[6] In 1857, Miss Baker was called as music teacher to Mexico Academy,[1][2] also serving as preceptress.

[7] The first years of their married life were broken into by the Civil War, when, in 1861, responding to the call of his country, Dr. Steele entered the service in command of a company he had raised.

A wound received in the battle of Fair Oaks and long illness of camp-fever incapacitated him for further military service.

[6] In 1857, there was among teachers an urgent call for brief scientific textbooks, and Dr. Steele was invited to prepare a book on chemistry.

From his study in Elmira, he then began to issue that series of school books which was known in that era throughout the United States.

In a personal reminiscence, written just before his death, Dr. Steele said:— "My wife came at once into full accord with all my plans; she aided me by her service, cheered me by her hopefulness and merged her life in mine.

During the years that followed, four trips were made to Europe, in order to collect the best and newest information on the subjects in hand.

Libraries were visited in London, Paris, and Berlin, distinguished educators interviewed, and methods tested.

Pervaded by the one idea of rendering a lasting service to education, husband and wife, aiding, encouraging and counseling each other, returned to their study in Elmira, laden with their research.

In the preparation of these histories, Mrs. Steele had entire charge of the sections on civilization and of the biographical notes.

[6] Syracuse University conferred upon Steele, out of respect for her attainments and achievements, the degree of Doctor of Literature.

[1][2] Among the public benevolences which absorbed large sums of money may also be mentioned the physical cabinet connected with the J. Dorman Steele Chair of Theistic Science in Syracuse University.