…….Several years ago I began to hunt up the genealogy of my own family, which up to that time had been almost wholly neglected. I am what may be called a double Steele, both my father and mother having been Steeles. As to the name, some Steele families omit the final "e." The most of them use it. Sometimes the final "e" has been omitted for generations and then restored. The name is the same with or without it. It is said that the name Steele is of Scotch origin, and hence that all Steeles have Scotch blood in them. Of this I am not certain, but it is probably true.
Scotland and Ireland are so close together that for perhaps three thousand years there has been more or less intimacy between their people. There has been constant migrating from one country to the other. Inter- marriages have been numerous, and this has produced the so-called Scotch- Irish people of which we hear so much. However, this term is probably most usually applied to the mixing of the Scotch and Irish in the last three or four hundred years.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries considerable numbers of people emigrated from Scotland to Ireland to escape oppression of various kinds, mostly religious persecution. These settled largely in the Eastern and Northern parts of Ireland. Many of them inter-married with the best element of the native Irish people. Because of exorbitant taxation and religious persecution and oppressions in Ireland, many thousand of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians finally left Ireland and came to the American colonies seeking more freedom and religious toleration. At first they settled largely in Pennsylvania and Virginia, but later many families migrated to North and South Carolina. Most of the Steeles of America are Scotch-Irish and most of these, as distinct families, came directly from Ireland. Some came from England and other European countries, but I think the most of them claim Scotland as their ancestral home.
CHAPTER IV
THE SOUTH CAROLINA STEELES IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
The readers of this little family book will be interested to know what part our ancestors took in the Revolutionary war. Several Steele families were more or less prominent actors in those turbulent times.
Mrs. Katherine Steele, of Chester County, S.C. was the widow of Thomas Steele, and she was a noble, patriotic and sacrificing woman. She had two sons, John and Thomas. John was captain of a partisan company and fought under General Sumter. Thomas also, although quite young, was a soldier and in his brother's company. John was a brave, dashing and highly successful captain. Once when General Sumter's command was surprised and defeated, probably at Fishing creek, August 18th, 1780, Capt. John Steele took Sumter in his arms and bore him out of imminent danger. Sumter was sick or wounded at the time. So far as I can ascertain these Steeles were not related to our ancestors.
As to our Steele family there is no doubt whatever about their being in the midst of the "martial fray" in S.C. in 1780 and 1781-2. As has been stated they settled on Fishing Creek, York district (now county) in 1772. Family tradition has always been perfectly clear that four of Archibald Steele's sons fought in the Revolutionary War. They were John, Joseph, William, and James. There are no official records in the war office in Washington or in the State House in Columbia, S.C. to show this, but we must remember that the Revolutionary War records of S.C. are very meager in the war office in Washington, and there is only one small book of such records in the Capitol of S.C. Nearly all such state records were destroyed during Sherman's raid through S.C. in 1865
In 1780 and 1781 when the horrors of war raged fiercest in S.C., everything was in confusion, almost chaos, and there was, little effort made to keep records. Great numbers of S.C. soldiers were not what were known as Continental Troops—that is, under control of the central Continental Government. Many of them were not even state troops, strictly speaking, but were what were known as "partisan" soldiers. They attached themselves to a Captain, Colonel or General of their choice and furnished their own clothing, arms and horses. Most of this class of soldiers were cavalry men. The most of them were entirely without training as soldiers, but they were hardy, active, brave and patriotic men, and accurate shooters, and they made effective soldiers for the kind of fighting they had to adopt against the British. They were truly volunteers and independents, especially is this true of General Francis Marion's famous "brigade." Marion was a true, noble patriot, and he did not want soldiers except those who were willing to put all on the altar of freedom, and fight purely for love of liberty. He bound no one to any term of service, so that every soldier was free to go home when he pleased. His idea was that the best soldiers were those who voluntarily came to him and voluntarily staid with him. With a band of that kind of patriots he was almost invincible. Such soldiers were the four Steele brothers. Doubtless all four with a number of neighbor boys and men, were in the same company, and Joseph Steele was its captain. It is clear and universal family tradition that Joseph was a captain under Marion, but probably was not a soldier more than three or four years. There is only a strong probability that their father, Archibald Steele, was a soldier. His term of service was probably for a few weeks or months, or just when the hot times of 12780 raged in his part of the state.
It was quite common for the citizens who were Whigs---that is, sympathizers with the American cause, to join the independent partisan companies for a few weeks during an emergency. Then when things got more quiet or the enemy retired to another part of the state, they would go back to their homes which often had been despoiled in their absence.
In 1780 Capt. Joseph Steele was not more than twenty years old and William, the youngest of the four brothers then in the army, was just fifteen. John, the oldest of the brothers, was about twenty-three. Just how they came to join Marion's brigade or when, no one knows. Gen. Thomas Sumter usually operated nearer their home than did Marion, but they went to Marion and their reasons for going to him were doubt less natural and reasonable.
We know that they were all in one company, for once when their command was surprised and scattered, all of the brothers were separated from one another, and each feared that the others had been killed or captured, although none of them had met with either misfortune.
Doubtless these four brothers experienced many thrilling adventures, fought in many small battles and skirmishes and had narrow escapes from death or capture, but unfortunately we have little knowledge on these points. I attribute the lack of family tradition about these matters to the fact that all of these brothers died comparatively young and before their children were old enough to take such interest in historic matters as to remember much of what they may have heard their fathers speak. John lived the longest but nearly all of his posterity are lost to the other members of the family.
CHAPTER V
INTERESTING INCIDENTS
Archibald Steele the First, our ancestor, was once captured by the British, but he was not then a soldier. He and his youngest son, Robert, had been with a wagon to a neighbor's to bring home a hive of bees. This was probably early in the spring of 1780. As they drove homeward a troop of British or Tories galloped up behind them. The noise of the wagon prevented their being heard until they were close to the wagon. When young Robert saw them he did not wait to tell his father or ask advice, but, springing like a cat from the wagon, he escaped into the woods in a twinkling. The old gentleman, his team and bees were captured. How long he was kept a prisoner no one knows, but probably not long. The British burned his house in that year or in 1781 and destroyed almost everything he had. They hated him and his wife because he had four sons in the "Rebel army," as they called the noble men fighting the battles of human freedom.
The band of British who burned the house were guided in their despicable work by a neighbor named Jonah Byrd.
Great-grandmother Agnes Steele had several fine feather beds, the pride of her home and joy of her heart. The British to spite her, brought them out into the yard, ripped them open and scattered the feathers all over the yard, "knee deep." As tradition has it.
They threatened her with death and actually put a rope around her neck in an effort to extort from her some information concerning the whereabouts of her husband and soldier-sons. O f course they got no such information from her. She was not that sort of a woman.
But they burned the house, first taking out many of the kitchen utensils, probably with the expectation of using them in their camp. It is said that Archibald the First, was not at home when his house was burned.
He had sometime before volunteered as a soldier and was at that moment with a small company of patriot troops not far away. Hearing of the plundering and burning they gave the British such a hot chase that the latter became alarmed and threw their stolen booty into a "deep hole" in Fishing Creek which ran near by. That "deep hole" was for many years pointed out to the younger generations of York county Steeles.
The articles which were thrown into the creek were various kinds of earthen-ware vessels, pewter milk-basins and iron pot-racks.
THE OLD CHAIN POT-RACK
I have now in my possession one of those identical potracks that went into that deep hole in Fishing Creek that day and thereby hangs a tale. In those days there were no such thing as a cooking stove at all. The cooking was done in the open fore place and on the hearth. The fire-place and chimney were large. Across the chimney several feet above the hearth was a pole of wood or rod of iron. A pot-rack was often a short chain of round links with a large hook at each end. One hook was hooked over the pole above, the other hook swinging just above the fire. The lower hook could be inserted into any of the round links of the chain, thus regulating the height of the hook from the fire below. On this lower hook were hung pots and kettles in which food was boiled. Usually two or three pot-racks of the same or different patterns hung in each kitchen chimney. There were "potracks" not of the chain pattern, but the one of which I write was a chain of round links. So on that "black day" great grandmother Agnes' pot- racks went into old Fishing Creek to keep company with many other old acquaintances in the shape of articles from the kitchen. These strange newcomers doubtless served as "scare crows" to the fish of that old creek for many months.
But the day of their redemption drew nigh. When the war was over and the cause of freedom triumphed, the Tory, Jonah Byrd, had the hardihood, the cheek, the brass, to dare to come back to live in that community where he had led his fellow Tories and the British dragoons in their plundering and burning raids. This was an impudent and risky thing to do. The Steele boys had been away from home fighting for their state and freedom---for their homes and resides. Their mother had remained at home almost alone and defenseless. Jonah Byrd had aided in burning that mother's only house and robbing her of even her cooking vessels. The situation was more than the Steele boys would permit. So one morning Joseph took his old army sword and went over to "interview" Jonah Byrd. Capt. Joseph Steele was a soldier hardened by the experiences of a bitter, partisan war, and made more desperate by the black, bare desolation of the home of his aged father and mother. He called Byrd out and told him that he had come to kill him, and that was his intention. The coward fell on his knees and begged and prayed that his life might be spared. The poor fellow's wife and children screamed their prayers in unison with his. The sword was raised several times as if it was meant to kill the cringing Tory, but as it came down the weapon was so turned that the flat side instead of its edge struck the poor fellow. Capt. Steele finally agreed that if Byrd would promise to leave the country in twenty days and also go with him to Fishing Creek and get out his mother's cooking utensils, he would not kill him. These conditions were gladly accepted by Byrd.
I am not sure how Capt. Steele knew about the things being in the creek, or that at first he knew anteing of that at all. I suppose that the Tory early in that dramatic interview told him where they were and expressed a willingness to get them for him. It was a cold day in the winter of 1781-2. The creek was frozen over. Byrd broke the ice and got out many articles. He had to dive under the water for them, for it was a pretty "deep hole" into which they had thrown them. Ever since Byrd's diving that place has been known as a "deep hole in Fishing Creek."
My father who was the youngest son of Robert, who was the youngest son of Archibald and Agnes Steele, once owned a number of those recovered articles. Several shallow pewter milk-pans or basins which were in very general use in those days, were among them. The sole existing article that came out of that "deep hole in Fishing Creek, " York Co., S.C., that cold winter day is the old "chain pot-rack" here spoken of and now owned by the writer of these sketches.
ROBERT, THE YOUNGEST SON, A VOLUNTEER
As before shown, Robert was the youngest son of Archibald Steele, and in 1780-81 when the war in South Carolina was in its most disserting stage, he was not fourteen years old. He was considered too young to take an active part in the war, but as young as he was, he became so incensed by the conduct of the British that he ran away from home and tried to join the army, but was sent home by the officer in command of the company which he tried to join.
