Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-01
COAL-OTL JOHNNY.
THE Ex-oIL PRINCE A STATION
AGENT IN A NEBRASKA TOWN


AGENT IN A NEBRASKA TOWN
Some New Facts about the Famous
spendthrift who Spent $500, 900
I'm Three Years.
The interst in Johnny Steele, known
to fame as 'Coal-Oil Johnny" has never
tagged. The visitor to the oil regions
asks first about Coal-0l Johnny, and
next about John d. Rockefeller. Num-
erous inquiries reach the oil country for
the famous spendthrift's address. 1t is
not long time since the writer received
letter from dime museum firm In Chi
cago inquiring his whereabouts, with a
view, as they said, to offering him q
chance to exhibit himself as a freak.
The address was furnished, but the
offer was declined, although the salary,
in Mr.. Steele's present circumstances,
must have had its temptations.
The statement is often published that
Coal-Oil Johnny has died, or that he
has regaired his squandered fortune.
There is as much truth in one as the
other. He is still alive at the age OF
about 80 wears, and his address is Ash
land, Saunders County, Nebraska, where
he has lived for the past twelve years.
He is at present employed as station
agent at Ashland. He has not recovered
his fortune or any part of it, but makes a
comfortable living, and has apparently
forgotten the princely days of his youth.
After he had run through with his
money he came back from his wild
iourneyings and settled down at Rouse
Vile. the scene of his former grandeur,
as station agent for the Buffalo, New
York and Pennsylvania Railroad. This
was within sight of the old farm whence
| all his wealth had come. He was here
| few months and then went West, where
| he has been ever since, and doubtless
where he will end his days. His son
year ago came East and married a young
lady of Cooperstown, Venango County,
Pennsylvania, and took his BRIDE back to
Ashland. He is telegraph operator
and the operator at the station where his
father is employed.
Coal-Oil Johnny was about three years
running through with his fortune. The
Widow McClintock farm, from which
this fortune was made, is about three
miles from Oil City. Housewife is about
quarter of a mile distant from the
McClintock farm. 1t was at Rouseville
where Johnny began to throw his money
away, but that town although one OF the
red-hot oil towns, was soon too small for
him. Erie, Buffalo and Plttsburg knew
him next, but it was at Philadelphia that
he distinguished himself most. How
much money he squandered in three years
is matter of conjecture, even in the oil
country. There is, however, wide
misapprehension as to the amount. His
fortune did not reach into the millions
as has SO often been stated. The best
Judgment here places it at not above
$500, 600. He was the adopted son Of
Widow McClintock, and at her death hel
oil farm and its accumulated earnings
passed to him. 1t was petroleum thai
made Mrs. McClintock arich woman in {
few months, and strange to say,it was thu
exploding of an oil-can that caused hel
death. She was kindling the fire witt
oil when the can exploded, and lived bu
a short time after receiving her injuries
Perhaps 100000 was turned over t.
Johnny on the settling of her estate, ant
! his share of the product of the farm afte
that time is supposed to have been abou
$500, 900. He therefore squandere'
about 800, 600 year for the three year
the money lasted. At the end of thi
time the old bonanza farm had ceased Il
yield, and his money was spent.
His career as q spendthrift came to al
end on Thursday, February 13, 1868
when he filed voluntary petition i
bankruptcy in the United States Distric
Court at Pittsburg. His Indebtedness
, the time was thus scheduled:
, FL. W. Kanga, Girard House,
Philadelphia ............... $19, S2
VIM. E. Galbraith, Attorney at
} Law, Erie, Penn. ........ 1000
j. E. Caldwell & Co., Philadel-
phia. iewelry $50
. John d. Jones. harness. 1928
! W. S. Horn, cigars. s...-........ B
i E. Ell. Conklin, Philadelphia,
liquors. 2,O2
Z Phalan 6 Collender, billiard
I tables. Observation-Disclosures. 1,50
Unknown creditor, oil painting. 200
Q For hats 80
! ! Total. ......... $50, ,7s
This schedule tells its own story of
: royal spree, extending over a period {
t three years. The Indebtedness at til
|. Girard House was for board, liquol
r cigars, &c. While at this hotel he occ,
Q pied suite of rooms on the parlor foo
and usually had from one to three klndre
: sports with him, whose board and e,
\ penses he paid for the sake of their con
4 pany. The amount Of his unpaid bill !
the Girard House, nearly 10000, is q
]? indication that he and his companio,
lived tolerably high How much mono
9 he paid at the Girard House is nj
3 known, but it is thought to have been |
! much as he left unpaid.