Steele came to Tampa in 1830 and planned the city. Tampa at the time of Steele's arrival was only a small village. Steele suggested that there be a county there and said it should have Tampa as its county seat. Steele persuaded friends that he knew in the State Capitol, Tallahassee, and made the county 8,580 sq miles of land for Hillsborough County. During the Seminole War, Steele was given the position of postmaster at Fort Brooke. He was asked to give the news of the Dade Massacre from Fort Brooke to the governor. His town plat was invalidated by the state because it had included Fort Brooke's property.