Son of Nathaniel Casteel & Mary Knabb. James & Elizabeth Cassteel came to Boone County, Iowa in 1856, and settled near his brother William, who had come in 1854. William and his wife Nancy sold their land to Elizabeth Ann Cassteel in 1858. James & Elizabeth lived the rest of their lives in Boone County. Elizabeth's death would seem to be the result of complications from childbirth following the birth of John William. Property records tell us that James had re-married to a Mary Nutt soon after the death of Elizabeth.

James' grave marker gives his date of death as March 9, but two obituaries printed in two different papers give the date as May 9.
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THE BOONE NEWS THURSDAY, May 12, 1898
"OBITUARY, James Cassteel, Tuesday's Daily.
James Cassteel, one of the early settlers of Boone county, passed away at 10:20 o'clock last night, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Isabel Flint, 1617 East Sixth street. Death was due to Paralysis, an attack of which was sustained on Thursday, May 5th.
James Cassteel was born in the state of Ohio, on March 8, 1823. He has resided in Boone county, Iowa, since 1856, having made his home on a farm until a few years ago when he came to the city. His children are: Mrs. Flint of this city; George Cassteel of the fifth ward; Mrs. M. Tyndall, of Ft. Dodge; J.W. Cassteel, of Eagle Grove; Mrs. Mary E. Sloper, whose home is in Oregon; Mrs. J.M. Rixey, of Richmond, Mo.; Harvey L. Cassteel, of Wichita, Kansas; and James A. Cassteel, who resides in Arkansas.
The funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Thursday morning. The sermon will be preached by Rev. Mrs. Gibb, of the Universalist church, and the remains will be interred at Ridgeport cemetery. The many friends of the deceased unite in expressions of sympathy which they extend to the bereaved relatives."
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BOONE COUNTY DEMOCRAT May 13, 1898, page 4, line 5
"JAMES CASTEEL. Boone has lost another of its pioneer citizens in the person of James Casteel. Mr. Casteel died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Flint, Monday night at the ripe age of seventy five years. Death was caused by paralysis, the deceased having an attack less than a week previous. The funeral services were held yesterday at 10 o'clock at the Universalist church, Rev. Mrs. Gibb officiating, and the remains were then laid to rest in the Ridgeport cemetery.
Mr. Casteel was born in Ohio March 8, 1823. In 1856 he removed to the state of Iowa and has since resided in Boone county. Until a few years ago he was engaged in farming since which time he has resided in the city. Eight children survive him: George of the Fifth ward, J.W. of Eagle Grove, Harvey of Wichita, Kansas, James of Arkansas, Mrs. Frank Flint of this city, Mrs. M. Tyndall of Ft. Dodge, Mrs. M.E. Sloper of Oregon and Mrs. J.M. Rixey of Richmond, MO."