Son of Jody & Martha (Mathews) Steelman.
In March of 1894 Jody & Martha Steelman moved their family from North Carolina to Iowa, settling near New Providence, Iowa.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luther and Fannie had eight children: Lester Cordell born December 18, 1912; Roy Delos, November 1, 1914; Forrest Glenn, August 24, 1919; Richard Everett, April 22, 1921; Leona Belle, May 5, 1923; Nellie Irene, April 14, 1925; Robert Lyle, October 17, 1927, and Bernard Ernest, December 6, 1929.
Robert died October 16, 1941, and Bernard died October 17, 1932. Both were victims of hemophilia. They are buried in the Hampton Cemetery at Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa.
Luther farmed for several years, and then they went into the carnival ride business with several rides: merry-go-round, ferris wheel, etc. The four boys joined their father in this business, each having their own rides, but setting up together at location sites. The summers kept them busy on the road and winters were spent painting and repairing. Richard and Forrest also had roller skating rinks. Leona and husband, Jay Goodyear, joined the family on the road with their refreshment stand: cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones, etc. Nellie’s husband was in the military service so she never got into the carnival act. Another family occupation was buying, hauling, and selling corn cobs.
Luther had to have a leg amputated in his latter years but was able to go to the carnival sites and watch the activity from his mobile home. He could tell when a light bulb was out on the ferris wheel clear across the grounds. He passed away at Eagle Grove while they were running the county fair.
Early in the morning (before daylight) after Luther’s funeral, Fannie and Lester were visiting. Fannie stopped talking in the middle of a sentence. When Lester turned the light on he found she was dead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 1967:
Steelman Rites Set in Hampton
New Providence--(Special) Services for Mrs. Luther Steelman, 79, Hampton, former New Providence resident who died at her home Friday morning, are set for 10 a.m. Monday in the Hampton Church of Christ, with burial also set for that city.
Mr. Steelman died Monday and was buried Thursday in Hampton. Death was attributed to heart attacks for both persons.
Survivors of the couple include four sons, Lester of Adel, Roy of Rockford, Richard of Fort Dodge and Forrest of Winnebago, Minn.; two daughters, Mrs. Jay (Leona) Goodyear of Decorah and Mrs. Kenneth (Nellie) Dickson of San Antonio, Tex.; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Also, Mrs. Steelman was survived by one brother, Dave Glenn of Union. Mr. Steelman was also survived by brothers, Henry and Otis of Zearing and Emmett of Gifford; five sisters, Mrs. Harry Brown and Mrs. Marjorie McFadden of Marshalltown, Mrs. Lee North of Eldora, and Mrs. Anna Barnes and Mrs. Rachel Martin of New Providence.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 1977:
Former Area Couple Dies
New Providence--(Special)-- A former New Providence couple, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Steelman, both died of heart attacks this week.
Mrs. Steelman, 79, died at her home in Hampton Friday morning. Services for her are set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of Christ in Hampton. Burial will be in the Hampton Cemetery.
Mrs. Steelman, 78, who died Monday, was buried in the Hampton Cemetery Thursday morning.