Comments: by Robert Steely, December 2006:

John A. Wilson, the author of this article, is mentioned in the History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio (Williams Bros., 1880, page 268.

H. M. STEELY was Harlan Melville STEELY, born 1856, died 27 May 1935. He was descended from Gabriel and Mary (MEEK) STEELY, George and Elizabeth (EMERSON) STEELY, and George and Hannah (HISER) STEELY. Because of his avid pursuit of genealogy, H. M. STEELY had the grave of Gabriel moved and had a "suitable monument" erected. [Note from this webmaster: In a letter from H. M. Steely to Frank R. Steely, H.M. describes having Gabriel "removed from the old burying ground on the old home farm in Pickaway County, Ohio, to the cemetery at Kingston, Ohio about four miles distant, and a new monument put up for him.]

H.M. STEELY was probably, responsible for collecting the majority of the Steely information from Pennsylvania. George STEELY, who served as the historian for the Emerson-Steelly reunions, which were held in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, incorporated much of this information into the genealogy he compiled.

Gabriel STEELY was reported to be a "native of North Carolina." I question the accuracy of this because most sources state Gabriel was born in Pennsylvania.

George STEELY, son of Gabriel, is reported to be a veteran of the War of 1812- "the second war with England." It is possible that he might have fought in that war since he was born in 1788.

Reuben STEELY, also a son of Gabriel, is reported to be a veteran of the War of 1812- "the second war with England." The biographical sketch of John N. Steely, son of Reuben, states "his father [Reuben] was born in Pennsylvania in 1807." (Source: Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana (Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888), pages 592, 595.) Since Reuben was born in 1807, he could not have fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, or in the War of 1812.

The Democrat-Watchman was a Circleville, Ohio, newspaper.

[Note from the webmaster: the cemetery at Kingston to which H. M. Steely moved Gabriel's body is Mt. Pleasant. Click on this link to see the stone that H. M. erected].