STEELE COUNTY, MN HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
History of Steele & Waseca County, Minnesota by Union Publishing Company, (1887) – 762 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.01.31.0304.CD.AR
History of Rice and Steele Counties, Minnesota, Volume 2 by Franklin Curtiss-Wedge, (1910) – 852 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.10.31.1500.AR
Steele County, Minnesota: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the fertile agricultural landscape of southeastern Minnesota, Steele County is a region defined by its rich soil, strong community roots, and the city of Owatonna, its vibrant industrial and cultural center. Established during the Minnesota Territory’s rapid expansion in the 1850s, its history is a classic Midwestern story of Native American displacement, pioneer settlement by Yankees and European immigrants, and the growth of an economy based on farming and Main Street enterprise. The Straight River winds through the county, a geographical feature central to its initial settlement and development.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Steele County’s formation from several larger parent counties is essential for locating the earliest records of its pioneer settlers.
- 1855: County Formed: Steele County was established on February 20, 1855, by an act of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature. It was officially organized two years later, in 1857.
- Parent Counties: It was created from portions of Rice, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur counties. Researchers looking for records of individuals who settled in the area between 1851 and 1855 must search the records of these parent counties.
- Subsequent County Formations: The county’s boundaries were adjusted shortly after its creation. The formation of Waseca County to the west in 1857 finalized Steele County’s western border.
- Name Origin: The county is named for Franklin Steele (1813-1880), a prominent and influential early Minnesota pioneer. Steele was a sutler at Fort Snelling, a timber magnate, a major landholder in early Minneapolis, and a member of the first Board of Regents for the University of Minnesota.
- County Seat History: Owatonna was designated as the county seat in the 1855 act that created the county, and it has remained the county seat ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: Prior to European-American settlement, the land that became Steele County was the territory of the Dakota people, primarily the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute bands. The land was ceded to the United States government in the Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851, which opened the region to official settlement.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first permanent settlers arrived in 1854. The initial wave consisted primarily of “Yankees”—American-born settlers from New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. They were soon followed by large numbers of foreign-born immigrants, particularly from Germany, Norway, and Bohemia (Czechs), who were drawn by the prospect of owning fertile farmland. The economy was built on agriculture, with wheat as the dominant early cash crop. This later transitioned to a more diversified agricultural base, including a significant dairy industry, which contributed to the region’s “Bread and Butter” nickname. Owatonna developed as the key commercial, railroad, and industrial hub.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Steele County.
- Courthouse: The Steele County Government Center is located at 630 Florence Ave, Owatonna, MN 55060. This is the primary repository for county records. The Steele County Recorder’s office holds land records (deeds, mortgages) and vital records. The Court Administrator’s office manages probate (wills and estates), civil, and criminal court case files.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Minnesota began in 1908. Records from 1908 to the present are held by the Minnesota Department of Health. For records prior to this date, researchers should check with the Steele County Recorder’s office, as early counties often maintained their own registers, though they can be incomplete.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s formation in 1855 to the present are held by the Steele County Recorder.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Steele County Historical Society (SCHS): Located at 1700 Austin Rd, Owatonna, MN 55060. This is the most crucial resource for local family research. It holds an extensive collection of local newspapers, plat maps, family histories, photographs, and archival materials.
- Owatonna Public Library: Located at 105 N Elm Ave, Owatonna, MN 55060. The library has a local history collection, including newspapers on microfilm and published county histories.
- Minnesota Historical Society (Gale Family Library): (Located in St. Paul) This is the premier repository for statewide research. It holds Minnesota state census records (available for years between federal censuses), an extensive newspaper microfilm collection, naturalization records, and a vast library of genealogical materials.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Rice County, MN
- Dodge County, MN
- Mower County, MN
- Freeborn County, MN
- Waseca County, MN