The circumstances that aroused young Robert's indignation to such a pitch, were as follow: He and a colored boy named George, who belonged to his father, had been to a little water mill on Fishing creek, a few miles down the stream, southeast of their home. They went horseback, each one carrying on his horse a sack of corn to mill and returning with a sack of meal. This in the old days, was a very common way of "going to mill," of which the writer has had much "warm" experience. As they were returning a troop of British cavalry dashed up behind them. The boys knew that it was useless to try to escape by running their horses, so they both leaped from their horses and took to the woods, as Robert ad successfully done once before. The Negro George was a remarkable athlete and young Robert was a good second. They escaped and, avoiding the public roads, found their way home as best they could. When they reached home they found that the British had plundered it and left the house a smoking ruin, and that his mother had gone to a neighbor's house. The next day Robert's mother sent him and George to the burnt home to catch the remaining chickens. While they were there, the British cavalry came by and the boys fled to a nearby field that the neglect of war times had allowed to grow up in tall grass and weeds. We suppose this was in July 1781. The British had seen the boys run and they rode around through the field hunting for them. The boys were lying flat on the ground in the tall grass. The soldiers at times rode near them, and Robert said afterwards, that he could see them plainly, and that if he had had a gun he would have shot one of them at the risk of loosing his own life.
The next day he left home against his mother's wishes and without her knowledge, found the American troops and volunteered for active service. He had three times escaped capture by the British by running and now he proposed to do a little shooting instead. A brave lad was he. He was of the "red headed" fighting Scotch-Irish stock.
Doubtless it was the command to which his father or brothers belonged that he tried to join. That was probably why he knew where to find them, and probably that was the reason he was sent home, for in that case the officers knew that his father and four brothers were then patriot soldiers and that he was the only "man" at home.
From this distance in time, I think that if young Robert whose Irish blood was so stirred by British indignities, was a good rider and a good shot, he should have been allowed to try his hand at being a soldier for a while. At the very time Andrew Jackson, another young patriot, a red headed freckled faced Irish boy living not far away and who was born in the same year, just six months before Robert was born, was a real soldier. He took part in the battle at Hanging Rock, Aug. 1780, and was captured the next year and held as prisoner of war. So I think that Robert was not too young to be a soldier in the great emergency then on the state, but his mother's love for her baby boy could not allow it.
As it was, as soon as he returned home, his mother, fearing his capture, sent him, in company with a neighbor boy on a three days journey into North Carolina to some relatives or friends to stay until times would get more quiet at home. They traveled through the woods and by-ways and lived largely on wild berries picked by the way.
One day when very hungry they saw a woman, a stranger to them, take a loaf of bread from the oven. They ventured to ask her for some of it, which was freely given. Robert learned her name, which he never forgot.
Thirty-five years afterward he moved with his family to Limestone Co., Ala. There he found that this same woman was living near where he lad just settled. Of course the families were glad to know each other. She was a Mrs. Murrell. Her daughter, Miss Jennie Murrell, had married a Mr. Isaac Hyde who became my father's dear friend and for whom he named his youngest son, now Rev. Isaac Donnell Steele, of Birmingham, Ala. How strangely things do come about! Their only living son, Mr. Lem H. Hyde, is now living in Elkmont, Ala., near the old home, and is one of the most worthy and respected citizens of that county.
CHAPTER VI BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
After the war was over the Steeles all settled down in the old Fishing Creek community and continued their farming operations. Perhaps a brief sketch of each one separately will be appropriate.
ARCHIBALD THE FIRST
In addition to what has been said of Archibald Steele elsewhere in this book I may add that I am satisfied that he was a religious and moral man. There is no documentary evidence of this but there is a trustworthy woman, now living, who knew his son Robert well for years. She tells me that she has heard Robert (who was my grandfather) say that he had always and still desired to be as good a man as his father Archibald, was. We know that Robert was a man of high moral and religious character. Hence, I have no doubt that Archibald was a religious man, a member of and probably a ruling elder in old Bethesda church near his old home in South Carolina. He was a Presbyterian, as have been nearly all his descendants since.
JOHN STEELE
John was the oldest son of Archibald Steele the First. He was born in Ireland about 1768, married Jane Young in south Carolina. They left seven children, namely, Archibald, Robert, John, James, William, Hugh and Jane. Nothing more is known of him except that he died in 1807 or 1808. His oldest son, Archibald, raised a family in York county, South Carolina, but about 1842 went to Georgia to live with one of his daughters, Mrs. Dale, where he died as is supposed. Robert moved to Carroll county, Tennessee, and died leaving two or three sons, of whom I can find no trace. John was a school teacher and died in Louisiana, leaving one child, a daughter. Nothing is known of his other four children except that James was the administrator of his father's estate. Hugh was insane and Jane married R.J. Sandifer. Some of them went to live in Chester county, South Carolina. John's family has almost dropped out of the knowledge of all the rest of the connection.
CAPT. JOSEPH STEELE
Captain Joseph was the second son of Archibald Steele the First, and was born in Ireland in 1760. He was the most prominent of the five brothers, and, as elsewhere shown, he was a captain of a company of cavalry under General Marion, in the Revolutionary war.
He married Rebecca Anderson and left six children: John, William, Archibald, Samuel, Jane and Alexander. He died Aug. 28, 1795, of malarial fever then rife on Fishing Creek. His children all married and raised families and the most of their descendants are now living in York County, S.C., except those of Alexander who moved to Neshobo county, Miss., in 1846, and the most of whose descendants now live in Texas. It is not necessary to go into further details here, as all of Joseph's descendants appear in the genealogical department of this history. There are more of them than any other branch of our family. (See "Revolutionary War Chapter" and "Historical Sketch.")
WILLIAM STEELE
William, was the third son of Archibald Steele First. He was born in Ireland in 1762. He married Margaret Johnston. They had two children: Joseph and Samuel Johnston. Joseph married a Miss Sadler and moved to Carroll County, Tenn., where he died childless. Samuel Johnston married Miss Martha Williamson, a daughter of Samuel Williamson, and died in York County, S.C., aged thirty-nine. They had three children: William Harvey, Samuel Williamson and Margaret Ann. The widow and the three children moved to Tate County. Miss., in 1844. William's descendants are few and are all living in Tennessee and Arkansas -- see the genealogical chapter. William was remarkably athletic man. It is said that he never seemed to get tired. In view of his strength and endurance, some of the family used to say of him that he "was all horse and every bit man."
Those were "rough and tumble" days, and physical prowess was greatly applauded. "First and skull" fighting was very common in those days. William Steele was in no sense a "bully,"nor did he seek to fight for the sake of fighting, but it was generally conceded that he was physically the "best man in York County."
Once on a time at an annual "muster" at Yorkville a "mighty man of muscle" by the name of Black came over from Rockingham County, N.C., for the special purpose of whipping"Bill Steele," as he called him. He bragged and blowed around all day, telling what he had done, could do and had come to do. William Steele had no desire or intention of fighting him, but late in the day after William had gotten into his wagon to go home, the bully, Black, got so offensive in his bragging that William said if nothing else would Do him, he would give him a good thrashing, which he proceeded to do in the "good old way." It was almost a "tie fight," for although Black confessed defeat, yet William was so badly hurt that he had to be hauled home and was in bed two weeks. This is a glimpse of the"good old times" before these degenerate days of knives and pistols!
Another incident….The bitterness engendered by the war in which neighbors took opposite sides led to many fusses and fights. There was scarcely a public gathering for years after the close of the war without a row, growing out of the war feuds. Once at a mill William Steele and a Tory came to blows over a question about the war. William downed the Tory and they fell or rolled under the mill steps, and William was rapidly getting the best of the Tory when the latter brought his feet into action. The tory had on his old war spurs and with these he managed to rip nearly all of the clothing and much of the hide off of William's back, but I think William finally whipped the Tory. As I am not sure I will put it that way for William was of such pluck and endurance that he probably would have died before acknowledging defeat at he hands of a Tory.
JAMES STEELE
James was the fourth son of Archibald Steele the First. He was born in 1765, presumably in Ireland, but possibly in Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in his brother's company of "Marion's brigade" during the Revolutionary war. He died October 6, 1811, and is buried in fishing creek Church Cemetery, Chester county, South Carolina. He married Mary (Mollie) Workman April 18, 1788. She was born in Ireland in 1759 or 1760 and died June 30, 1838. She was a sister of James and "Peggy"Workman. The Steeles and Workmans came over from Ireland I the same ship and settled first in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and later in York county, South Carolina. No particulars are now known of the army life of James Steele, or of his after years. He left four children --Joseph, Lavinia, Annie and Margaret (Peggy). Annie and Margaret never married. Lavinia married Mr. W.M. Dickson and moved to Pontotoc county, Mississippi in 1845 and later to Kentucky, and nothing more is known of them. Joseph married Miss Rosa Barry Hanna, October 10, 1810. Their descendants are given I the genealogical department. I believe they all live in York county, South Carolina.
ROBERT STEELE
Robert was the fifth and youngest son of Archibald Steele the First. He was born September 7, 1767 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and died January 9, 1852 near Elkmont, Ala., and is buried in the old New-Garden Church cemetery near his old home. In 1772 he went with his father's family from Pennsylvania to York county, South Carolina, where he lived until he moved with his family to Limestone county, Alabama, where he died as above mentioned. Robert was unusually called"Robin" by the "home folks." For his Revolutionary war experiences and ambitions, see chapter V.
In 1796 he married Miss Martha Starr, a daughter of John Starr from Ireland. I think the Starrs came over from Ireland at a about the same time that the Steeles came. Her father settled just northeast of Fishing Creek near what is now "Star's Ford" --the ford taking its name from him. Martha Star's mother was a Miss Stuart and some claim that she was of French descent which others hold that she was of Scotch ancestry, which is more probable. Martha Starr's father and paternal grandfather and great grandfather were all named John Starr. Robt. Steele lived on a part of the original "Archibald Steele place" just southwest of and near Fishing Creek, York county, South Carolina, and about three miles east of old Bethesda Presbyterian Church, which doubtless the family helped to build, as the Steeles, were all Presbyterians. Robert became a member of that congregation I September 1802 and was made a ruling elder in it in the year 1805.
In 1791 his father gave him a power of attorney to visit Pennsylvania and represent him as heir to certain property there that he believed rightly belonged to him. I have a copy of the power of attorney. It refers, with particulars, to the will of one, "Robert Steele, of Pennsylvania," and it was under this will that Archibald hoped to receive a part or all of the estate of the Pennsylvania Robert Steele. Nothing more is known of that matter, but it is supposed that the "Robert Steele, of Pennsylvania," was Archibald's brother and that he had no children. Perhaps another brother's family got the property. No one knows whether Robert ever visited Pennsylvania on the business mentioned in the power of attorney, but there is a well attested family tradition that he visited relatives in Pennsylvania in the winter of 1816-17.
