John W. Steele was born in Lawrence County Ohio in 1838, died April 27 1865, he was the son of Hanley (Henley) Webb Jr., and Elizabeth Steele. John married Rebecca Ann Webb March 12 1859 , she was born October 18 1841 in Lawrence County , the daughter of Abner Webb and Mary Dalton. John and Rebecca were the parents of Abner b. 1860, John b.1863 and Maria b. 1864. After the death of John W. Steele , Rebecca married Jacob Jefferson Bowman, she died July 18 1933 in Lawrence County.

John W.Steele, farmer, age 23, gray eyes, dark hair, light complexion, 5 foot 8 inches high, enlisted in the Union Army, September 2 1861 at Ceredo W.Va, a Private in Capt. Powers Co. 5th Reg. Virginia Volunteers. (This organization subsequently became Co. C, 5th Reg. W.Va. Inf. ) He was discharged by virtue of reenlistment as a Vet., his last pay date on muster out roll was December 31 1863. He reenlisted February 15 1864 at Ironton Ohio, reassigned to Co.C, 5th Reg. W.Va. Inf. Soldier was listed as taken prisoner “missing in action” at Lynchburg Va., and Supposed killed by bushwhackers, June 18 1864.

Memorandum From Prisoner Of War Records: J.W. Steele Pvt. 5 Va. Reg. Co. C, a prisoner at Andersonville Ga., was exchanged April 1 1865 at Vicksburg Mississippi, and perished on board the steamer “Sultana” April 27 1865.

Casualty Sheet : J.W. Still Private Co. C, Regiment 5, Infantry, State of Virginia, perished by the explosion of the Steamer Sultana.
Remarks on Casualty Sheet : The Steamer “Sultana” was lost on the Mississippi River about 9 miles above Memphis Tenn. at about 2 o’clock am, April 27 1865, by the explosion of her boilers.

Note : John W. Still (Steele) is on the Sultana list of soldiers from WV.

Note : Nat. Archives file # 12549410

Note : Casualty Sheet for J.W. Still : Nat. Archives