John Washington Steele
John Washington Steele | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1843 Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 1920 Fort Crook, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Early oil millionaire in Pennsylvania, "Coal Oil Johnny" |
John Washington Steele (1843 – December 31, 1920), famously referred to as Coal Oil Johnny, was among the earliest individuals to achieve millionaire status through the oil discoveries in Pennsylvania during the mid-1800s.
Biography
Steele was born in Sheakleyville, Pennsylvania in 1843 and came into considerable wealth via the McClintocks’ oil ventures. By 1864, he had abandoned the family farm and embraced an extravagant lifestyle, rapidly exhausting his fortune. He gained notoriety for traveling around Philadelphia in a carriage decorated with motifs related to the oil business. Ultimately, he sold his farm to William H. Wickham.
In 1862, Steele wed Eleanor J. Moffett. Following the loss of his wealth, he filed for bankruptcy and moved westward to the Midwest, where he found employment as a railroad station agent. His 1901 autobiography discloses that intense public attention caused him to withdraw from society.
Steele passed away from pneumonia on December 31, 1920, in Fort Crook, Nebraska.
Legacy
- Tales about Steele continue to be shared throughout Pennsylvania.
- His residence has been preserved and relocated for historical purposes.
- As noted in his autobiography, a soap brand bearing his name was created, much to his personal disapproval.
Sources
- http://www.hagerspeachbasket.com/John_Washington_Steele_Room.htm lists his wife's name as Ellen Moffitt.
- Anon. 1920. "COAL OIL JOHNNY, ONCE GREAT SPENDER, DEAD; John W. Steele of Pennsylvania Oil Fame Fifty Years Ago Dies a Railroad Station Agent," New York Times obituary.
- Steele, J. W. 1901. Coal Oil Johnny. Story of His Career as Told by Himself. Press of Hill Publishing Company: New York. Reprinted 1994 by M. A. Mong Publishers and 2006 by Oil Region Alliance: Oil City, PA. Available online at https://openlibrary.org/books/OL7205126M/Coal_oil_Johnny.
- Hoover, Emily. 2009. Review of Steele's autobiography.
- New York Times, 1906. "-Coal Oil Johnny's Flush Days Described by an Old Comrade."
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1937.