My father used to speak of our Steele relatives in Pennsylvania, but no particulars are now remembered by any of us. I have heard that some Pennsylvania relatives of our Steele family were named Paige.
In 1817, during November and December, Robert with his family moved to Alabama, and stopped temporarily --long enough to make a crop--near Hazelgreene, Madison County, but in August of 1818 after crops were "laid by" he built a permanent home in the "Sims settlement" near what is now Elkmont, Limestone County, where he lived until he died. He built his house across the Indian Trail (road) that ran from Mobile, Ala., to Nashville, Tenn. The house is still standing. His seven children were all born in South Carolina. Their names were: Mary, Archibald Jackson, Nancy, Dorcus, Martha Stuart, John Newton and Anna Jane; all of whom lived to adult life. For their descendants see genealogical department. These descendants now live in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
In south Carolina Robert was an elder in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church. When he reached Alabama, he met and fell in love with the Cumberland Presbyterians, a new denomination then rapidly spreading through Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. He cast in his lot with them and in April, 1820, the "New Garden Congregation" of that denomination was organized in his "new barn," and he and Adam Burney became its first ruling elders.
Robert Steele was a quiet, unpretentious, even-tempered, honest, honorable and pious man. My mother who lived for several years in the same house with him after her marriage to my father (his son), always spoke of him in the most render and respectful way. She said he was the neatest and most even-tempered old man she ever knew. His oldest son, Archibald Jackson, became a Cumberland Presbyterian minister of considerable local note. He was a veritable "son of thunder" and was a power in local religious circles for many years. He was pastor of one church thirty years in succession. He lived to be eighty-seven years old. Robert died at the ripe age of eighty-four on Jan. 9, 1852, and is buried in the old New Garden church cemetery, two and one-half mile from Elkmont, Limestone Co., Ala.
CHAPTER VII
THE STEELES IN WAR
I will here make a brief record of the part acted by the descendants of Archibald Steele in the War of the American Revolution of 1775-83 and in the great Civil War of 1861-5. And in the Spanish-American War of 1898.
ROLL OF HONOR - THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR
There are no governmental records to show that Archibald Steele or any of his sons were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, but family tradition is clear that they were. See Chapter IV.
1. Steele, Archibald, was probably a soldier for a few weeks or months only, and that while the war raged in his own immediate community. See Chapter V.
It was quite common during that war, and especially in South Carolina, for men hastily to organize themselves into military bands for a short term of service and for the special purpose of driving the invader out of their own locality.
2. Steele, John, the oldest son of Archibald, was a soldier, and I think that he was one of the four brothers who lost part of his hand by a saber cut in personal combat with a British dragoon. This occurred in one of the many small battles that Marion fought with the British. Just when and where this occurred no one knows.
3. Steele, Joseph, the second son of Archibald, was certainly a captain of a company of south Carolina troops and served under General Francis Marion. Doubtless his company, like most of the other patriot-partisan companies, was a small one--the numbers varying mush from time to time. Theses partisan soldiers were volunteers in the full sense of the word--men who fought without expectation of immediate pay or future pension, and who did not bind themselves to serve any definite time, and who were free to go home when they pleased.
It seems that Captain Joseph served several years. For particulars about him see chapters 4&5.
4.&5. Steele, William and James, the third and fourth sons of Archibald, were soldiers in the same company of which their brother John was a member, and their brother Joseph was Captain.
Tradition is clear that these four brothers wee soldiers and actually fought under Gen. Francis Marion in his raids and campaigns in South Carolina in the hot times during 1780-81. None were killed or captured. All lived through the war.
As far as I have been able to learn, the Steeles have always been quiet, peaceable citizens--the most of them leading the plain retired life of the farmer. However, they have been rather quick to answer the call to arms by their states. As an illustration of this. I may mention the fact that several of the grandsons of Archibald Steele the First had their horses freshly shod in expectation of being called on to fight for South Carolina against the United States in the "nullification days" during Gen. Andrew Jackson's presidency.
THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1865
During the great Civil War between the Southern and Northern States, 1861-65, fifty-two descendants of Archibald Steele were soldiers in the Confederate army and so far as I know, not one in the army of the North. All of them lived in the South. There were twenty-five directly connected with the Steele family by marriage. They are mentioned at the end of this chapter. I shall mention each one of both classes and give his company, regiment and tell what office he held, if any, and whether he was captured, wounded, killed or died of disease while in military service. Only brief mention will be made of most of them because my information about them is limited. No effort was made to gather data concerning them until thirty- three years after the war closed, by which time many of the important actors who survived the war were dead.
The Steeles were prompt to respond to the call of their several states to defend their country from what they believed to be an unjust invasion. They honestly believed in "States Rights," and acted on that belief. They fought to the end but when they were whipped by overwhelming numbers and resources, they retired peaceably to their homes without any feeling of dishonor, and determined to be as industrious and as loyal citizens as they had been brave and sacrificing soldiers. In all of my investigations, I have not heard of one of them who, as a soldier, shirked his full duty or flinched from danger. I have arranged their names in alphabetical order. I have worked hard on this chapter, and have been very careful to get theses records exactly correct and I think I have them nearly so. They are not as full and exact as I desired, but I don't think I am blamable for that. Several gentlemen have done much to help me in this work, but others have remained deaf to my pleadings for information
A word of special tribute to those who have died in camp or on the battlefield will, I am sure, be approved by all who survived the war and will not be considered an envious distinction. Of the fifty-two descendants of Archibald Steele the First, who were soldiers in the Civil War of 1861- 65, seven were either killed or mortally wounded on the field of battle, seven died of disease while in service, and one died a week after returning home at the close of the war and of disease contracted in camp. This is a mortality of fifteen out of fifty-two. Of the twenty-five soldiers who, although not descendants of Archibald Steele the First, were directly connected with the family by marriage, one was killed in battle and two died of disease while in service.
SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR (STEELE SPECIFIC)
24. Steele, Newton Alexander (See Family 32), First Lieutenant in Company C, Gill's Battalion, First South Carolina State Troops near close of the war; enlisted from York County, South Carolina. No further particulars obtainable. Now dead.
25. Steele, John Milton, Sr. (See Family 32) enlisted in Company---, South Carolina---. Took sick next day, died without seeing active service. Enlisted from York County. No particulars obtainable.
26. Steele, Strutton Edwards (See family 32), in Company K, Fifth Mississippi Infantry, Army of Tennessee. Enlisted from Neshoba County, Mississippi. No further particulars obtainable. Now dead
27. Steele, William Amzi (See Family 32), Second Sergeant, Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Enlisted from York County, South Carolina. Now living in Rock Hill, S.C.
28. Steele, George Eli McDuffie (See Family 32). Captain of Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Was wounded once. He was a brave soldier and gallant officer. Enlisted from York County, South Carolina. Now dead. (The last five were brothers).
29. Steele, Robert Alexander, First Sergeant in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, Army of Virginia. Was in the following battles and several others: Brandy Station, Upperville and Fairfax, Va. And Rockville Md., and Hanover, York and Gettysburg, Pa. Also Sharpsburg, Wilderness and Fredericksburg. Now living near Rock Hill, S.C.
30. Steele, Joseph Newton (See Family 68), Sergeant Major of Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia, was in nearly all of the battles in which his regiment, "The Fighting Twelfth," was engaged. He was wounded twice: First on 2nd September, 1862, and again 5th May, 1864. Now living near Rock Hill, S.C.
31. Steele, William Anderson (See Family 68), in Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Virginia. Died in camp Johnston 30th September. 1861. As a young soldier, brave and true, he laid down his life for his country.
32. Steele, Samuel Harrison (See Family 68), in Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Virginia. Wounded 1st April, 1865, during the retreat of Lee's army from Petersburg, and killed next day in the battle of Southerland, Va., the very last fight in which his company was engaged, and just one week before Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Enlisted from York County, S.C. He was a brave and fearless soldier. We shall not forget him.(The last four were brothers).
33. Steele, Joseph White (See Family 152) in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry. Enlisted from York County, S.C. No further particulars known. Now dead.
34. Steele, Manlius De Miller (See Family 20), volunteered in First North Carolina Infantry, but later was first Lieutenant in Company C, First North Carolina Cavalry, army of Virginia. He commanded that company the last year of the war, but owing to the confusion in the war office he never received his commission as captain. He was wounded twice --arm broken in 1863 and skull fractured April, 1865. "Served with conspicuous bravery from the battle of Big Bethel, 1861, until the surrounded at Appomattox, April 9, 1865." Enlisted from Charlotte, N.C. Now dead.
35. Steele, William Green, (See Family 20) at first in Company C, Sixth South Carolina Infantry, but later was Orderly Sergeant in Company C, First North Carolina Cavalry, Army of Virginia. Served from first battle of Manassas 21st July, 1861, to the surrender at Appomattox, 9th April, 1865. "Followed the flag of J.E.B. Stewart." Not wounded. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living near Rock Hill, S.C. (The last two were brothers).
36. Steele, John Newton, (See Family 33), in Company K, Fourth South Carolina State Troops. Was quite young. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living near Rock Hills, S.C.
37. Steele, Samuel Williamson. (See Family 134), in Capt. J.E. Mathews'Company, Mississippi State Troops. Was quite old. Enlisted from De Soto County, Miss. Now Dead.
38. Steele, James Barry (See Family 7), in company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Wounded twice: first, 27th June, and again 1st September, both in 1862. He was a good soldier. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living near Rock Hill,S.C.
39. Steele, John Milton (see Family 38), color sergeant in Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, wounded three times: 27th August, 1862; 5th May, 1864, and 16th August, 1864. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living in Salisbury, N.C.
40. Steele, John Gilliam (See Family 8), enlisted April 1, 1861 in Company 1, Fifth South Carolina Infantry. Later he was in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, Army of Virginia and served four years. He was captured at Brandy Station, caused by his horse being killed under him. Was in the first battle of Manassas and on many other hard fought fields, and surrendered under Gen. Joe E. Johnston at Greensboro, N.C. 26th April, 1865. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living in Rock Hill, S.C.
41. Steele, William Daniel (see Family 8), in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, volunteered at age sixteen. He was desperately wounded August 1, 1863, at Culpepper, Va., and died of pneumonia January 25th, 1864 and before he had recovered from his wound. He was buried at Ebenezer Church, York County, S.C. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Honor to the memory of the brave young soldier. (The last two brothers).
