DAVID STEINBERGER, farmer; P. 0. Urbana. Mr. Steinberger is one of our oldest men, and is now in his 81st year; his grandparents came from Germanyand settled in Shenandoah Co., Va. David's parents-John and Elizabeth Steinbergcr- were married in Virginia, and came to this county in 1804, and settled on Nettle Creek; near where Millerstown is now. This was at that time an Indian village, and was occupied by the Miami tribe. Indians were plenty at that day but were peaceable. The heavy timber was almost unbroken at that time, and wild game was plenty; raccoons destroyed much corn, and they had to watch their fields at night to save It ;squirrels were almost as destructive during the day as the coons were at night. Everybody helped their neighbors raise their log houses, roll and burn their logs, and a general feeling of good-fellowship prevailed.
J ohn Steinberger was a prominent man in his day, and was an enterprising one, having no money when he came here. When the county for Indiana, in 1819-or 1820, he owned 240 acres of land. His children were named George, John, Henry, Frederick, David and Gideon. Elizabeth and Catherine were the daughters. Only our subject and Gideon, who lives in Iowa, are living. David was born in Virginia Sept. 9, 1800, and was married, in 1821, to Elizabeth Pence. Their name figures extensively in this history. David and his wife were parents of seven children, only three-Louisa M., Mary A. and George S.-are living. Mrs. S. died in 1833 and in 1835 David married Lucy Gaines, of Virginia, whe was born, Feb. 22, 1813. By her he had eight children, five of whom are living- Caroline, Elizabeth, Amanda, John and Gideon. David started in life with which was spent in trying to regain his health, which was very poor in his younger days. He went bravely to work, married a wife, and commenced life in earnest. This reminds us of a story which Mr. Steinberger relates: " A man (name forgotten: whom David stayed all night, on Little Flat Rock, Indiana, married his wife whe was only 15 years of age. They had been married fifteen years and had fifteen chi ldren whose mother was only 30 years of age. When they were marricd, they had not a dollar, and after rearing this large family they had bought and paid for 400 acres of and were then engaged in building a mill." After sixty years of toil, commencing out any capital, except a pair of willing hands, Mr. Steinberger is now the ow 952 acres of land, worth $75,000, not counting personal property, etc., and residence in Urbana. All this was gained by honest toil and economy. Both himself and wife are of the Baptist faith, and are now living at their ease on the farm the mills that bear his name. Politically, he is Democratic, one of the substantial and is honored and respected by the best citizens of Champaign County.