Pescadero Memories

Email John (benloudman@sbcglobal.net)

Hi June,

I forgot the most interesting reference to Omar Steele in the book, “Echoes from Gazos Creek Country.”

The author, Harvey Mowry, wrote that Omar Steele provided the lumber for the fog whistle building on Ano Nuevo Island. It describes how they waited until low tide, and then had to hustle the horse drawn wagons across the still wet sand so they could unload and return to the mainland before the tide came back in. I wouldn’t want to see somebody attempt that nowadays. Enjoy. John

Does anyone remember Myrtle Garavanta? Do you have a photo of Myrtle? What happened to her collection of photographs and letters and memorabilia?

Robin Caldwell says:

Myrtle was the daughter of Norman Edward and the granddaughter of Charles Edward Steele. She was the postmistress in Davenport for about 25 yrs. She had all of the genealogy and many old family photos. She was the only connection our family ever had with the California Steeles. She shared many pictures and letters from the Ohio families with us after my father met her in about 1974. Myrtle didn’t have children so I don’t know what became of her collection, but it was a treasure.

Robin Caldwell*** says:

I have been enjoying the Pescadero Memories website.

I am related to the Calif.Steeles. Samuel Horace Steele of Pescadero was my g-g-grandfather. His son
Omar N. Steele (my g-grandfather) along with wife Harriet and daughter Nellie moved to the area between 1865 & 1870.

1870 census shows Omar owning a sawmill, and living in the Steele sawmill boardinghouse in Santa Cruz. Before 1874 he and his family moved back to Ohio. The census is the only record I have of Omar being in California.

Do you have any information that might connect to Omar (O.N.Steele)? 2nd question: in all that I have read about the Steeles, I have never heard what route and transportation they took from Ohio to
California. Do you have any info on that?

I would love to learn more.

——-

I said:

Thank you for the email. I have never heard of Omar Steele. Very interesting.

I think I mentioned how the Steeles got to California from Ohio–I’ll have to go back and check and let you know.

Another source where you might look is the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City. They have archives, Carol is the librarian there. The number if 650.299.0104.

My information comes from old newspapers, some interviews as well as the history museum, which is one of, if not, THE BEST, local history museum in California.

I met some of the Steeles years ago when they were still living on their beach=side property at Ano Nuevo.on the San Mateo County Coastside. It was around the time that the State of California was “buying up” beach property for public access. There are Steeles living in Pescadero today. Are you in contact with them?

———–

Robin said:

Hello June,

Thank you for your speedy reply. I don’t mind if you post my email. I am not in contact with any of the Steeles. I did know and met Myrtle Garavanta in Davenport, CA.

Here is what I can tell you about Omar, if you are interested. He was born in Amherst, Ohio; Sept 15, 1843. After the Civil War, Omar, his wife Harriet Roselle Crocker and their 4 yr old daughter sailed from NY, crossed Panama by train and sailed to San Francisco to join his parents, Samuel Horace Steele & Amanda, along with Omar’s cousins in California.

(Photo: The tall gentleman in the center is Omar Noah Steele, next to his wife Harriet. The gentleman at the far right is Omar’s brother Samuel Bliss Steele next to his wife Elenora. Harriet and Eleanora were 1st cousins.)

In 1870 Omar was listed as the owner of the Steele Saw Mill in Santa Cruz and they had about 18 people living with them in the Steele Sawmill Boardinghouse. We understand that Omar may have lost some fingers in a sawmill accident, and I suspect Harriet was homesick for her family in Ohio. Before 1874, they retraced their route back to Cleveland Ohio. Omar’s second daughter, my grandmother, Mary Amanda Steele was born May 31, 1874 in Amherst, Ohio.

Omar was a 33rd Degree Mason and the lodge was named the O.N. Steele Masonic Lodge. He joined Globe Iron Works which eventually became the American Shipbuilding Company where he was General Superintendent of the Lorain shipyard and he was Chief Engineer on the first iron hulled ore ship on the Great Lakes, the “Onoko”. He died August 17, 1911 in Lakewood, Ohio, and is buried in Lakeside Cemetery in Cleveland. Here is the cemetery website listing for Omar.

OMAR N. STEELE 1843-1911
(Photo: The “Onoko”, the first ore carrier on the Great Lakes made of iron instead of the traditional wood hull, built in Cleveland and piloted by Omar N. Steele)

He was an Engineer for 20 years on the Great Lakes. In 1882, he piloted the first iron ore carrier that was built of iron, called “Onoko”.

He was Superintendent of American Shipbuilding at his death. He was known among local Masons as the namesake of O.N. Steele Lodge (now John W. Barkley Lodge). He was very prominent in Masonic circles.

He is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Section 22.

————
Robin Caldwell
This may be more information than you were interested in but I love the family history. My husband and I live in North Carolina. We just came home from a dream trip to the California Coast. We followed Hwy 1 from Santa Cruz to Ft. Bragg, trying to hit all the spots the Steeles lived. I have learned even more since I got home. I am collecting everything I can find.