42. Steele, Joseph Robert (see Family 210), First Lieutenant in Company D, Twenty-third Mississippi Infantry, Army of Tennessee. Captured 16th February, 1862 at Ft. Donelson, Tennessee, and kept in prison seven months at Camp Douglass, Chicago, Illinois; exchanged in September, 1862; was captured again May 17, 1863, the day after the battle of Baker's Creek, Miss. He was sick and could not keep up with his command in the retreat. This time he was in prison on Johnston's Island, Lake Erie, twenty-one months. Enlisted from Alcorn County, Miss. Became a minister in Cumberland Presbyterian church in 1871. Died at Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 17, 1900.
43. Steele, Milas Jackson (see family 210), went as one of the sixty days troops to Bowling Green, Ky., Dec., 1861. At the end of that term February, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-second Mississippi Infantry. Enlisted before he was eighteen years old. He was second sergeant. Was in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Murfreesboro, Tenn., Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, New Hope, Atlanta, Franklin and several others. He was slightly wounded at Perryville, Ky., 8th November, 1864, while in the act of scaling the last breastworks of the enemy. He received three wounds after he fell. Died of his wounds 10th December following, and is buried there. His comrades in arms gave him high praise as a noble, high-minded man and excellent soldier. Enlisted from Alcorn County, Mississippi.
44. Steele, William Harvey (see family 210), in Company H, Second Mississippi Cavalry, state troops near close of war when quite young. He became seriously ill after entering camp, and was not able for service any more during the war. In fact he never fully recovered from that illness. After the war he became a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Died at Franklin, Tenn., March 19, 1885. Enlisted from Alcorn County, Miss. (The last three were brothers and brothers of the writer of this history)
45. Steele, John Starr Reid (See Family 176), in 60 days troops, Company C, Mead's Battalion Alabama Cavalry. Captured. Enlisted from Madison County, Ala. Now dead.
46. Steele, Newton Alwain (See Family 176), in Company K, Fourth Alabama Cavalry. Was under Forrest: Fought at Ft. Donelson twice; and at Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Franklin, Tenn. Enlisted from Madison County, Ala. Now living at Elora, Tenn. (The last two were brothers.)
47. Steele, Joseph Theodore (See Fmily 136), in Company B, (later K), Forty-second Miss. Infantry; Hill's Corps, Army of Va. Never wounded. Captured 1st July 1863 in battle of Gettysburg and remained a prisoner till close of the war. Enlisted from DeSoto County, Miss. Now living near Sidney, Ark.
48. Steele, James Alexander (see family 104). A relative of his vouches for his having been a soldier, but I can get no particulars. Enlisted from Texas. Now dead.
-Steele, Joseph Anderson, (see family 7). He enlisted in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, with full expectation of going to the front at once, but before he was mustered into service, the earnest solicitations of his family and the peculiar home conditions induced him to remain at home. He insisted that his name remain on the company roster as he hoped to join the company in the future, but before he could arrange to leave home he died of disease. His youngest son (see no. 41), then sixteen, enlisted in the same company at the same time and went into active service.
*Twenty four more soldiers of the war were not descendants of Archibald Steele, but married into the family...They will not be listed here as this is "Steele Specific".(JC)
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OF 1898
In the war with Spain in 1898 there was no necessity for many soldiers from each state, and there was no "defend the flag" or "fight for your firesides" arguments to stir the people to war. So far as I know only five of our family were soldiers in that war. If there were others they have not been reported to me. All of the four were from York County, S.C. and were in the same company and regiment. None died, were wounded, captured or killed. They were in service from 14 May till 11 October, 1898, but were not sent out of the United States.
1. Steele, Samuel Lytle (See Family 152), in company G. First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. 2. Steele, Woods Montgomery (See Family 9), in Company G, First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. 3. Steele, Marshall Alexander (See Family 60), in Company G, First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. This company was named "Catawba Rifles." It was in camp at Columbia three weeks, at Chickamauga, Ga., two months, and the remainder of the term of service at Jacksonville, Fla.
CHAPTER VIII
GENEALOGICAL TABLES OF THE FAMILY OF ARCHIBALD STEELE THE FIRST
1. Archibald Steele the First, as I call him in this book, was born, possibly in Scotland but probably in England of Scotch parentage, about 1728; migrated to Dublin, Ireland, where he married Agnes Edwards, about 1757. She was born 1720, in Dublin, Ireland, but was Scotch. They came to America probably in 1766 and settled first in Lancaster County. Pa. In 1772 they removed to York district, (now York Co.) SC, where he died 28th Oct., 1805, and she 28th June 1813.
FAMILY #1 - Children of Archibald Steele and Agnes (Edwards?)Steele.
2. (1) John b. about 1758 in Ireland; d. 1808 in York Co, SC; m. Jane Young. Seven Children.
3.(2) Joseph, Capt. B. 1760 in Ireland; d. 28th Aug., 1795 in York Co., S C; m. Rebecca Anderson 1782. Six children.
4. (3) William b. 1762 in Ireland; d. 20th Nov. 1806 in York Co., S C; m. Margaret Johnston, daughter of Samuel Johnston. Two children
5. (4.) James b. 1765, probably in Ireland, but possibly in America; d. 6th Oct., 1811 in York Co., S C; m. Mary (Mollie) Workman, sister to James and Peggy Workman. She was born, 1759, d. 30th June 1738. Four children.
6. (5.) Robert (Robin). B. 7th Sept., 1767 in Lancaster Co., PA; d. 9th Jan., 1852 in Limestone Co., Ala. He married in 1796 Martha Starr, in York Co., S C. She was born 10th March, 1778; d. 20th Sept., 1853. Her father was John Starr from Ireland, and her mother was Mary Stuart of French or Scotch descent. Seven children.
DESCENDENTS OF JOHN, ELDEST SON OF ARCHIBALD STEELE THE FIRST
FAMILY # 2 - Children of John Steele and His Wife Jane (Young) Steele.
7. (1) Archibald, nicknamed "Tug." B. about 1785; d. in Georgia after 1842.
8. (2.) Robert, b. about 1788; d. about 1828 in Carroll Co., Tenn. He left two and three sons but I have not found a trace of them.
9. (3.) William, was alive in 1827. Nothing more known.
10. (4.) John b. 1805; d. 1883 in La; m. Nancy McGuff. One child.
11. (5.) Hugh, was insane. Nothing more known.
12. (6.) James, was administrator of his father's estate.
13. (7.) Jane; m. Jas. R. Sandifer. Nothing more known.
FAMILY NO. 3 - Children of "Tug" Archibald Steele.
14. (1.) James; moved to Chester Co., S C.
15. (2.) Jane.
16. (3.) Matilda; m. -- Dale and moved to Georgia
17. (4.) Sarah.
FAMILY NO. 4. - Children of John and Nancy (McGuff) Steele.
18. (1) Martha Jane (See Family 5) b. 9th March, 1854; d. 30th March, 1897; m. Jas. A. Love 1874, in LA.
FAMILY NO. 5 --children of Martha Jane Steele and Jas. A. Love.
19. (1.) Nancy M., b. 18th Jan. 1877.
20. (2.) Finetta, b. 13th Aug., 1878.
21. (3.) John R., b. 14th Aug., 1882.
22. (4.) Royal O., b. 1st March, 1885.
23. (5.) William E., b. 14th June, 1888
*This ends the genealogy of John Steele, eldest son of Archibald the first. I have made most diligent search for the lost branches of his descendants but in vain. There may be many of them now living but I can find no trace of them. Thus we have the disappearance of nearly all of the descendants of one of the five sons of Archibald Steele the First.
FAMILY NO. 6 - Children of Capt. Joseph Steele and Rebecca (Anderson) Steele; 2nd son of Archi. The 1st
24. (1.) John, b. 18th July, 1783; d. 21st Aug., 1865, York Co., SC; m. Margaret Barry 24th Dec., 1807
25. (2.) William b. 9th Nov., 1785; d. 2nd April, 1829 in York Co., CC; m. Elizabeth Miller who was b. 29th Sept., 1794; d. 12th Jan., 1829.
26. (3.) Archibald b. 17th Feb., 1788; d. 24th May, 1865 in York Co., SC; m. Martha Edwards 1813; she was a daughter of Strutton Edwards.
27. (4)Samuel b. 28th. Sept., 1790; d. 9th Oct., 1870 in York Co., SC; m. Sarah Workman, 1825. She was born 1805; d. June 13th 1886.
28 (5.) Jane b. 31st Jan., 1793; d. 26th Oct., 1867 in York Co., SC; m. Wm. Poag 5th April, 1809. He was born 11th Dec., 1783; d. 24th Jan., 1847.
29. (6.) Alexander b. 29th Jan., 1795; d. 1st Feb., 1857 in Neshoba Co., Miss., where he had settled in 1847. He married Elizabeth Edwards, who was b. 28th Nov., 1799; d. 4th Dec., 1858. She was a daughter of Strutton Edwards.
FAMILY NO. 7 - Children of John Steele and Margaret (Barry) Steele.
30. (1.) William B., b. 10th Nov., 1808; d. 17th Dec., 1816.
31. (2.) Rebecca A., b. 27th April, 1812; d. 2nd May, 1832. Never married.
32. (3.) Jane, b. 30th June, 1814; d. 17th May 1846. Never married.
33. (4.) Joseph Alexander b. 13th April, 1819; d. 5th March, 1863; m. Elizabeth Jacolin Kirkpatrick 10th Dec., 1840. She is living. Eight children.
34. (5.) Jas. Barry b. 19th March, 1822; living near Rock Hill, SC; m Margaret R. Fewell 28th June, 1848. She d. 15th Aug., 1830. Ten Children.
FAMILY NO. 8 - Children of Joseph Alexander Steele and Elizabeth Jacoline (Kirkpatrick) Steele.
35. (1.) John Gilliam b. 11th Dec., 1841; m. Mary Susan Atkinson 4th Jan., 1866. Five Children
36. (2.) William Daniel, b. 1st Jan., 1846; d. 25th Jan., 1864.
37. (3.) Margaret Frances b. 17th June, 1848; m. William Whyte 5th Dec., 1867. He was born 4th March, 1842. Four children.
38. (4.) Jane Eulalia b. 30th July, 1852; m. Capt., J.C.B.Smith 11th Dec., 1873. He was born 30th July, 1839. Two children.
39. (5.) Rebecca Lavinia, b. 27th Dec., 1854; d. 13th Oct., 1863.
…….Several years ago I began to hunt up the genealogy of my own family, which up to that time had been almost wholly neglected. I am what may be called a double Steele, both my father and mother having been Steeles. As to the name, some Steele families omit the final "e." The most of them use it. Sometimes the final "e" has been omitted for generations and then restored. The name is the same with or without it. It is said that the name Steele is of Scotch origin, and hence that all Steeles have Scotch blood in them. Of this I am not certain, but it is probably true.
