From original research of Dodie E. (Smith) Browning, Sandy Perkins McNeeley, Ruth Ferrell Runyon, Joanne "Joni" Steele Mittelbuscher and Stephen Wilson and his parents, Gene and Barbara (Conley) Wilson. This has truly been a team effort! Thanks everyone for your contributions!
Copyright 1998- 1999 all rights reserved
VI-Ralph S. Steele was born in Logan County (W) VA 12 May 1857. He was named for his grandfather Ralph A. Steele of Logan County West Virginia. His birth record shows that his name was Ralph A. P. The 1920 Logan County Census shows his name as Raphael. Raphael was a family name, going back to a paternal uncle of Ralph's grandfather. The earlier pronunciation of the name was "Rafe" (but was spelled Ralph, a shortened version of Raphael.)
Ralph S. (or A.P?) married first to Rebecca Canada, the daughter of Ham and Jane Canada. Rebecca Canada was born circa 1862. The marriage took place in Logan County, 4 April 1881. There were three little girls born to this union. Rebecca apparently died very young, because by 1890, Ralph had a second wife named Annie. This was Anna Elizabeth Duty, according to the family records of Stephen Wilson.
The three children by Ralph's first marriage were
1. Dellie Steele
possibly born 1 Feb. 1876. (This date is on a picture that a family member gave to Ruth Runyon, the grand daughter of Dellie.) Other dates show that Dellie was born 1882. More than likely, the date on the picture is incorrect because Ralph, at age twenty one was still living with his parents when the 1880 census was taken. Later Census records show Dellie's year of birth as 1882, which would also be consistent with her parents' marriage date of 4 April, 1881.
According to Ruth Runyon, the grand daughter of Dellie, she was married (1) to a John Daniels (no children). She married (2) Larkin Ferrell 18 September 1900, and gave her age as 21 Years old. Ruth Runyon has a copy of their marriage certificate. Ruth states that Dellie and Larkin had eleven children Dellie died 17 March 1960 at Freeburn, Pike County Ky. She is buried In the Ferrell Cemetery at Stopover, Pike County, Ky
Ruth states that as she obtains more information she will pass it along so that we can add it to the family history.
The other two children of Ralph and Rebecca (Canada) Steele were
2. (Victoria?) Belle Steele, born October, 1884. It is believed by this writer that Belle, the middle child of Ralph and his first wife Rebecca was in fact, Victoria Belle, who married Allen Mounts 23 July, 1902. The marriage information for Victoria Belle was provided by Sandy Perkins McNeely.
3. Sallie Steele, born September 1886.
By 1890, Ralph had married Anna Elizabeth Duty. Anna Elizabeth was born August 1873.
The children of Ralph and Anna Elizabeth "Annie" (Duty) Steele
4. Bessie Steele, born June 1890, married George Harmon
5. Ewen Steele, born January 1896, married Maude Godby
6. William "Willie" "Bill" Steele , born January 1897
7. Ethel (Bama?) Steele, born June 1899
8. Susan Bell(e)mont Steele, born cira 1904, married Enoch Wilson Conley
9. Leo Steele, born circa 1906
10. Omal Steele , born circa 1911