Death Of A Venerable Citizen. Daniel Steele Is No More.
By E. J. Udell.
Another old and highly esteemed citizen of Rantoul has laid him down to his last sleep. Rev. Daniel Steele, after an illness of about five weeks, died at his home in this village at ten minutes past twelve, Monday afternoon, Jan. 5, 1891, of heart disease.
Few men have taken a more active part in the affairs of Rantoul village and township than has the subject of this obituary. He settled here in the fall of 1868 – twenty-three years ago – and in addition to his regular occupation as druggist, he has held almost continually one or more of the local public offices in the gift of his fellow citizens.
He has represented the township on the board of supervisors two terms; has served a term or two as Police Magistrate; and has filled the office of Justice of the Peace some twelve years, holding that office and that of Notary Public at the time of his death. For many years he was one of the leading spirits of our volunteer fire company, contributing much time and money for its support, and serving it and the public for a long time as fire marshal.
In politics he was an unswerving Republican, and invariably took an active part in the local and national campaigns.
Something of his reverence for the defenders of our country may be derived from the fact that towards the last days of his life, when it had become very difficult for him to talk or express his wishes, he had a beautiful picture of John A. Logan, of whom he was an enthusiastic admirer, hung near his bedside where he could feast his eyes and soul on the likeness of one of the ablest, bravest, purest and noblest soldiers and statesmen Columbia has ever produced.
Mr. Steele was often elected chairman of public meetings, especially of political gatherings, in which he took great interest even up to last falls election. Probably no man in this region was more thoroughly disgusted with the results of this last tilt with the Democrats than our departed brother. This is not saying that he harbored any unkind feelings against his party opponents as men. It was only their politics he disliked. He was kind and neighborly to everybody, and especially so to those in his employ. His employees at the flax mill speak of him only in terms of reverence and affection. On Christmas morning a year ago he summoned all of them to his office. They obeyed promptly, little dreaming what was in store for them. To their surprise and delight each one having a family (there were sixteen of them) was presented with a nice dressed turkey for a Christmas dinner. The two having no families received each a fine silk handkerchief. We mention this little incident merely to illustrate Mr. Steeles kindness of heart. He seemed to study how he might make those around him happy.
He was on intimate terms of friendship with the celebrated Rev. John Hall, D. D., of New York, with whom he was a fellow student at Queens College, Belfast, of which institution both were graduates.
He was a remarkably energetic and vigorous man, and retained the full use of his mental powers almost to the last moment of his life. While he expressed himself as entirely ready and willing to bid adieu to earth, and to meet his Heavenly Father, yet when he came to take the last farewell of his two little grandchildren, Mary Maude and Daniel P. Cole (sic), for whom he entertained the tenderest affection, the desire to live well-nigh gained the mastery.
The family of which he was a member can be traced back at least two hundred years, and among the many strong traits of character peculiar to it perhaps none is more striking than its whole-souled and long-continued adherence to the religious faith of its fathers, the Steeles so far as known being all staunch Presbyterians. A brother of deceased, William Steele, preached in Australia for upwards of forty years. He recently retired from the ministry, and is now residing at Melbourne. John Steele, the only other brother living, resides at the old homestead, Steeles Rock, Ireland.
Two children, the entire fruits of his marriage, survive Mr. Steele, namely Mrs. M. Lavinia Cole, wife of William R. Cole, of Rantoul; and Dr. D. A. K. Steele, an eminent physician and surgeon, of Chicago.
The burial solemnities conducted by the Odd Fellows, of which order Mr. Steele was a member, took place at 2 oclock p. m., Wednesday, from the Congregational church, Rev. C. N. Wilder, of Champaign, at the request of Mr. Steele himself, preaching the funeral sermon. The following named persons assisted in the ceremonies: R. W. S. Wheatley, Grand Master of the I. O. O. F. for the State of Illinois; Geo. M. Adams, Grand Scribe; E. Youngs, Official Instructor; and Revs. A. N. Sharpes,  J. L. Fonda and C. B. Taylor.
There were visiting Odd Fellows from Urbana, Champaign, Gifford and Fisher. The attendance was so great that fully one third of the assemblage were unable to gain admittance into the church, and many were obliged to go away. The remains were interred in Maplewood cemetery the order of the procession being as follows:
First, the Odd Fellows in full regalia; second, the Rebekahs; third, Mr. Steeles employes at the flax mill, each wearing at his request a little ornament made of tow, to be cast into the grave; fourth and last, private citizen.
Daniel Steele was born in Cookstown, county Tyrone, Ireland, June 4, 1819, his age at the time of this death being 71 years, 7 months and 1 day. On the 9th of April 1851, at Gilnahirk, county Down, Ireland, he was married by Rev. Dr. Coulter to Miss Mary L. Anderson, who survives him as his widow. Soon after his marriage he came with his wife to this country, taking up his abode for short time at Circleville, Ohio. He next moved to Eden, Delaware county, Ohio, where he preached for the Presbyterian church for two years. From there he moved to this State, settling at Pinkneyville, where he resided for five years as pastor of the above named denomination, of which he was a devoted member all his life.
His next move was to Grand Cote, Ill., where he preached some ten years up to 1868, when he settled in Rantoul for the remainder of his life.
In such afflictions as these how cheering is the belief embodied in the sweet words of Young:
Death is the crown of life;
Were death denied, poor man would live in vain.
Death wounds to cure; we fall, we rise, we reign;
Spring from our fetters, fasten to the skies,
Where blooming Eden withers from our sight.
This king of terrors is the prince of peace.

Submitted by: Janet Waggoner