Scotland and Ireland are so close together that for perhaps three thousand years there has been more or less intimacy between their people. There has been constant migrating from one country to the other. Inter- marriages have been numerous, and this has produced the so-called Scotch- Irish people of which we hear so much. However, this term is probably most usually applied to the mixing of the Scotch and Irish in the last three or four hundred years.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries considerable numbers of people emigrated from Scotland to Ireland to escape oppression of various kinds, mostly religious persecution. These settled largely in the Eastern and Northern parts of Ireland. Many of them inter-married with the best element of the native Irish people. Because of exorbitant taxation and religious persecution and oppressions in Ireland, many thousand of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians finally left Ireland and came to the American colonies seeking more freedom and religious toleration. At first they settled largely in Pennsylvania and Virginia, but later many families migrated to North and South Carolina. Most of the Steeles of America are Scotch-Irish and most of these, as distinct families, came directly from Ireland. Some came from England and other European countries, but I think the most of them claim Scotland as their ancestral home.
CHAPTER IV
THE SOUTH CAROLINA STEELES IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
The readers of this little family book will be interested to know what part our ancestors took in the Revolutionary war. Several Steele families were more or less prominent actors in those turbulent times.
Mrs. Katherine Steele, of Chester County, S.C. was the widow of Thomas Steele, and she was a noble, patriotic and sacrificing woman. She had two sons, John and Thomas. John was captain of a partisan company and fought under General Sumter. Thomas also, although quite young, was a soldier and in his brother's company. John was a brave, dashing and highly successful captain. Once when General Sumter's command was surprised and defeated, probably at Fishing creek, August 18th, 1780, Capt. John Steele took Sumter in his arms and bore him out of imminent danger. Sumter was sick or wounded at the time. So far as I can ascertain these Steeles were not related to our ancestors.
As to our Steele family there is no doubt whatever about their being in the midst of the "martial fray" in S.C. in 1780 and 1781-2. As has been stated they settled on Fishing Creek, York district (now county) in 1772. Family tradition has always been perfectly clear that four of Archibald Steele's sons fought in the Revolutionary War. They were John, Joseph, William, and James. There are no official records in the war office in Washington or in the State House in Columbia, S.C. to show this, but we must remember that the Revolutionary War records of S.C. are very meager in the war office in Washington, and there is only one small book of such records in the Capitol of S.C. Nearly all such state records were destroyed during Sherman's raid through S.C. in 1865
In 1780 and 1781 when the horrors of war raged fiercest in S.C., everything was in confusion, almost chaos, and there was, little effort made to keep records. Great numbers of S.C. soldiers were not what were known as Continental Troops—that is, under control of the central Continental Government. Many of them were not even state troops, strictly speaking, but were what were known as "partisan" soldiers. They attached themselves to a Captain, Colonel or General of their choice and furnished their own clothing, arms and horses. Most of this class of soldiers were cavalry men. The most of them were entirely without training as soldiers, but they were hardy, active, brave and patriotic men, and accurate shooters, and they made effective soldiers for the kind of fighting they had to adopt against the British. They were truly volunteers and independents, especially is this true of General Francis Marion's famous "brigade." Marion was a true, noble patriot, and he did not want soldiers except those who were willing to put all on the altar of freedom, and fight purely for love of liberty. He bound no one to any term of service, so that every soldier was free to go home when he pleased. His idea was that the best soldiers were those who voluntarily came to him and voluntarily staid with him. With a band of that kind of patriots he was almost invincible. Such soldiers were the four Steele brothers. Doubtless all four with a number of neighbor boys and men, were in the same company, and Joseph Steele was its captain. It is clear and universal family tradition that Joseph was a captain under Marion, but probably was not a soldier more than three or four years. There is only a strong probability that their father, Archibald Steele, was a soldier. His term of service was probably for a few weeks or months, or just when the hot times of 12780 raged in his part of the state.
It was quite common for the citizens who were Whigs---that is, sympathizers with the American cause, to join the independent partisan companies for a few weeks during an emergency. Then when things got more quiet or the enemy retired to another part of the state, they would go back to their homes which often had been despoiled in their absence.
In 1780 Capt. Joseph Steele was not more than twenty years old and William, the youngest of the four brothers then in the army, was just fifteen. John, the oldest of the brothers, was about twenty-three. Just how they came to join Marion's brigade or when, no one knows. Gen. Thomas Sumter usually operated nearer their home than did Marion, but they went to Marion and their reasons for going to him were doubt less natural and reasonable.
We know that they were all in one company, for once when their command was surprised and scattered, all of the brothers were separated from one another, and each feared that the others had been killed or captured, although none of them had met with either misfortune.
Doubtless these four brothers experienced many thrilling adventures, fought in many small battles and skirmishes and had narrow escapes from death or capture, but unfortunately we have little knowledge on these points. I attribute the lack of family tradition about these matters to the fact that all of these brothers died comparatively young and before their children were old enough to take such interest in historic matters as to remember much of what they may have heard their fathers speak. John lived the longest but nearly all of his posterity are lost to the other members of the family.
CHAPTER V
INTERESTING INCIDENTS
Archibald Steele the First, our ancestor, was once captured by the British, but he was not then a soldier. He and his youngest son, Robert, had been with a wagon to a neighbor's to bring home a hive of bees. This was probably early in the spring of 1780. As they drove homeward a troop of British or Tories galloped up behind them. The noise of the wagon prevented their being heard until they were close to the wagon. When young Robert saw them he did not wait to tell his father or ask advice, but, springing like a cat from the wagon, he escaped into the woods in a twinkling. The old gentleman, his team and bees were captured. How long he was kept a prisoner no one knows, but probably not long. The British burned his house in that year or in 1781 and destroyed almost everything he had. They hated him and his wife because he had four sons in the "Rebel army," as they called the noble men fighting the battles of human freedom.
The band of British who burned the house were guided in their despicable work by a neighbor named Jonah Byrd.
Great-grandmother Agnes Steele had several fine feather beds, the pride of her home and joy of her heart. The British to spite her, brought them out into the yard, ripped them open and scattered the feathers all over the yard, "knee deep." As tradition has it.
They threatened her with death and actually put a rope around her neck in an effort to extort from her some information concerning the whereabouts of her husband and soldier-sons. O f course they got no such information from her. She was not that sort of a woman.
But they burned the house, first taking out many of the kitchen utensils, probably with the expectation of using them in their camp. It is said that Archibald the First, was not at home when his house was burned.
He had sometime before volunteered as a soldier and was at that moment with a small company of patriot troops not far away. Hearing of the plundering and burning they gave the British such a hot chase that the latter became alarmed and threw their stolen booty into a "deep hole" in Fishing Creek which ran near by. That "deep hole" was for many years pointed out to the younger generations of York county Steeles.
The articles which were thrown into the creek were various kinds of earthen-ware vessels, pewter milk-basins and iron pot-racks.
THE OLD CHAIN POT-RACK
I have now in my possession one of those identical potracks that went into that deep hole in Fishing Creek that day and thereby hangs a tale. In those days there were no such thing as a cooking stove at all. The cooking was done in the open fore place and on the hearth. The fire-place and chimney were large. Across the chimney several feet above the hearth was a pole of wood or rod of iron. A pot-rack was often a short chain of round links with a large hook at each end. One hook was hooked over the pole above, the other hook swinging just above the fire. The lower hook could be inserted into any of the round links of the chain, thus regulating the height of the hook from the fire below. On this lower hook were hung pots and kettles in which food was boiled. Usually two or three pot-racks of the same or different patterns hung in each kitchen chimney. There were "potracks" not of the chain pattern, but the one of which I write was a chain of round links. So on that "black day" great grandmother Agnes' pot- racks went into old Fishing Creek to keep company with many other old acquaintances in the shape of articles from the kitchen. These strange newcomers doubtless served as "scare crows" to the fish of that old creek for many months.
But the day of their redemption drew nigh. When the war was over and the cause of freedom triumphed, the Tory, Jonah Byrd, had the hardihood, the cheek, the brass, to dare to come back to live in that community where he had led his fellow Tories and the British dragoons in their plundering and burning raids. This was an impudent and risky thing to do. The Steele boys had been away from home fighting for their state and freedom---for their homes and resides. Their mother had remained at home almost alone and defenseless. Jonah Byrd had aided in burning that mother's only house and robbing her of even her cooking vessels. The situation was more than the Steele boys would permit. So one morning Joseph took his old army sword and went over to "interview" Jonah Byrd. Capt. Joseph Steele was a soldier hardened by the experiences of a bitter, partisan war, and made more desperate by the black, bare desolation of the home of his aged father and mother. He called Byrd out and told him that he had come to kill him, and that was his intention. The coward fell on his knees and begged and prayed that his life might be spared. The poor fellow's wife and children screamed their prayers in unison with his. The sword was raised several times as if it was meant to kill the cringing Tory, but as it came down the weapon was so turned that the flat side instead of its edge struck the poor fellow. Capt. Steele finally agreed that if Byrd would promise to leave the country in twenty days and also go with him to Fishing Creek and get out his mother's cooking utensils, he would not kill him. These conditions were gladly accepted by Byrd.
I am not sure how Capt. Steele knew about the things being in the creek, or that at first he knew anteing of that at all. I suppose that the Tory early in that dramatic interview told him where they were and expressed a willingness to get them for him. It was a cold day in the winter of 1781-2. The creek was frozen over. Byrd broke the ice and got out many articles. He had to dive under the water for them, for it was a pretty "deep hole" into which they had thrown them. Ever since Byrd's diving that place has been known as a "deep hole in Fishing Creek."
My father who was the youngest son of Robert, who was the youngest son of Archibald and Agnes Steele, once owned a number of those recovered articles. Several shallow pewter milk-pans or basins which were in very general use in those days, were among them. The sole existing article that came out of that "deep hole in Fishing Creek, " York Co., S.C., that cold winter day is the old "chain pot-rack" here spoken of and now owned by the writer of these sketches.
ROBERT, THE YOUNGEST SON, A VOLUNTEER
As before shown, Robert was the youngest son of Archibald Steele, and in 1780-81 when the war in South Carolina was in its most disserting stage, he was not fourteen years old. He was considered too young to take an active part in the war, but as young as he was, he became so incensed by the conduct of the British that he ran away from home and tried to join the army, but was sent home by the officer in command of the company which he tried to join.
