This website is maintained by Dodie Elizabeth (Smith) Browning

Copyright 1998 by Jodi Steele Catano- All rights reserved

My given name was Elizabeth Josephine Steele. I was also called Betty Jo by Dad, Grandma and Mom, until I started to call myself Betty Jodi...and finally, all settled on the nick name Jodi. Of course my parents were expecting a baby boy and they had the name Michael all picked out and had to scramble for a name as I wasn't a boy! Well I am so lucky to have been named traditionally after both grandmothers...One, America Lizzie Lykins, I was never to know and the other who played the most predominant roll in my early childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and finally as Great Grandma Jo to my children, Lisa and Christopher.

My life was special. It was full of contradictions, excitement, and many personalities. One of which I wish to tell you about...because his life had dark corridors, and hidden families....and he was my Dad for the 29 years he spent with us before his death on October 3, 1974. As he lived he also died....$3,000 left under his pillow for his burial. His heart attack came on the corner of the street where we lived. His wish, to die with his boots on and never spend another day in the hospital, was granted.

I buried my Dad, who never saw the grandchild, which I had carried for 8 months. I took care of Mom and then life went on until Ash Wednesday of 1996, when I received a phone call from a person claiming to be my niece. She told me that my Dad was her Grandpa. This was to be the beginning of a journey into my Father's secret life. I have met cousins, 1/2 brothers and a sister, 2 Aunts who were Dad's sisters. I have found out about Dad's early families and of course his parents, brothers, and sisters. Another life...he had...a secret, hidden life...For some reason, not entirely unveiled to me, he had closed the door to this life and simply walked away.

My early childhood was spent with horses, on racetracks, in the winners circle, in a house that was being built around me, tack rooms, hay stacks...Rainy nights in the barns with lanterns reading with a horse for a pillow and a tin roof for music. Exciting to say the least. I mucked my first stall at 4 and loved it! At 7 I was working out our own racehorses in the mornings...going to the track at 4:30 am and returning for school...Dad would then go to work at the Standard Oil Station he owned to support the horses and family...I remember coming home, feeding horses, doing homework except on those special nights when I would sneak out to the barn with a lantern and a good book and find my pony 'Pet' laying down and listen to the rain and read and sneak back in at daybreak...For a young child this was an adventure as the yard was alive with monsters of all kinds and the barn was a safe place, hay was soft and sweet smelling...Life was good.

Dad was a hard working man, frustrated by secrets and imbued with talent, faithful to my Mom, but always guarded. He had a rough temper and anger that was difficult to deal with...As I was later to find out his life had not been easy and he had not always dealt with it appropriately. Perhaps 'Peace of Mind' was never to be his to enjoy. And so this journey begins, as a glimpse into the lives of families that had been hidden for 55 years, the hidden families and secret life of James Wilbur Steele.

James Wilbur Steele (descended from Sterling Price, George Washington, Jeremiah Wilkinson, David, George, and finally George Steele) born December 1, 1913 in Caney, Kentucky at home with his parents attending. He married my Mom, Grace Schollard, September 15, 1945 in Los Angeles California. He died October 3, 1974 in Chula Vista, California. He left two children: Elizabeth J. Catano (Jodi) born May 8, 1947 and Michael Sterling Steele, born April 20, 1954.

Snippets of letters from his sisters and help to fill in the details of a Dad's early life; a life not shared with our family.

..... A Letter written by Lucille Steele Everman (Dad's Sister)

"James Wilbur Steele - born Dec. 1, 1913 - Attended grade school in Caney, KY - Graduated from Channel City High School, Cannel City, KY, May 26, 1934. He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio after graduation. He married Irene Bowers Jan 18, 1934. They had one child, a daughter, Loretta Steele born Oct. 30, 1935. The marriage ended in divorce in 1936. James Wilbur Steele married Helen Edwards in 1936. They had one son, James Ronald Steele, born March 12, 1937. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1940. The third marriage for James Wilbur Steele was to Ina Lawson, August 13, 1941. They had two sons, Gerald Lou Steele, born May 15, 1942 and Richard Harry Steele born May 18, 1944. That marriage ended in divorce in 1944...James Wilbur moved to California after the divorce and one short letter was written by him to his sister Uva Dee Riggs after he left Ohio and moved to California."

.....A letter written by Aunt Dot, Dad's Sister........."James Wilbur Steele, nicknames Bob, Jack, and Jimmy.....I believe Jack truly loved Irene....but because of family problems his marriage failed....He was too hasty about getting married....Jack was very handsome, and very shy. He was the youngest son among a bunch of girls..(many sisters ). We gave him a hard time. Always teased him about his girl friends. My Dad (Sterling) didn't drive a car, so Mom told Jack soon as he learned to drive, she would buy a car. He really worked at it, learned to drive when he was very young....Mom bought him a car. (It was the Packard that he came to California in. I remember it) He was a sheet metal worker, musician, served in the Air Force (actually army). Discouraged with failed marriages, saddened by the death of our Mother and health problems, he headed west. He wrote his sister Uva that he joined a musicans group in California and they were to go to Hawaii. No one ever heard from him again. He got in touch with Country Western singer Meryl Travis (Met him on Hollywood and Vine Streets in Los Angeles) and other Country Western entertainers in Calif."....

