John Washington Steele

John Washington Steele (1843 – December 31, 1920), also known as Coal Oil Johnny,[1] was one of the first oil millionaires acquiring their wealth from the oil discovered in Pennsylvania in the mid-19th century.

John Washington Steele
Born1843 (1843)
Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania
DiedDecember 31, 1920(1920-12-31) (aged 77)
Fort Crook, Nebraska
Other namesCoal Oil Johnny
OccupationBusinessman

Biography

John Washington Steele was born in Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania in 1843. In 1864, soon after wealth came to him through inheritance from the McClintocks' oil, the orphan John Steele left the farm which he had inherited from his foster or adoptive family, the McClintocks, and began a lavish and picturesque life, rapidly spending his way through his fortune. He was often seen in Philadelphia riding in his carriage with "the picture of an oil derrick, an oil tank, and a flowing well" painted on its doors.[2] Steele eventually sold his farm to William H. Wickham.[1][3][4] In 1862, he married Eleanor J. Moffett, who survived him by six years.[1] After his lavish life-style, Steele fell into bankruptcy. He shuffled around, moving to the Mid-West, eventually becoming a railroad station agent.[5] According to his autobiography, written in 1901, after his fall he was hounded by the public and the press and became a recluse to avoid them.

He died in Fort Crook, Nebraska on December 31, 1920.[6]

Legacy
  • "The Ballad of Coal Oil Johnny" by Angela Nuzzo
  • There are numerous stories that still circulate in Pennsylvania about him.[7]
  • Aites, Richard W. 2007. The Legend of Coal Oil Johnny. iUniverse: Lincoln, Neb. [Fictional account]
  • His house has been preserved and moved.
  • According to his autobiography, a brand of soap was named after him, much to his dislike.

References
  1. "McClintock Web Generation Five". Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  2. Steele, John Washington (22 March 2018). Coal oil Johnny: story of his career as told by himself (John Washington Steele). OL 7205126M.
  3. "History of the Oil Region". Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  4. Hoover, Emily. 2009. Review of Steele's autobiography. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:LBKqgXosjBIJ:www.oil150.com/assets/pdf/volume-1-issue-8.pdf+%22Coal+oil+johnny%22+steele+oil&hl=ko&gl=kr&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjVxVgjY01WS_CdnAjoNia5mCUvfTUaq3dqtNFaZE1fgyZPZ1rdRaKNxsoVCgUc5E8nqxXXvK2BpQVmK56IXMCJO2k2V3MypZNsnM3QdgiblebXjjQjYeit9y9T8qBh6hIolFyx&sig=AHIEtbQQvXLKkOOZQ46zvpM5Z66-x8dKwg
  5. Anon, 1920
  6. "'Coal Oil Johnny' Ends His Career". The Coffeyville Daily Journal. Omaha. 1 January 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 6 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Korson, George Gershon (22 March 1960). Pennsylvania Songs and Legends. Arno Press. ISBN 9780405106088 – via Google Books.

Sources
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