Story researched and written by Dodie E. Browning
Copyright 1998 by Jodi Steele Catano and Dodie E. Browning-all rights reserved

David Steele, the third child and third son of George and Rosannah (Fannin) Steele was born October, 1803. He died in the fall of 1827, when he was only twenty five years old. We can only speculate at why his young life ended so tradgically, but apparently it was due to an accident or a sudden illness. Some descendants believe that he was killed in the militia, but that is not likely, because there was no war at that time in Tazewell County history. If he had been killed during militia duty, there would more than likely be some record of it in Tazewell County Court Records.

David married Matilda Claypool, the daughter of Jeremiah and Mary (Brown) Claypool circa 1825 when he was about twenty three years old. This estimate is based on the birth date of their only son and only child, Jeremiah Wilkerson "Wick" Steele. David did not live to see his infant son thrive and grow to maturity. Jeremiah was only one year old when his father died, leaving his widow, Matilda "Mattie" with a little boy who would grow up without his father, as David's own father George, had to do.

David and Mattie's only child, Jeremiah " Wick" Wilkerson Steele was born 16 March, 1826 in Tazewell County, Virginia.

David was an Ensign in the Tazewell County Militia when he died. The Milita was similar to what we call The National Guard in today's society. David was known to be alive on 12 June, 1827 when he and two of his brothers, Richard and John were purchasers at the estate sale of Evan D. Williams. It was only a short five months and three days before David's own personal property was sold at his own estate sale. In the prime of his manhood, David Steele was dead, leaving a young widow and an infant son.

His widow Matty, was appointed administrix of his estate on 14 November 1827, with David's father George Steele as Matilda's security. This would indicate that there was a close relationship between Matty and her in laws. David's father George and his brother Samuel, are shown in Tazewell Court Records as two of the purchasers at the estate sale.

David had died either on the second of October or the second of November (Family Bible of his parents) but the ravages of time have made it impossible to determine the exact month from the tattered Bible pages. It is the belief of this writer that he more than likely died on the second of November, since usually the next term of court after a death was when estates were entered into probate records.

Tazewell County Virginia Court Records reveal that in 1828, "Gentleman George Steele was commissioned Ensign in room [in place of] David Steele." George served in this capacity until May 1829, at which time he resigned and Richard Steele, one of David's younger brothers took his place and was " Commissioned Ensign in the room of George Steele." This is supporting evidence to the family Bible records that David was in fact the son of George and Rosannah (Fannin) Steele, even though there was no record found in Tazewell that mentioned David as the "deceased son" mentioned (not by name) in the estate settlement of his father George, many years later.

David owned no land at the time of his death and had not yet received his portion of his father's estate. David's son Jeremiah, was his only heir and was considered in the final distribution of George Steele's estate. The only reference to David and his son Jeremiah, are vague in the settlement of George's estate. Neither is mentioned by name. The records only state, "One grandson, the son of a deceased son." Since George died Intestate, the grandson would have legally been entitled to his father's share of the estate.

Mattie (Claypool) Steele remained a widow for at least four years, as she is shown on the personal property tax lists of Tazewell County until 1832, at which time she probably married James Quicksall and began having other children.

Perhaps an indepth study of the Jeremiah and Mary (Brown) Claypool family would reveal more about the ensuing years and the childhood of Jeremiah Wilkerson Steele. The family moved to Morgan County Kentucky, as did Jeremiah and his wife, Martha Lockhart.

Mattie Claypool Steele Quicksall and her second husband James Quicksall had issue:

Johnathan E. Quicksall
Rebecca E. Quicksall
Lemuel B. Quicksall
John W. Quicksall

The grave of David Steele, who died so tragically at such a young age has not been located. It is possible that he is buried in the family cemetery of his parents, George and Rosannah, but I was not able to find his grave. It appears that there are a number of very old graves in the family cemetery with no markers. Like the ravages of time to the fragile Bible pages, time has also taken its toll on the older graves in the family cemetery. When I was doing research on the Steele family, David and Jeremiah were always "favorites" of mine as well as with Jimmie Steele who worked on this family with me. I recall Jimmie once said in one of her letters to me in 1984 or 1985, " I kind of like Jeremiah because it seems that no one wants him."

Many of Jeremiah and David's descendants have since come forth and it is with love and devotion that I share this story for the benefit of David Steele's descendants.