The circumstances that aroused young Robert's indignation to such a pitch, were as follow: He and a colored boy named George, who belonged to his father, had been to a little water mill on Fishing creek, a few miles down the stream, southeast of their home. They went horseback, each one carrying on his horse a sack of corn to mill and returning with a sack of meal. This in the old days, was a very common way of "going to mill," of which the writer has had much "warm" experience. As they were returning a troop of British cavalry dashed up behind them. The boys knew that it was useless to try to escape by running their horses, so they both leaped from their horses and took to the woods, as Robert ad successfully done once before. The Negro George was a remarkable athlete and young Robert was a good second. They escaped and, avoiding the public roads, found their way home as best they could. When they reached home they found that the British had plundered it and left the house a smoking ruin, and that his mother had gone to a neighbor's house. The next day Robert's mother sent him and George to the burnt home to catch the remaining chickens. While they were there, the British cavalry came by and the boys fled to a nearby field that the neglect of war times had allowed to grow up in tall grass and weeds. We suppose this was in July 1781. The British had seen the boys run and they rode around through the field hunting for them. The boys were lying flat on the ground in the tall grass. The soldiers at times rode near them, and Robert said afterwards, that he could see them plainly, and that if he had had a gun he would have shot one of them at the risk of loosing his own life.
The next day he left home against his mother's wishes and without her knowledge, found the American troops and volunteered for active service. He had three times escaped capture by the British by running and now he proposed to do a little shooting instead. A brave lad was he. He was of the "red headed" fighting Scotch-Irish stock.
Doubtless it was the command to which his father or brothers belonged that he tried to join. That was probably why he knew where to find them, and probably that was the reason he was sent home, for in that case the officers knew that his father and four brothers were then patriot soldiers and that he was the only "man" at home.
From this distance in time, I think that if young Robert whose Irish blood was so stirred by British indignities, was a good rider and a good shot, he should have been allowed to try his hand at being a soldier for a while. At the very time Andrew Jackson, another young patriot, a red headed freckled faced Irish boy living not far away and who was born in the same year, just six months before Robert was born, was a real soldier. He took part in the battle at Hanging Rock, Aug. 1780, and was captured the next year and held as prisoner of war. So I think that Robert was not too young to be a soldier in the great emergency then on the state, but his mother's love for her baby boy could not allow it.
As it was, as soon as he returned home, his mother, fearing his capture, sent him, in company with a neighbor boy on a three days journey into North Carolina to some relatives or friends to stay until times would get more quiet at home. They traveled through the woods and by-ways and lived largely on wild berries picked by the way.
One day when very hungry they saw a woman, a stranger to them, take a loaf of bread from the oven. They ventured to ask her for some of it, which was freely given. Robert learned her name, which he never forgot.
Thirty-five years afterward he moved with his family to Limestone Co., Ala. There he found that this same woman was living near where he lad just settled. Of course the families were glad to know each other. She was a Mrs. Murrell. Her daughter, Miss Jennie Murrell, had married a Mr. Isaac Hyde who became my father's dear friend and for whom he named his youngest son, now Rev. Isaac Donnell Steele, of Birmingham, Ala. How strangely things do come about! Their only living son, Mr. Lem H. Hyde, is now living in Elkmont, Ala., near the old home, and is one of the most worthy and respected citizens of that county.
CHAPTER VI BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
After the war was over the Steeles all settled down in the old Fishing Creek community and continued their farming operations. Perhaps a brief sketch of each one separately will be appropriate.
ARCHIBALD THE FIRST
In addition to what has been said of Archibald Steele elsewhere in this book I may add that I am satisfied that he was a religious and moral man. There is no documentary evidence of this but there is a trustworthy woman, now living, who knew his son Robert well for years. She tells me that she has heard Robert (who was my grandfather) say that he had always and still desired to be as good a man as his father Archibald, was. We know that Robert was a man of high moral and religious character. Hence, I have no doubt that Archibald was a religious man, a member of and probably a ruling elder in old Bethesda church near his old home in South Carolina. He was a Presbyterian, as have been nearly all his descendants since.
JOHN STEELE
John was the oldest son of Archibald Steele the First. He was born in Ireland about 1768, married Jane Young in south Carolina. They left seven children, namely, Archibald, Robert, John, James, William, Hugh and Jane. Nothing more is known of him except that he died in 1807 or 1808. His oldest son, Archibald, raised a family in York county, South Carolina, but about 1842 went to Georgia to live with one of his daughters, Mrs. Dale, where he died as is supposed. Robert moved to Carroll county, Tennessee, and died leaving two or three sons, of whom I can find no trace. John was a school teacher and died in Louisiana, leaving one child, a daughter. Nothing is known of his other four children except that James was the administrator of his father's estate. Hugh was insane and Jane married R.J. Sandifer. Some of them went to live in Chester county, South Carolina. John's family has almost dropped out of the knowledge of all the rest of the connection.
CAPT. JOSEPH STEELE
Captain Joseph was the second son of Archibald Steele the First, and was born in Ireland in 1760. He was the most prominent of the five brothers, and, as elsewhere shown, he was a captain of a company of cavalry under General Marion, in the Revolutionary war.
He married Rebecca Anderson and left six children: John, William, Archibald, Samuel, Jane and Alexander. He died Aug. 28, 1795, of malarial fever then rife on Fishing Creek. His children all married and raised families and the most of their descendants are now living in York County, S.C., except those of Alexander who moved to Neshobo county, Miss., in 1846, and the most of whose descendants now live in Texas. It is not necessary to go into further details here, as all of Joseph's descendants appear in the genealogical department of this history. There are more of them than any other branch of our family. (See "Revolutionary War Chapter" and "Historical Sketch.")
WILLIAM STEELE
William, was the third son of Archibald Steele First. He was born in Ireland in 1762. He married Margaret Johnston. They had two children: Joseph and Samuel Johnston. Joseph married a Miss Sadler and moved to Carroll County, Tenn., where he died childless. Samuel Johnston married Miss Martha Williamson, a daughter of Samuel Williamson, and died in York County, S.C., aged thirty-nine. They had three children: William Harvey, Samuel Williamson and Margaret Ann. The widow and the three children moved to Tate County. Miss., in 1844. William's descendants are few and are all living in Tennessee and Arkansas -- see the genealogical chapter. William was remarkably athletic man. It is said that he never seemed to get tired. In view of his strength and endurance, some of the family used to say of him that he "was all horse and every bit man."
Those were "rough and tumble" days, and physical prowess was greatly applauded. "First and skull" fighting was very common in those days. William Steele was in no sense a "bully,"nor did he seek to fight for the sake of fighting, but it was generally conceded that he was physically the "best man in York County."
Once on a time at an annual "muster" at Yorkville a "mighty man of muscle" by the name of Black came over from Rockingham County, N.C., for the special purpose of whipping"Bill Steele," as he called him. He bragged and blowed around all day, telling what he had done, could do and had come to do. William Steele had no desire or intention of fighting him, but late in the day after William had gotten into his wagon to go home, the bully, Black, got so offensive in his bragging that William said if nothing else would Do him, he would give him a good thrashing, which he proceeded to do in the "good old way." It was almost a "tie fight," for although Black confessed defeat, yet William was so badly hurt that he had to be hauled home and was in bed two weeks. This is a glimpse of the"good old times" before these degenerate days of knives and pistols!
Another incident….The bitterness engendered by the war in which neighbors took opposite sides led to many fusses and fights. There was scarcely a public gathering for years after the close of the war without a row, growing out of the war feuds. Once at a mill William Steele and a Tory came to blows over a question about the war. William downed the Tory and they fell or rolled under the mill steps, and William was rapidly getting the best of the Tory when the latter brought his feet into action. The tory had on his old war spurs and with these he managed to rip nearly all of the clothing and much of the hide off of William's back, but I think William finally whipped the Tory. As I am not sure I will put it that way for William was of such pluck and endurance that he probably would have died before acknowledging defeat at he hands of a Tory.
JAMES STEELE
James was the fourth son of Archibald Steele the First. He was born in 1765, presumably in Ireland, but possibly in Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in his brother's company of "Marion's brigade" during the Revolutionary war. He died October 6, 1811, and is buried in fishing creek Church Cemetery, Chester county, South Carolina. He married Mary (Mollie) Workman April 18, 1788. She was born in Ireland in 1759 or 1760 and died June 30, 1838. She was a sister of James and "Peggy"Workman. The Steeles and Workmans came over from Ireland I the same ship and settled first in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and later in York county, South Carolina. No particulars are now known of the army life of James Steele, or of his after years. He left four children --Joseph, Lavinia, Annie and Margaret (Peggy). Annie and Margaret never married. Lavinia married Mr. W.M. Dickson and moved to Pontotoc county, Mississippi in 1845 and later to Kentucky, and nothing more is known of them. Joseph married Miss Rosa Barry Hanna, October 10, 1810. Their descendants are given I the genealogical department. I believe they all live in York county, South Carolina.
ROBERT STEELE
Robert was the fifth and youngest son of Archibald Steele the First. He was born September 7, 1767 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and died January 9, 1852 near Elkmont, Ala., and is buried in the old New-Garden Church cemetery near his old home. In 1772 he went with his father's family from Pennsylvania to York county, South Carolina, where he lived until he moved with his family to Limestone county, Alabama, where he died as above mentioned. Robert was unusually called"Robin" by the "home folks." For his Revolutionary war experiences and ambitions, see chapter V.
In 1796 he married Miss Martha Starr, a daughter of John Starr from Ireland. I think the Starrs came over from Ireland at a about the same time that the Steeles came. Her father settled just northeast of Fishing Creek near what is now "Star's Ford" --the ford taking its name from him. Martha Star's mother was a Miss Stuart and some claim that she was of French descent which others hold that she was of Scotch ancestry, which is more probable. Martha Starr's father and paternal grandfather and great grandfather were all named John Starr. Robt. Steele lived on a part of the original "Archibald Steele place" just southwest of and near Fishing Creek, York county, South Carolina, and about three miles east of old Bethesda Presbyterian Church, which doubtless the family helped to build, as the Steeles, were all Presbyterians. Robert became a member of that congregation I September 1802 and was made a ruling elder in it in the year 1805.
In 1791 his father gave him a power of attorney to visit Pennsylvania and represent him as heir to certain property there that he believed rightly belonged to him. I have a copy of the power of attorney. It refers, with particulars, to the will of one, "Robert Steele, of Pennsylvania," and it was under this will that Archibald hoped to receive a part or all of the estate of the Pennsylvania Robert Steele. Nothing more is known of that matter, but it is supposed that the "Robert Steele, of Pennsylvania," was Archibald's brother and that he had no children. Perhaps another brother's family got the property. No one knows whether Robert ever visited Pennsylvania on the business mentioned in the power of attorney, but there is a well attested family tradition that he visited relatives in Pennsylvania in the winter of 1816-17.
