The copy of the above picture was sent to me by Elizabeth and underneath it, in her beauttiful penmanship, she notes" "This picture was hanging in the bedroom of Surilda McGuire Matney ( grand daughter of William Steele and Polly Brown ) when my Mother Hyacynth Kindig died. The family decided that since I was a direct descendant of Hulda Jane (Steel) Matney, I should have the picture." Elizabeth also noted that this was a reduced version (for publishing) of a very large picture.
Elizabeth Neis was a major contributor to the old Families of Steel(e) newsletter. She first contacted me trying to find documentation for her Steele family from Tazewell County, Virginia , then to Missouri and ultimately to the Kansas Territory. Her Mother, Hyacynth Kindig had worked on the family history for approximatly thirty years before her death and Elizabeth was the second generation to work on her Steele line. I had not heard from Elizabeth for a number of years. I recently attempted to contact her, and learned that she had died of a heart attack several years ago.
Excerpts from a letter dated 29 September, 1986 follows.
"Dear Dodie,
Your letter brightened a very rainy day!!!! That's my first "new" ancestor in many years. ( Since we found William Steele and wife Polly in the 1850 Census with John Brown, born ca.1780.) Thank you for Ralph Steele's birth date!!
I would not disagree about the children of Ralph. He had only one son born 1800-1810 per the 1820 Census, which coincides with the birthdate of George, born 1804.
[It] Appears we have lots of rearranging to do . We believe [that] Elizabeth Steele married Joseph Claypool Brown, s/o John Brown and Phebe Claypool. After Elizabeth died Joseph Claypool Brown, s/o John and Phebe Brown married married Mary Deskins. ...................We have no proof that that Joseph Claypool Brown and my Polly are siblings, although some of the families of both lived in close proximity in Wyandotte County, Kansas. In fact to settle a disagreement, it was the Brown Church on Steele Road.
William Steele died in this area - no exact date is known - could have been in Jackson County, MO or Shawnee County, Kansas. (Elizabeth noted in another letter that he may have died on the way to Missouri of cholora.)
Joseph Boston Steele was in Shawnee County Kansas at that time. We do know that Harvey Matney and wife Hulda Jane (Steele) were in charge of money for Surilda McGuire, grand daughter of William and Polly (Brown ) Steele (Douglas County Kansas record)
In the 1860 Census, [the] Steele children are living with Charles and Abigail (Brown) Matney...........
[I had} No record of Robert . Appears he married Julia Ann Cecil. Mary Ann is new to me also.
It is sad that I can't tell Grace Barngrover of our newly located family. We worked so hard to find ancestors for her Surilda McGuire and William Matney.
Its a whole new ballgame, hunting for George ( I ) and Elizabeth Steele!!...............
I eargerly await further word from you!
Truly a cousin (though I am not sure of degree.)
Elizabeth Neis
The Steele Lineage of Elizabeth Neis first appeared in Families of Steel(e) Volume I, Number II, page 50. Her Steele line is :
Parents: Hyacynth Matney and Bruce Kindig
Grandparents: David R. Matney (born 1860, Kansas Territory) and Mary Elizabeth Bowman
Great grandparents: Harvey Matney and Hulda Jane Steele
Great Great Grand Parents: William Steele (born circa 1810, Tazewell County, VA and Polly Brown ( d/o John Brown and probably Phebe Claypool, but that had not been proven.)
Great Great Great Grandparents, Ralph Steele and Mary Griffitts (to be expanded soon )
Gr.Gr.Gr. Gr. Grandparents: George Steele and Elizabeth Ratcliff.
