The following is an excerpt from Miss Caroline's School by Madge M. Steelman.
"In 1863 John and Phoebe Steelman and their ten children moved from Springfield, Ohio to
Southern Indiana. The following year John bought the adjoining farm for a friend in Springfield,
Norman Knaub. Norman and Caroline Knaub also had ten children."
"Their new homes were four miles from church or school. Their neighbors taught
their children at home until they were old enough to walk to town to school. Some of the children were taught very little because their parents were uneducated. These were fine people, owning good farms, living well according to their time, and eager for anything that would enrich
their lives. They welcomed the suggestion that they should build a church and a school."
"On a corner of the Steelman farm they built two buildings, alike except for the furnishings. They started Sunday School and organized a class which would later become a
Methodist Church."
Caroline Knaub the Young School Teacher
Eva Mae & Wilber Obituary Poem
The original list of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church: Steelman Chapel 1851 - 1867, page 1
The originlist of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church: Steelman Chapel 1851 - 1867, page 2.
A transcribed list of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church: Steelman Chapel 1851 - 1867.
An annotated chart from the list of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church: Steelman Chapel 1851 - 1867.
The photograph of the exterior of the Steelman Chapel was taken in 1994 by Eugene and Lucie Field. The interior was photographed in 1968 by Howard and Miriam Grasz Field.
Unfortunately, by the summer of 1999 the chapel had been demolished. In the nearly 30 years
between photographs much deterioration had occured. Even between a visit in 1994 and 1997
the chapel had begun to slide off its foundation. None of the interior furnishings remained. In
1968 the building was well painted and still used as a chapel. We felt this was a historical
treasure of Gibson County, Indiana and should have been preserved.
Photo of the monument courtesy of Stephen Ahlfeld. Stephen is a 3rd great-gandson of Norman Keith Knaub and Caroline A. McCartney.
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