Samuel David Steele was born in Waukon, Iowa, on November 14, 1886, to Altazana and James H. Steele. He had two brothers and three sisters; all are now deceased. He came to South Dakota with his parents and the rest of the family to homestead a piece of land; he was 13 years old when they moved. They had to live on the land for seven years and then it was theirs. Their first home here was a small one made of wood that measured 14 x 20 feet.
Helen Gilkerson and Sam were married at her parents' farm north of Lake Andes on February 22, 1911. To this union eight children were born: Lawrence, Rapid City (deceased); Everett (Sioux Falls); Carney, Rapid City; Lois East, Rawlins, WY; Harold, Geddes (deceased); Eunice Watson, Columbus, OH (deceased); Leland, Rapid City (deceased); and Inez Eichholz, Coon Rapid, MN. In 1927, his wife died from influenza. The oldest child was 14 years and the youngest was four months old. With the help of his sister, Stella Hoven and various housekeepers, including Bertha Kasulka, he raised his children following her death. In addition to his eight children, he has 32 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, 9 step great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Sam farmed and lived five miles north and three miles east of Lake Andes. James H. Steele purchased the farm from Pat Flannigan at a price of $62.50 an acre in 1909. It was later given to Sam when he was around 30 years old. Farming was done by using horses and plows until 1938, when he bought his first tractor, a 1938 Model A John Deere with skeleton wheels.
In 1929, a new two-story house was built at the farm site. It was a ready-cut home which was ordered from Montgomery Ward at a cost of approximately $7,000. The house was wired for electricity at the time of construction but by the time rural electricity came it was not up to standards so it was re-wired.
Water was stored in a cistern and water pressure was pumped by hand to make running water in the sinks and for flushing the toilet.
He lived on the farm until he entered the Lake Andes Health Care Center on July 24, 1980. Writing letters, visiting on the telephone with his friends and relatives, and visiting with fellow Health Care residents are his main pastimes. He also enjoys listening to the Minnesota Twins play baseball and going to the Nutrition Site when weather permits, where he gets a chance to play pitch, his favorite card game.
Sam enjoys his many visitors, so please continue to stop, even if only for a few minutes. The 98½ year old spry gentleman says, "If I'm asleep when you come, be sure to wake me. I can always find time to sleep later."
Sam died at the age of 101 yrs 2 months and 27 days.
Helen Gilkerson and Sam were married at her parents' farm north of Lake Andes on February 22, 1911. To this union eight children were born: Lawrence, Rapid City (deceased); Everett (Sioux Falls); Carney, Rapid City; Lois East, Rawlins, WY; Harold, Geddes (deceased); Eunice Watson, Columbus, OH (deceased); Leland, Rapid City (deceased); and Inez Eichholz, Coon Rapid, MN. In 1927, his wife died from influenza. The oldest child was 14 years and the youngest was four months old. With the help of his sister, Stella Hoven and various housekeepers, including Bertha Kasulka, he raised his children following her death. In addition to his eight children, he has 32 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, 9 step great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Sam farmed and lived five miles north and three miles east of Lake Andes. James H. Steele purchased the farm from Pat Flannigan at a price of $62.50 an acre in 1909. It was later given to Sam when he was around 30 years old. Farming was done by using horses and plows until 1938, when he bought his first tractor, a 1938 Model A John Deere with skeleton wheels.
In 1929, a new two-story house was built at the farm site. It was a ready-cut home which was ordered from Montgomery Ward at a cost of approximately $7,000. The house was wired for electricity at the time of construction but by the time rural electricity came it was not up to standards so it was re-wired.
Water was stored in a cistern and water pressure was pumped by hand to make running water in the sinks and for flushing the toilet.
He lived on the farm until he entered the Lake Andes Health Care Center on July 24, 1980. Writing letters, visiting on the telephone with his friends and relatives, and visiting with fellow Health Care residents are his main pastimes. He also enjoys listening to the Minnesota Twins play baseball and going to the Nutrition Site when weather permits, where he gets a chance to play pitch, his favorite card game.
Sam enjoys his many visitors, so please continue to stop, even if only for a few minutes. The 98½ year old spry gentleman says, "If I'm asleep when you come, be sure to wake me. I can always find time to sleep later."
Sam died at the age of 101 yrs 2 months and 27 days.
