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Sioux City public library. He was appointed associate architect for the "Temple of Justice," the proposed building for the state supreme court at Des Moines, and was appointed a member of the city planning commission of Sioux City. He is a member of Sioux City Lodge, No. 112, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; the Rotary Club, of which he is a past president; the Sigma Chi college fraternity; Architects Club, University of Illinois; a member of technograph board, University of Illinois; and was a member of the band and glee club of that university; also of the Architectural Club, Pittsburgh, 1903-4; formerly a member of the New York Society of Architects and the Woodlawn Tennis Club of Chicago; member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, the Sioux City Country Club, the Shore Acre Club, of Sioux City, of which he is a past president; the Academy of Science and Letters, Sioux City; the Engineers' Club, Sioux City, and a director of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce. Personally, Mr. Steele is a man of forceful individuality, makes a pleasing impression on all with whom he comes in contact, and his life and achievements have honored the city of which he is a resident. Though his professional duties make a heavy demand on his time, he maintains a deep interest in the general welfare and prosperity of his community, cooperating in every possible way in all local movements for the upbuilding of the city and the advancement of public interests. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/

I am looking for any information on Daniel O Gardner. He was married in Illinois to an Amy. In the 1860 and 1870 census in lived in Linn Co. The 1880 census shows him farming and living in Sioux Co with another wife and daughter. In 1898 he is buried in a Cemetery in Sioux Co. I'd like to find more information on him, his wives, children and any siblings or parents names! Thanks for any help! Kelly Loveless Center Point, Iowa In God I Trust.