Thank you for writing me. I hope sometime you may come across some additional information for me.

I have always been frustrated that I can’t find any information on Samuel Horace Steele or Omar in California. I just love exchanging info.

Let me know if you or anyone you know has interest in the Ohio part of the family. Most people didn’t even know we existed.
Email Robin Caldwell ( rcaldwell@aloftcomm.com)

[I wrote this in 2003.]

When Colonel Albert S. Evans learned that the Steele Brothers Dair at Ano Nuevo had produced a huge two-ton cheese in the 1860s, the author insisted on meeting Rensselaer Steele, owner of the famous Cascade Dairy Ranch.

The Colonel, who worked for the New York Tribune, often galloped atop his trusty old steed Don Benito to the scene of a news story. He was a rugged, experienced outdoorsman, avid fisherman and hunter, who, for protection against critters–wild or human–carried a Smith and Wesson revolver.

In 1869 it was Colonel Evans’ goal to collect anecdotes for a book that he hoped would illuminate the unique character of the rapidly vanishing “early Californian.” The book would be published as “A La California: Sketches of Life in the Golden State.”

Colonel Evans’ writing adventure began in San Francisco. From there he turned his attention southward to the San Mateo County Coastside–where he visited Pescadero, population 300. Pescadero’s local economy depended on the success of the nearby sawmills, dairies, grain and potato ranches. The lumber, butter, cheese and vegetables were sold at the bustling farmer’s market in San Francisco.

With popular little Pebble Beach a stone’s throw from Pescadero, there was also a growing summer tourist trade.

Around and about Pescadero, no newcomer was ever spared the horrific tales of injuries inflicted by the local grizzly bears and Colonel Evans got his earful.

Evans also became fascinated with the saga of two stubborn local men, each claiming that he was the title of Pescadero’s first settler. Don Salvador Mosquito, reportedly a former member of the Indian outlaw Pomponio’s gang, insisted he came first. His competitor, the Spaniard Senor Felipe Armas, argued that he came first.

While the contentious pair could never resolve their disagreement, Colonel Evans turned out to be the winner–because he walked away with the unique anecdote for his book.

Like all the tourists, Evans boarded at the famous Swanton House. His host was a talkative character called Thompson who had an encyclopedia knowledge of the local shipwrecks, including the Carrier Pigeon, Coya, Hellespont and the Sir John Franklin. More great details for the Colonel’s book.

Read the rest of this entry »

[While this original draft may be messy, it does contain more details and research than the edited version.]
By June Morrall

The Steeles moved from Ohio to California in 1855, first farming in Marin and Sonoma County. Seven years later the Steeles were forced to move when the Point Reyes property they rented was sold to new owners.

Then they heard that Loren Coburn, the San Francisco stableman and San Mateo County landowner, was looking for someone to lease his property at Ano Nuevo. Originally a deal was struck where Renneslear (”RE”), Issac (”IC”) and Edgar Steele rented the Ano Nuevo land for ten years. But by 1864 they owned it! [I believe what happened is that Loren needed cash up front for another project and the Steeles had the money.]

Besides dairying, the Steele brothers raised stock and cultivated grain. They built lovely homes for themselves at Ano Nuevo and at the famous Cascade Dairy. During the Civil War, Edgar produced a gargantuan cheese weighing one ton and donated it to the U.S. Sanitary Commission, forerunner of the Red Cross.

The Steeles had a personal reason for producing the giant dairy product: General Frederick Steele, who fought in the Civil War, was a close relative.

Edgar Steele also distinguished himself by demonstrating at county fairs new production techniques designed to yield higher quantities and qualities of cheese.

——————-

From: Coastside Cultural Resources of San Mateo County, California (1980)

Steele Brothers Dairies: In 1862, Rensselaer Steele and his three cousins established a chain of dairies between Gazos Creek and Ano Nuevo known as the Steele Brothers Dairies which became famous throughout the Bay Area for their products. A number of houses and barns still stand which were constructed by the family. The dairies are listed as a California State Landmark.

Cascade Ranch House: Built in the mid-1860s for Rensselaer and Clara Steele, the building is constructed in a classical form with a symmetrical placement of windows and doors, and is the most elegant of the buildings. A wide veranda with a balcony on the second floor runs along the front and both sides of the house. Alterations made to the house over the years have not destroyed its distinctive coastal character.

Cascade Ranch Dairy: This three-story redwood structure was the first erected by the Steeles after their location on the Coastside in 1862. The building was designed for function rather than style, which may explain the irregular placement of its windows. A wide band, or fascia, just under the eaves was the builder’s only architectural embellishment.

From “Coastside Cultural Resources of San Mateo County,” 1980

Steele Brothers Dairies

Gazos Creek to Ano Nuevo

“In 1862, Rensselaer Steele and his three cousins established a chain of dairies between Gazos Creek and Ano Nuevo known as the Steele Brothers Dairies which became famous throughout the Bay Area for their products. A number of houses and barns still stand which were constructed by the family. The dairies are listed as a California State Landmark.”