Mary ( Polly) Steele

26 September 1813–8 March 1892 (Age 78)
Richmond, Ontario, New York, United States

The Life of Mary ( Polly)

When Mary ( Polly) Steele was born on 26 September 1813, in Richmond, Ontario, New York, United States, her father, Rodrick Steele, was 35 and her mother, Rhoda Merrill, was 36. She had at least 4 sons and 5 daughters with John Dean Alger. She lived in Michigan, United States in 1870 and Paris Twp, Kent, Michigan, United States in 1880. She died on 8 March 1892, in Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, United States.

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Family Time Line

John Dean Alger
1809–1895
Mary ( Polly) Steele
1813–1892
Maria Mariah Polly Alger
1834–1912
Frank Alger
1846–1850
Alice Alger
1848–1848
Rose Alger
1850–
Alger
1852–
Carrie E Alger
1837–1907
John Lucius Alger
1840–1916
Marcius Curtis Alger
1842–1904
Corydon Marcellus Alger
1844–1918

Spouse and Children

children

(9)

+4 More Children

Parents and Siblings

siblings

(7)

    Aurelia Steele

    Female1800–1838Female

    Rhoda Steele

    Female1802–1862Female

    Andrew Merrill Steel

    Male1804–1863Male

    Antha Ruth Steele

    Female1806–1889Female

    Edwin Steele

    Male1808–1887Male

+2 More Children

World Events (8)

1819 · Panic! of 1819

Age 6

With the Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars the global market for trade was down. During this time, America had its first financial crisis and it lasted for only two years. 
1827 · Slavery Becomes Illegal in New York State

Age 14

During the years 1799 to 1827, New York went through a period of gradual emancipation. A Gradual Emancipation Law was passed in 1799 which freed slave children born after July 4, 1799. However, they were indentured until 25 years old for women and 28 years old for men. A law passed 1817 which freed slaves born before 1799, yet delayed their emancipation for ten years. All remaining slaves were freed in New York State on July 4, 1827.
1836 · Remember the Alamo

Age 23

Being a monumental event in the Texas Revolution, The Battle of the Alamo was a thirteen-day battle at the Alamo Mission near San Antonio. In the early morning of the final battle, the Mexican Army advanced on the Alamo. Quickly being overrun, the Texian Soldiers quickly withdrew inside the building. The battle has often been overshadowed by events from the Mexican–American War, But the Alamo gradually became known as a national battle site and later named an official Texas State Shrine.

Name Meaning

English and Scottish: from Middle English stele ‘steel’, hence a nickname for someone considered as hard and durable as steel, or metonymic occupational name for a foundry worker.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

Sources (3)

  • Polly Alger in household of John Alger, "United States Census, 1870"
  • Polly Alger in household of John D Alger, "United States Census, 1860"
  • Mary Alger in household of John D Alger, "United States Census, 1850"

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