The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-16
COL. J STEELE IS
 DEAD AT FLORENCE
Was the Man Who Named
 Cily of Birmingham
HAD A BRILLIANT CAREER
Was Engineer of Louisville ( Nash. vIle Route From Birmingham to Nashville and Planned For
 tifcations In Civil War.

Florence. July 15.-(speeial)-c John F. Steele. one of the most interesting characters in Alabama, the man who gave Birmingham it's name and planned the Notifications around Chattanooga. died Monday afternoon at 4:s0 at the city infirmary in this city.
 Colonel Steele had been in bad health for some time. and had been patient in the inirmary seven months when the end came. He had just walked from his room on the first floor to the back porch and seated himself in his arm chair when his head dropped forward, and just as as- sistance reached him he breathed his last.
 Colonel Steele was born in Huntsville July 2, 1926. His father was Capt. George Steele, wealthy business man of that place. Colonel Steele graduated from the University of Alabama in 1S45 with the degree of A. B. and later he graduated in law from the University of Virginia, taking high rank in all his classes. He was a civil engineer of national reputa- tion and was the last surviving official engineer who was engaged in the first survey of the two railroads which are now the Southern and the Louisville and Nashville.
 In 1854 Colonel Steele volunteered his services as chief engineer of the Tennes- see and Alabama railroad, a road project- ed to be a continuation of the Tennessee Central railroad extending from Nashville to the Alabama state line at a point north of Athens, and continuing south to Elyton, then the county seat of Jefferson county. He organized a corps with Maj Thomas H. Hobbs as assistant engineer, and obtained a practical route through section considered impossible. The under taking of crossing Sand mountain, which extends from Decatur 10 Chattanooga and diverts the course of the Tennessee river was considered up to that time to be impossible. and was so declared by the other engineers but Colonel Steele persevered and succeeded This road is now the Louisville and Nashville. between Nashville and Birmingham.
 At banquet given by the citizens of Elyton to the engineering party Colonel Steele assured the people that the road would be built, and added, When built you will see a city spring up as if by magic. The Birmingham of America. His prophecy has been wonderfully real ized, for when the Elyton Land company was organized and new town laid off, some of the stockholders, recalling to memory his speech, adopted the name which the Magic City" now bears.
 There was no more ardent southerner during the war than Colonel Steele, who served as first lieutenant of volunteers and planned and executed the fortifca- tions aroung Chattanooga, which were surrendered by General Bragg. after the battle of Missionary Ridge.
 To the day of his death Col. Steeie's recollections were very vivid. He was a very Chesterfield in his manner, and to the day of his death, though bowed with disease. he was as courtly as when he was one of the great beaux of anti-bellum days.
 Colonel Steele has two living brothers Matt w. Steele of Avondale. Ala, and w. Angels Steele of New Orleans. The former will leave for Florence tonight. and the funeral will probably occur to- morrow morning at this place.