My father used to speak of our Steele relatives in Pennsylvania, but no particulars are now remembered by any of us. I have heard that some Pennsylvania relatives of our Steele family were named Paige.
In 1817, during November and December, Robert with his family moved to Alabama, and stopped temporarily --long enough to make a crop--near Hazelgreene, Madison County, but in August of 1818 after crops were "laid by" he built a permanent home in the "Sims settlement" near what is now Elkmont, Limestone County, where he lived until he died. He built his house across the Indian Trail (road) that ran from Mobile, Ala., to Nashville, Tenn. The house is still standing. His seven children were all born in South Carolina. Their names were: Mary, Archibald Jackson, Nancy, Dorcus, Martha Stuart, John Newton and Anna Jane; all of whom lived to adult life. For their descendants see genealogical department. These descendants now live in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
In south Carolina Robert was an elder in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church. When he reached Alabama, he met and fell in love with the Cumberland Presbyterians, a new denomination then rapidly spreading through Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. He cast in his lot with them and in April, 1820, the "New Garden Congregation" of that denomination was organized in his "new barn," and he and Adam Burney became its first ruling elders.
Robert Steele was a quiet, unpretentious, even-tempered, honest, honorable and pious man. My mother who lived for several years in the same house with him after her marriage to my father (his son), always spoke of him in the most render and respectful way. She said he was the neatest and most even-tempered old man she ever knew. His oldest son, Archibald Jackson, became a Cumberland Presbyterian minister of considerable local note. He was a veritable "son of thunder" and was a power in local religious circles for many years. He was pastor of one church thirty years in succession. He lived to be eighty-seven years old. Robert died at the ripe age of eighty-four on Jan. 9, 1852, and is buried in the old New Garden church cemetery, two and one-half mile from Elkmont, Limestone Co., Ala.
CHAPTER VII
THE STEELES IN WAR
I will here make a brief record of the part acted by the descendants of Archibald Steele in the War of the American Revolution of 1775-83 and in the great Civil War of 1861-5. And in the Spanish-American War of 1898.
ROLL OF HONOR - THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR
There are no governmental records to show that Archibald Steele or any of his sons were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, but family tradition is clear that they were. See Chapter IV.
1. Steele, Archibald, was probably a soldier for a few weeks or months only, and that while the war raged in his own immediate community. See Chapter V.
It was quite common during that war, and especially in South Carolina, for men hastily to organize themselves into military bands for a short term of service and for the special purpose of driving the invader out of their own locality.
2. Steele, John, the oldest son of Archibald, was a soldier, and I think that he was one of the four brothers who lost part of his hand by a saber cut in personal combat with a British dragoon. This occurred in one of the many small battles that Marion fought with the British. Just when and where this occurred no one knows.
3. Steele, Joseph, the second son of Archibald, was certainly a captain of a company of south Carolina troops and served under General Francis Marion. Doubtless his company, like most of the other patriot-partisan companies, was a small one--the numbers varying mush from time to time. Theses partisan soldiers were volunteers in the full sense of the word--men who fought without expectation of immediate pay or future pension, and who did not bind themselves to serve any definite time, and who were free to go home when they pleased.
It seems that Captain Joseph served several years. For particulars about him see chapters 4&5.
4.&5. Steele, William and James, the third and fourth sons of Archibald, were soldiers in the same company of which their brother John was a member, and their brother Joseph was Captain.
Tradition is clear that these four brothers wee soldiers and actually fought under Gen. Francis Marion in his raids and campaigns in South Carolina in the hot times during 1780-81. None were killed or captured. All lived through the war.
As far as I have been able to learn, the Steeles have always been quiet, peaceable citizens--the most of them leading the plain retired life of the farmer. However, they have been rather quick to answer the call to arms by their states. As an illustration of this. I may mention the fact that several of the grandsons of Archibald Steele the First had their horses freshly shod in expectation of being called on to fight for South Carolina against the United States in the "nullification days" during Gen. Andrew Jackson's presidency.
THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1865
During the great Civil War between the Southern and Northern States, 1861-65, fifty-two descendants of Archibald Steele were soldiers in the Confederate army and so far as I know, not one in the army of the North. All of them lived in the South. There were twenty-five directly connected with the Steele family by marriage. They are mentioned at the end of this chapter. I shall mention each one of both classes and give his company, regiment and tell what office he held, if any, and whether he was captured, wounded, killed or died of disease while in military service. Only brief mention will be made of most of them because my information about them is limited. No effort was made to gather data concerning them until thirty- three years after the war closed, by which time many of the important actors who survived the war were dead.
The Steeles were prompt to respond to the call of their several states to defend their country from what they believed to be an unjust invasion. They honestly believed in "States Rights," and acted on that belief. They fought to the end but when they were whipped by overwhelming numbers and resources, they retired peaceably to their homes without any feeling of dishonor, and determined to be as industrious and as loyal citizens as they had been brave and sacrificing soldiers. In all of my investigations, I have not heard of one of them who, as a soldier, shirked his full duty or flinched from danger. I have arranged their names in alphabetical order. I have worked hard on this chapter, and have been very careful to get theses records exactly correct and I think I have them nearly so. They are not as full and exact as I desired, but I don't think I am blamable for that. Several gentlemen have done much to help me in this work, but others have remained deaf to my pleadings for information
A word of special tribute to those who have died in camp or on the battlefield will, I am sure, be approved by all who survived the war and will not be considered an envious distinction. Of the fifty-two descendants of Archibald Steele the First, who were soldiers in the Civil War of 1861- 65, seven were either killed or mortally wounded on the field of battle, seven died of disease while in service, and one died a week after returning home at the close of the war and of disease contracted in camp. This is a mortality of fifteen out of fifty-two. Of the twenty-five soldiers who, although not descendants of Archibald Steele the First, were directly connected with the family by marriage, one was killed in battle and two died of disease while in service.
SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR (STEELE SPECIFIC)
24. Steele, Newton Alexander (See Family 32), First Lieutenant in Company C, Gill's Battalion, First South Carolina State Troops near close of the war; enlisted from York County, South Carolina. No further particulars obtainable. Now dead.
25. Steele, John Milton, Sr. (See Family 32) enlisted in Company---, South Carolina---. Took sick next day, died without seeing active service. Enlisted from York County. No particulars obtainable.
26. Steele, Strutton Edwards (See family 32), in Company K, Fifth Mississippi Infantry, Army of Tennessee. Enlisted from Neshoba County, Mississippi. No further particulars obtainable. Now dead
27. Steele, William Amzi (See Family 32), Second Sergeant, Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Enlisted from York County, South Carolina. Now living in Rock Hill, S.C.
28. Steele, George Eli McDuffie (See Family 32). Captain of Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Was wounded once. He was a brave soldier and gallant officer. Enlisted from York County, South Carolina. Now dead. (The last five were brothers).
29. Steele, Robert Alexander, First Sergeant in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, Army of Virginia. Was in the following battles and several others: Brandy Station, Upperville and Fairfax, Va. And Rockville Md., and Hanover, York and Gettysburg, Pa. Also Sharpsburg, Wilderness and Fredericksburg. Now living near Rock Hill, S.C.
30. Steele, Joseph Newton (See Family 68), Sergeant Major of Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia, was in nearly all of the battles in which his regiment, "The Fighting Twelfth," was engaged. He was wounded twice: First on 2nd September, 1862, and again 5th May, 1864. Now living near Rock Hill, S.C.
31. Steele, William Anderson (See Family 68), in Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Virginia. Died in camp Johnston 30th September. 1861. As a young soldier, brave and true, he laid down his life for his country.
32. Steele, Samuel Harrison (See Family 68), in Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Virginia. Wounded 1st April, 1865, during the retreat of Lee's army from Petersburg, and killed next day in the battle of Southerland, Va., the very last fight in which his company was engaged, and just one week before Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Enlisted from York County, S.C. He was a brave and fearless soldier. We shall not forget him.(The last four were brothers).
33. Steele, Joseph White (See Family 152) in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry. Enlisted from York County, S.C. No further particulars known. Now dead.
34. Steele, Manlius De Miller (See Family 20), volunteered in First North Carolina Infantry, but later was first Lieutenant in Company C, First North Carolina Cavalry, army of Virginia. He commanded that company the last year of the war, but owing to the confusion in the war office he never received his commission as captain. He was wounded twice --arm broken in 1863 and skull fractured April, 1865. "Served with conspicuous bravery from the battle of Big Bethel, 1861, until the surrounded at Appomattox, April 9, 1865." Enlisted from Charlotte, N.C. Now dead.
35. Steele, William Green, (See Family 20) at first in Company C, Sixth South Carolina Infantry, but later was Orderly Sergeant in Company C, First North Carolina Cavalry, Army of Virginia. Served from first battle of Manassas 21st July, 1861, to the surrender at Appomattox, 9th April, 1865. "Followed the flag of J.E.B. Stewart." Not wounded. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living near Rock Hill, S.C. (The last two were brothers).
36. Steele, John Newton, (See Family 33), in Company K, Fourth South Carolina State Troops. Was quite young. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living near Rock Hills, S.C.
37. Steele, Samuel Williamson. (See Family 134), in Capt. J.E. Mathews'Company, Mississippi State Troops. Was quite old. Enlisted from De Soto County, Miss. Now Dead.
38. Steele, James Barry (See Family 7), in company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Wounded twice: first, 27th June, and again 1st September, both in 1862. He was a good soldier. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living near Rock Hill,S.C.
39. Steele, John Milton (see Family 38), color sergeant in Company H, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, wounded three times: 27th August, 1862; 5th May, 1864, and 16th August, 1864. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living in Salisbury, N.C.
40. Steele, John Gilliam (See Family 8), enlisted April 1, 1861 in Company 1, Fifth South Carolina Infantry. Later he was in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, Army of Virginia and served four years. He was captured at Brandy Station, caused by his horse being killed under him. Was in the first battle of Manassas and on many other hard fought fields, and surrendered under Gen. Joe E. Johnston at Greensboro, N.C. 26th April, 1865. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Now living in Rock Hill, S.C.
41. Steele, William Daniel (see Family 8), in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, volunteered at age sixteen. He was desperately wounded August 1, 1863, at Culpepper, Va., and died of pneumonia January 25th, 1864 and before he had recovered from his wound. He was buried at Ebenezer Church, York County, S.C. Enlisted from York County, S.C. Honor to the memory of the brave young soldier. (The last two brothers).
42. Steele, Joseph Robert (see Family 210), First Lieutenant in Company D, Twenty-third Mississippi Infantry, Army of Tennessee. Captured 16th February, 1862 at Ft. Donelson, Tennessee, and kept in prison seven months at Camp Douglass, Chicago, Illinois; exchanged in September, 1862; was captured again May 17, 1863, the day after the battle of Baker's Creek, Miss. He was sick and could not keep up with his command in the retreat. This time he was in prison on Johnston's Island, Lake Erie, twenty-one months. Enlisted from Alcorn County, Miss. Became a minister in Cumberland Presbyterian church in 1871. Died at Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 17, 1900.
