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Alden Hatch Steele was born in Oswego, New York, in 1823. He attended medical school at the University of New York, graduating in 1846. He practiced briefly in Oswego before coming to the Oregon Territory with the 1st Rifle Regiment, U.S. Army in 1849. He practiced at Fort Vancouver for four years, then left the Army and moved to Oregon City where he was married to Hannah H. Blackler in 1854. They had two children.

In Oregon City, Steele was a councilman, city recorder, and served three terms as mayor. During the Civil War, Steele served as post surgeon at Fort Dalles, Fort Stevens, and finally at Fort Steilacoom. Dr. Steele left the Army in 1869 when the troops were reassigned to Alaska. He moved to Olympia, Washington Territory, where he and his family lived until his death in 1902. He was a member of the city council, a regent of the Territorial University (now the University of Washington), and a director of the First National Bank, and a member of the Episcopal Church.