Copyright 1987 by Dodie E. Browning. All rights reserved.
Thanks to Jimmie M. Steele who assisted with Morgan County records.
George Simpson Steele was the ninth son and ninth child of George and Rosannah (Fannin) Steele of Tazewell County Virginia. George Simpson was born in Tazewell County 26 May 1817. He lived in Tazewell County until sometime in 1838, at which time he moved to Morgan County Kentucky and remained there for the rest of his life. He was the first Steele settler in Morgan County. His nephew, Jeremiah Wilkerson Steele moved there some years later. George Simpson Steele and his family lived at West Liberty, KY, District # 56 in 1870.
He married Catherine "Carrie" Armstrong 28 January 1839 in Morgan County. He more than likely was visiting his Fannin cousins and it is the belief of this writer that Carrie was more than likely his second wife. I have not found a previous marriage for him, but it appears that he may have had a previous marriage perhaps in Russell County Virginia where most of the early marriages are not extant. Based on the ages and birth place of his two oldest children, this does seem to be the the case. His oldest child, according to Morgan County Census records, was Emerine, born circa 1834 in Virginia. George Simpson would have been seventeen years old when his first child was born. His son, Malon R. was born 10 April 1838 in Virginia. From this information and the ages of the other children, this assumption is being made. Emerine was a popular name in the Gillespi family and several Steeles married into the Gillespi family. The 1850 census shows that George Simpson Steele was born 1814. The birth record in the family Bible was kept by his father, George Steele, and is consistent with the chronological order of the other children. The family Bible is in the possession of this writer. The other possibility would be that the two older children were step children and raised as Steeles. George Simpson had nine children, three boys and six girls.
Carrie Armstrong was born 4 Feburary 1815, so in reality she was two years older than her husband. She died 12 November 1901 and is buried in Bill Elam Cemetery.
1850 Morgan County Census- Family 1160, page 171
George S. Steel age 36
Catherine age 32
1. Emerine age 16
2. Maland (sic- Malon R.) age 12, (notes for Malon R.- He was born 10 April 1838. He married Mary J.(Davis?) Mary J. was born 3 January 1845 and died 18 May 1916. In 1870 they had one child, William who was one year old. They are both buried in the Steele cemetery in Morgan County. Mahlon died 11 May 1916 and Mary Jane died a week later on 18 May 1916.
3. Sarah age 10
4. Mary age 8
5. Rosannah age 4
6. Cyntha age 8 months ( notes- Cynthia M. Steele received a KY land grant for 19 acres 28 November 1873.
7. Millie was born 7 May 1854
8. Meshack ("Shack") was born 1856, according to the 1860 Census, but other records show him born 1849. Since he was not on the 1850 census, I have to assume that the census record is more accurate for his birth year. Meshack died in 1936 and is buried in the Bill Elam Cemetery.
9. James, was born 1858 according to the 1860 census, but his tombstone shows him born 1856. He married Sarah Ann (name not known to me) He died in 1937 and buried in the B. Salyer Cemetery in Morgan County.
It is interesting to note that George S. (Simpson) Steele married Carry Armstrong in Morgan County KY 28 January 1839 and the minister was John Williams. It is believed by this writer that there were other Steele relatives in Morgan County prior to the arrival of George. On 2 August1833, Lewallen Steele married Sarah Dewitt and they had been married by J. G. Williams. The other Morgan County Steele marriage for that time frame was 22 March 1838, when a Mary Steele married Napoleon B. Oakley.