I called Dot , the Aunt I had never met and she was tickled to find out that her Brother had at last found stability and happiness....

....Letter from Aunt Uva, Dad's closest sister..." to say thanks a million for the lovely family I didn't know I had Grace I'm so happy Jack met you. You were so good for him. I wish we could have spent some time together...All those years...but I'm so glad you and Jack had a beautiful life and family. Those 29 years were good. Thanks again for helping my brother make a good life. Love you. Your Sister in Law, Uva...Jodi, my niece...love Aunt Uva" (Received March 8, 1996.)

I grew up in the same house, surrounded by Knotty Pine paneled walls and hardwood floors built by Dad. After I finished graduate school and moved back to San Diego...I used to do what he and I did best...ride horses together. Sometimes he would pull out the old Gibson Guitar he brought with him from Kentucky and play. I would just listen. He loved Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. He would play and sing for hours. I remember when we were younger he would set up our living room like a music studio; big speakers, microphones and then with some friends would play his favorite music. Mom would play the piano and everyone would sing. These were special times for our family. For the last three years of his life I was able to share some of these special times once again. I want to think that in some small way that this brought him some peace. I know it helped me understand our relationship.

When he died, with him was buried a family Album, which would remain hidden for 55 years...I didn't see him in the hospital, when he was still warm, as mom did. It fell to me to plan the Services. I was happy to do this...I played his favorite music...Hank Williams...and had him buried at Holy Cross Cemetery on a hill with two rose bushes at the foot of his grave. The climbing rose was his favorite flower and he loved to have a view! In my head even now I can still hear the verse of one of his favorite songs," Oh, Dan, can't you see that big green tree, where the water's running free, and it's waiting there, for you and me?...Cool, clear, water....." And another favorite that comes to mind..."Detour"..."Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour....paid no mind to what it said...detour..."This song is could have been a reflection of Dad's life...perhaps that why he liked it so well.

1.Sterling Price⁶ Steele (George Washington⁵, Jeremiah Wilkinson⁴, David³, George², George¹) was born February 19, 1881 in Caney, Kentucky, and died June 02, 1949 in West Liberty, Kentucky. He married America Lizzie Lykins February 10, 1900 in Morgan Co. Kentucky.

Children of Sterling Steele and America Lykins are:

2 i. Lonus Byron⁷ Steele, born June 12, 1901 in Caney, Kentucky; died September 08, 1957 in Ohio. He married (1) Mae Smith April 04, 1919. He married (2) Dessie Rae Petrey 1926 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

3 ii. Franklin Pierce Steele, born January 12, 1903 in Malone Kentucky; died March 21, 1971 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He married Virgie Holliday December 10, 1921 in Ohio.

4 iii. Hazel Essie Steele, born October 05, 1904; died 1905.

5 iv. Grace Mabel Steele, born January 21, 1906 in Caney, Kentucky; died August 18, 1966 in Cininnati, Ohio. She married Charles Blaine Woods August 24, 1924 in Ohio.

6 v. Ina P. Steele, born December 05, 1907 in Big Springs, Texas; died January 28, 1989 in Ohio. She married Charles Weddle April 21, 1928 in Newport, Kentucky.

7 vi. Anna Mae Steele, born February 07, 1909 in Big Springs, Texas; died September 04, 1953 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She married Wilbur Jones August 09, 1927 in Texas

8 vii. Uva Dee Steele, born December 17, 1910 in Post City, Texas. She married Malcolm Carlos Sr. Riggs March 09, 1935 in Ohio.

9 viii. Curtis James Steele, born December 01, 1912.

10 ix. James Wilbur Steele, born December 01, 1913 in Caney, Kentucky; died October 03, 1974 in Chula Vista, Calif. He married (1) Irene Bowers January 18, 1934 in Ohio. He married (2) Helen Edwards 1936 in Ohio. He married (3) Ina Elizabeth Lawson 1941 in Ohio. He married (4) Grace Schollard September 15, 1945 in Los Angeles, CA.

11 x. Lucille Steele, born March 23, 1916 in Caney, Kentucky; died October 23, 1981 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She married (1) Riley York 1939 in Ohio. She married (2) Jesse Everman 1953 in Ohio.

12 xi. Dorothy L. Steele, born May 18, 1918 in Caney, Kentucky. She married George Dewey Archer January 10, 1938 in Georgetown, Kentucky.

13 xii. Jessie Mildred Steele, born June 02, 1921 in Caney, Kentucky; died January 30, 1986 in No. College Hill, Cinn, Hamilton Co, Ohio. She married (1) Clyde Hammons July 14, 1937 in Ohio. She married (2) Harvey Rainey January 18, 1947 in Ohio.

14 xiii. Georgia Evelyn Steele, born March 09, 1924 in Caney, Kentucky; died January 14, 1987. She married Roger Snider May 07, 1941 in Ohio.