Henry M. Steele, Topeka Chief of Police.

Picture publish date 1898.
Push to enlarge.

Henry M. Steele.

Birth: May 1, 1858, North Carolina.
Death: September 12, 1908.

Wife: Ruth Steele,Connecticut, March, 1863-??
Married about 1887.

Children: Non recorded.

Burial: Topeka Cemertey, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.

Mr. Steele had many jobs over the years.  He was a Carpenter, Policeman, had a business called ( Ward & Stelle ), Real Estate, later he had his own Real Estate business, and was Topeka Chief of Police.

No one seems to know anything about him, No one can find out when he was elected to office.  I narrowed it down to November, 1897 through November, 1898, why only one year service I couldn't find out.

Henry M. Steel.

Former Police Chief Dies.

Henry M. Steel, chief of police of Topeka under Gov Leedy's administration, died recently of heart disease, he had been sick for several weeks. (Alma Wabaunsee County, Kansas, October 2, 1908, page 3. 

Topeka Daily Capital.
December 1903, page 8.

MR. STEELE HAS A KICK.

Police Searched His Office in North Topeka in Search for Liquor. Henry Steele, ex-chief of police, now engaged in the real estate business at 602 North Kansas avenue, was the victim of a mean trick recently, played upon him by his next door neighbor, Tim Durkin, who runs a Joint at C00. Chief McCollum had been informed that Durkin was using the rear of Steele's basement for a storage room for his liquor, feeling secure in the belief that the police would never search there for it. Accordingly on Tuesday night a warrant was sworn out for Durkin at his place at 600 North Kansas avenue which included the search of the basement and premises at 602. Officers Black and Brodis took the warrant, but exceeding their authority, searched the first floor of Mr. Steele's real estate office.

Naturally the ex-chief was considerably riled about the matter and called at the station yesterday to see about it. An explanation was made by Chief McCollum which proved satisfactory. But the funny part of It was that in the area way back of Steele's building a case of Schlitz beer was found. McCollum told the caller of this when Steele exclaimed: Yes. and I found another case hid In In a pile of bricks in the rear of my yard, the next day." "We certainly did not suspect Mr. Steele of runnlnff a joint or anything of the kind," said the chief yesterday. "But we were informed that Durkin was using his building as a storage room, unknown to Mr. Steele, and we thought we would see if we could find the stuff. It seems that we were correctly informed. Mr. Steele has lived here for many .years, and no one would connect him with any unlawful practice." The principal trouble is that Mr. Steele's friends have shown undue enthusiasm In calling him over the 'phone and asking.