Samuel David Steele was born in Waukon, Iowa, on November 14, 1886, to Altazana and James H. Steele. He had two brothers and three sisters; all are now deceased. He came to South Dakota with his parents and the rest of the family to homestead a piece of land; he was 13 years old when they moved. They had to live on the land for seven years and then it was theirs. Their first home here was a small one made of wood that measured 14 x 20 feet.
Helen Gilkerson and Sam were married at her parents' farm north of Lake Andes on February 22, 1911. To this union eight children were born: Lawrence, Rapid City (deceased); Everett (Sioux Falls); Carney, Rapid City; Lois East, Rawlins, WY; Harold, Geddes (deceased); Eunice Watson, Columbus, OH (deceased); Leland, Rapid City (deceased); and Inez Eichholz, Coon Rapid, MN. In 1927, his wife died from influenza. The oldest child was 14 years and the youngest was four months old. With the help of his sister, Stella Hoven and various housekeepers, including Bertha Kasulka, he raised his children following her death. In addition to his eight children, he has 32 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, 9 step great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Sam farmed and lived five miles north and three miles east of Lake Andes. James H. Steele purchased the farm from Pat Flannigan at a price of $62.50 an acre in 1909. It was later given to Sam when he was around 30 years old. Farming was done by using horses and plows until 1938, when he bought his first tractor, a 1938 Model A John Deere with skeleton wheels.
In 1929, a new two-story house was built at the farm site. It was a ready-cut home which was ordered from Montgomery Ward at a cost of approximately $7,000. The house was wired for electricity at the time of construction but by the time rural electricity came it was not up to standards so it was re-wired.
Water was stored in a cistern and water pressure was pumped by hand to make running water in the sinks and for flushing the toilet.
He lived on the farm until he entered the Lake Andes Health Care Center on July 24, 1980. Writing letters, visiting on the telephone with his friends and relatives, and visiting with fellow Health Care residents are his main pastimes. He also enjoys listening to the Minnesota Twins play baseball and going to the Nutrition Site when weather permits, where he gets a chance to play pitch, his favorite card game.
Sam enjoys his many visitors, so please continue to stop, even if only for a few minutes. The 98½ year old spry gentleman says, "If I'm asleep when you come, be sure to wake me. I can always find time to sleep later."
Sam died at the age of 101 yrs 2 months and 27 days.
Helen Gilkerson and Sam were married at her parents' farm north of Lake Andes on February 22, 1911. To this union eight children were born: Lawrence, Rapid City (deceased); Everett (Sioux Falls); Carney, Rapid City; Lois East, Rawlins, WY; Harold, Geddes (deceased); Eunice Watson, Columbus, OH (deceased); Leland, Rapid City (deceased); and Inez Eichholz, Coon Rapid, MN. In 1927, his wife died from influenza. The oldest child was 14 years and the youngest was four months old. With the help of his sister, Stella Hoven and various housekeepers, including Bertha Kasulka, he raised his children following her death. In addition to his eight children, he has 32 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, 9 step great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Sam farmed and lived five miles north and three miles east of Lake Andes. James H. Steele purchased the farm from Pat Flannigan at a price of $62.50 an acre in 1909. It was later given to Sam when he was around 30 years old. Farming was done by using horses and plows until 1938, when he bought his first tractor, a 1938 Model A John Deere with skeleton wheels.
In 1929, a new two-story house was built at the farm site. It was a ready-cut home which was ordered from Montgomery Ward at a cost of approximately $7,000. The house was wired for electricity at the time of construction but by the time rural electricity came it was not up to standards so it was re-wired.
Water was stored in a cistern and water pressure was pumped by hand to make running water in the sinks and for flushing the toilet.
He lived on the farm until he entered the Lake Andes Health Care Center on July 24, 1980. Writing letters, visiting on the telephone with his friends and relatives, and visiting with fellow Health Care residents are his main pastimes. He also enjoys listening to the Minnesota Twins play baseball and going to the Nutrition Site when weather permits, where he gets a chance to play pitch, his favorite card game.
Sam enjoys his many visitors, so please continue to stop, even if only for a few minutes. The 98½ year old spry gentleman says, "If I'm asleep when you come, be sure to wake me. I can always find time to sleep later."
Sam died at the age of 101 yrs 2 months and 27 days.
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