43. Steele, Milas Jackson (see family 210), went as one of the sixty days troops to Bowling Green, Ky., Dec., 1861. At the end of that term February, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-second Mississippi Infantry. Enlisted before he was eighteen years old. He was second sergeant. Was in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Murfreesboro, Tenn., Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, New Hope, Atlanta, Franklin and several others. He was slightly wounded at Perryville, Ky., 8th November, 1864, while in the act of scaling the last breastworks of the enemy. He received three wounds after he fell. Died of his wounds 10th December following, and is buried there. His comrades in arms gave him high praise as a noble, high-minded man and excellent soldier. Enlisted from Alcorn County, Mississippi.
44. Steele, William Harvey (see family 210), in Company H, Second Mississippi Cavalry, state troops near close of war when quite young. He became seriously ill after entering camp, and was not able for service any more during the war. In fact he never fully recovered from that illness. After the war he became a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Died at Franklin, Tenn., March 19, 1885. Enlisted from Alcorn County, Miss. (The last three were brothers and brothers of the writer of this history)
45. Steele, John Starr Reid (See Family 176), in 60 days troops, Company C, Mead's Battalion Alabama Cavalry. Captured. Enlisted from Madison County, Ala. Now dead.
46. Steele, Newton Alwain (See Family 176), in Company K, Fourth Alabama Cavalry. Was under Forrest: Fought at Ft. Donelson twice; and at Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Franklin, Tenn. Enlisted from Madison County, Ala. Now living at Elora, Tenn. (The last two were brothers.)
47. Steele, Joseph Theodore (See Fmily 136), in Company B, (later K), Forty-second Miss. Infantry; Hill's Corps, Army of Va. Never wounded. Captured 1st July 1863 in battle of Gettysburg and remained a prisoner till close of the war. Enlisted from DeSoto County, Miss. Now living near Sidney, Ark.
48. Steele, James Alexander (see family 104). A relative of his vouches for his having been a soldier, but I can get no particulars. Enlisted from Texas. Now dead.
-Steele, Joseph Anderson, (see family 7). He enlisted in Company H, First South Carolina Cavalry, with full expectation of going to the front at once, but before he was mustered into service, the earnest solicitations of his family and the peculiar home conditions induced him to remain at home. He insisted that his name remain on the company roster as he hoped to join the company in the future, but before he could arrange to leave home he died of disease. His youngest son (see no. 41), then sixteen, enlisted in the same company at the same time and went into active service.
*Twenty four more soldiers of the war were not descendants of Archibald Steele, but married into the family...They will not be listed here as this is "Steele Specific".(JC)
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OF 1898
In the war with Spain in 1898 there was no necessity for many soldiers from each state, and there was no "defend the flag" or "fight for your firesides" arguments to stir the people to war. So far as I know only five of our family were soldiers in that war. If there were others they have not been reported to me. All of the four were from York County, S.C. and were in the same company and regiment. None died, were wounded, captured or killed. They were in service from 14 May till 11 October, 1898, but were not sent out of the United States.
1. Steele, Samuel Lytle (See Family 152), in company G. First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. 2. Steele, Woods Montgomery (See Family 9), in Company G, First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. 3. Steele, Marshall Alexander (See Family 60), in Company G, First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. This company was named "Catawba Rifles." It was in camp at Columbia three weeks, at Chickamauga, Ga., two months, and the remainder of the term of service at Jacksonville, Fla.
CHAPTER VIII
GENEALOGICAL TABLES OF THE FAMILY OF ARCHIBALD STEELE THE FIRST
1. Archibald Steele the First, as I call him in this book, was born, possibly in Scotland but probably in England of Scotch parentage, about 1728; migrated to Dublin, Ireland, where he married Agnes Edwards, about 1757. She was born 1720, in Dublin, Ireland, but was Scotch. They came to America probably in 1766 and settled first in Lancaster County. Pa. In 1772 they removed to York district, (now York Co.) SC, where he died 28th Oct., 1805, and she 28th June 1813.
FAMILY #1 - Children of Archibald Steele and Agnes (Edwards?)Steele.
2. (1) John b. about 1758 in Ireland; d. 1808 in York Co, SC; m. Jane Young. Seven Children.
3.(2) Joseph, Capt. B. 1760 in Ireland; d. 28th Aug., 1795 in York Co., S C; m. Rebecca Anderson 1782. Six children.
4. (3) William b. 1762 in Ireland; d. 20th Nov. 1806 in York Co., S C; m. Margaret Johnston, daughter of Samuel Johnston. Two children
5. (4.) James b. 1765, probably in Ireland, but possibly in America; d. 6th Oct., 1811 in York Co., S C; m. Mary (Mollie) Workman, sister to James and Peggy Workman. She was born, 1759, d. 30th June 1738. Four children.
6. (5.) Robert (Robin). B. 7th Sept., 1767 in Lancaster Co., PA; d. 9th Jan., 1852 in Limestone Co., Ala. He married in 1796 Martha Starr, in York Co., S C. She was born 10th March, 1778; d. 20th Sept., 1853. Her father was John Starr from Ireland, and her mother was Mary Stuart of French or Scotch descent. Seven children.
DESCENDENTS OF JOHN, ELDEST SON OF ARCHIBALD STEELE THE FIRST
FAMILY # 2 - Children of John Steele and His Wife Jane (Young) Steele.
7. (1) Archibald, nicknamed "Tug." B. about 1785; d. in Georgia after 1842.
8. (2.) Robert, b. about 1788; d. about 1828 in Carroll Co., Tenn. He left two and three sons but I have not found a trace of them.
9. (3.) William, was alive in 1827. Nothing more known.
10. (4.) John b. 1805; d. 1883 in La; m. Nancy McGuff. One child.
11. (5.) Hugh, was insane. Nothing more known.
12. (6.) James, was administrator of his father's estate.
13. (7.) Jane; m. Jas. R. Sandifer. Nothing more known.
FAMILY NO. 3 - Children of "Tug" Archibald Steele.
14. (1.) James; moved to Chester Co., S C.
15. (2.) Jane.
16. (3.) Matilda; m. -- Dale and moved to Georgia
17. (4.) Sarah.
FAMILY NO. 4. - Children of John and Nancy (McGuff) Steele.
18. (1) Martha Jane (See Family 5) b. 9th March, 1854; d. 30th March, 1897; m. Jas. A. Love 1874, in LA.
FAMILY NO. 5 --children of Martha Jane Steele and Jas. A. Love.
19. (1.) Nancy M., b. 18th Jan. 1877.
20. (2.) Finetta, b. 13th Aug., 1878.
21. (3.) John R., b. 14th Aug., 1882.
22. (4.) Royal O., b. 1st March, 1885.
23. (5.) William E., b. 14th June, 1888
*This ends the genealogy of John Steele, eldest son of Archibald the first. I have made most diligent search for the lost branches of his descendants but in vain. There may be many of them now living but I can find no trace of them. Thus we have the disappearance of nearly all of the descendants of one of the five sons of Archibald Steele the First.
FAMILY NO. 6 - Children of Capt. Joseph Steele and Rebecca (Anderson) Steele; 2nd son of Archi. The 1st
24. (1.) John, b. 18th July, 1783; d. 21st Aug., 1865, York Co., SC; m. Margaret Barry 24th Dec., 1807
25. (2.) William b. 9th Nov., 1785; d. 2nd April, 1829 in York Co., CC; m. Elizabeth Miller who was b. 29th Sept., 1794; d. 12th Jan., 1829.
26. (3.) Archibald b. 17th Feb., 1788; d. 24th May, 1865 in York Co., SC; m. Martha Edwards 1813; she was a daughter of Strutton Edwards.
27. (4)Samuel b. 28th. Sept., 1790; d. 9th Oct., 1870 in York Co., SC; m. Sarah Workman, 1825. She was born 1805; d. June 13th 1886.
28 (5.) Jane b. 31st Jan., 1793; d. 26th Oct., 1867 in York Co., SC; m. Wm. Poag 5th April, 1809. He was born 11th Dec., 1783; d. 24th Jan., 1847.
29. (6.) Alexander b. 29th Jan., 1795; d. 1st Feb., 1857 in Neshoba Co., Miss., where he had settled in 1847. He married Elizabeth Edwards, who was b. 28th Nov., 1799; d. 4th Dec., 1858. She was a daughter of Strutton Edwards.
FAMILY NO. 7 - Children of John Steele and Margaret (Barry) Steele.
30. (1.) William B., b. 10th Nov., 1808; d. 17th Dec., 1816.
31. (2.) Rebecca A., b. 27th April, 1812; d. 2nd May, 1832. Never married.
32. (3.) Jane, b. 30th June, 1814; d. 17th May 1846. Never married.
33. (4.) Joseph Alexander b. 13th April, 1819; d. 5th March, 1863; m. Elizabeth Jacolin Kirkpatrick 10th Dec., 1840. She is living. Eight children.
34. (5.) Jas. Barry b. 19th March, 1822; living near Rock Hill, SC; m Margaret R. Fewell 28th June, 1848. She d. 15th Aug., 1830. Ten Children.
FAMILY NO. 8 - Children of Joseph Alexander Steele and Elizabeth Jacoline (Kirkpatrick) Steele.
35. (1.) John Gilliam b. 11th Dec., 1841; m. Mary Susan Atkinson 4th Jan., 1866. Five Children
36. (2.) William Daniel, b. 1st Jan., 1846; d. 25th Jan., 1864.
37. (3.) Margaret Frances b. 17th June, 1848; m. William Whyte 5th Dec., 1867. He was born 4th March, 1842. Four children.
38. (4.) Jane Eulalia b. 30th July, 1852; m. Capt., J.C.B.Smith 11th Dec., 1873. He was born 30th July, 1839. Two children.
39. (5.) Rebecca Lavinia, b. 27th Dec., 1854; d. 13th Oct., 1863.
40.(6.) Alice Ellen b. 19 Feb., 1857; m. Rev. James William McClure 18th May, 1880. He was born 11th June, 1847, in KY. Three children.
41. (7.) Mary Martha b. 19th Aug. 1859; m. Charles Oliver Brown 28th Nov., 1888. He was born 31st Jan., 1849. Four children.
42. (8.) Elizabeth J, b. 28th March, 1863; d. 25th May, 1887; m. H.H. Covington 25th Nov., 1884. No Children.
To be continued...This represents pps. 52-55 of the genealogy sect.