Biography of Byron W. Steele, M.D. - Wyoming Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 397-398
 
BYRON W. STEELE, M. D. For the past several years
Dr. Byron W. Steele has been engaged in the general prac-
tice of medicine at Mullens, and by his devotion to the
duties of his profession, his close study and his pronounced
skill has won a liberal and representative practice. His
talents and sympathy have gained him recognition as a
leader, and he has maintained throughout his career a high
standard of professional ethics and honorable principles.

Doctor Steele was born at Moundsville, West Virginia,
July 14, 1889, and is a son of Dr. S. M. and Florence N.
(Cheadle) Steele. Dr. S. M. Steele was born September
14, 1860, in Tyler County, Virginia (now West Virginia),
and after completing his normal school education at West
Liberty engaged in school teaching for two years, in the
meantime pursuing his medical studies. He then entered
the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, from
which institution he was graduated with his degree with
the class of 1886, and commenced practice at Moundsville,
West Virginia, where he remained until becoming superin-
tendent of the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane. He
remained in this capacity from 1906 until 1914, and his tal-
ents as an authority on nervous diseases made his work of
particular value. He returned from the hospital to Mounds-
ville, where he now has a large practice and is numbered
among the foremost members of his profession. He is a
republican in politics and an Elk fraternally, and belongs
to the Methodist Church, as does Mrs. Steele, who is a native
of McConnellsvilIe, Ohio. Four sons were born to them,
all of whom served during the World war, three seeing
overseas service. Dr. Byron W. Steele is the eldest of the
sons. Leonard C. Steele was a sergeant in the Medical
Corps of the Eighty-seventh Division and was overseas one
year. He is now associated with the Wyoming Ice and Bot-
tling Company at Mullens as bookkeeper.  Rodney D.
Steele was on the battle line with the Seventeenth Ambu-
lance Company, Fifth Division, a noted company with
splendid service to its credit. Marion Steele, the youngest
son, was at the Students' Training Camp at Washington
and Lee University when the armistice was signed.

Byron W. Steele attended the public schools of Mounds-
ville, and was graduated from the high school there, fol-
lowing which he entered Marshall College and was gradu-
ated in 1910. He then enrolled as a student in the College
of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, his father's alma
mater, and was graduated as a member of the class of
1914, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and for
one year thereafter served as instructor. For the following
year he served as obstetrician at Mercy Hospital, Balti-
more. and during the next year held the same position at
the Women's Hospital in that city. In 1916 he came to
Mullens to take charge of Robertson's General Hospital as
surgeon, and remained in that capacity until March 10,
1918, when he enrolled as a student in the Army Medical
School at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He received his com-
mission as first lieutenant, was made an instructor, and in
June, 1918, went overseas, where he was promoted cap-
tain and made orthopedic surgeon at Base Hospital No.
63. He remained in that capacity until March 11, 1919,
when he was transferred to Base Hospital No. 91 as chief
orthopedie surgeon. He returned to the United States in
August, 1919, and again settled at Mullens, where he is
in the enjoyment of a very heavy practice. Doctor Steele's
physique and general bearing are such as to inspire confi-
dence, and his real courtesy and sympathy likewise gain
him the faith of his patients. Ho holds to the highest ideals
in his professional service, and his work is characterized by
a conscientious devotion to duty and a display of knowl-
edge that demonstrates him a master of his vocation. His
work has brought him before the people of Mullens and the
surrounding community in a way that will not be easily for-
gotten, and he has never been found lacking in any of the
essentials that are necessary for the making of a truly great
physician. He keeps fully abreast of the numerous advance-
ments being constantly made in his calling, and is an ac-
tive and interested member of the Mercer County Medical
Society, the West Virginia State Medical Society and the
American Medical Association. He is a member of the
Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity. In politics he adheres to
the principles of the republican party, but his profession
has kept him too busily occupied for him to engage in pub-
lic life, although he displays a good citizen's interest in
civic matters and gives his support to worthy movements
and enterprises. Fraternally he is affiliated with Mullens
Lodge No. 151, A. F. and A. M., and Princeton Chapter,
R. A. M., in both of which he has numerous friends.

On July 14, 1920, at Mullens. Doctor Steele was united
in marriage with Miss Frances P. Ould, daughter of W. T.
Ould, of Glenlyn, Virginia. To this union there has been
born one son, Byron W., Jr. Mrs. Steele, a woman of nu-
merous graces and accomplishments, is a graduate of Con-
cord Normal School at Athens, West Virginia, and also did
special work at the University of Virginia. Prior to her
marriage she was a teacher in the public schools. She and
Doctor Steele are members of the Methodist Church. Doc-
tor Steele is a member of the American Legion.


Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>

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