Thomas Jefferson STEELE, Congress, IA (1853-1920)

STEELE, Thomas Jefferson, a Representative from Iowa; born near Rushville, Rush County, Ind., March 19, 1853; attended the public schools and Axline Seminary, Fairfax, Iowa; taught school in central and western Iowa; studied law at Sheldon, Iowa; engaged in the hardware business and in banking at Wayne, Nebr.; county clerk of Wayne County, Nebr., 1884-1886; moved to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1897 and became a livestock commission merchant; elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1915-March 3, 1917); unsuccessfully contested the election of George C. Scott to the Sixty-fifth Congress; resumed business as commission merchant; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1918 to the Sixty-sixth Congress; died in Sioux City, Iowa, March 20, 1920; interment in Graceland Park Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present