Generation III
From original research of Jimmie (Martin) Steele
Copyright 1998 by Jimmie M. Steele- all rights reserved
This story is about Ralph, the middle child. His early childhood was in Maryland, his schooling years in Northern Virginia, and his teen years in Southwest Virginia. According to the family Bible of his brother George, Ralph was born 10 March 1776. This Bible is in possession of Mrs. Dodie E Browning. His estate was being settled in 1846, so one can assume that he died in late 1845 or early 1846. Ralph lost his dad at the tender age of 5 and gained a stepfather 8 years later.
Ralph wasn't quite 27 years of age when he married Mary Griffitt 2 February 1803 in Tazewell County VA. Mary was the daughter of William Griffitt. There is much speculation about her mother's name but I will let that go for awhile. This union produced 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls. All of the names seemed to be found in Steele ancestry.
The oldest child of Ralph and Mary is a son, born about 1804 and named George for his Grandfather and his uncle. This is a very good name. George is known on the early Tazewell Tax Records as George Jr. to distinguish him from his uncle. He served many years as Constable of Tazewell but he got into trouble with finances and had to leave the area. He did not receive his portion of his father's estate as it had to go to pay his debts. When about 21 years of age, he married 22 Dec 1825 his first cousin Elizabeth Steele, daughter of his uncle Richard. They produced 4 children, namely Ann Eliza, Calvin, Francis Marion and Elizabeth.
These girls did not live to adulthood. They were mentioned in the will of their Grandfather Richard in 1839, but they were deceased in 1841. I have not been able to determine which child is the oldest, but Ann Eliza is mentioned first several times so I have her as the eldest. Calculating his age from the Federal Census Records, Calvin was born in 1830. He is listed in the 1850 Census as being 20 years of age, living in the household of his uncle Edmond Steele. His age is consistant through the next census years, so 1830 is reasonable.
Francis Marion has been listed as being born 4 years before his parents married which would make his dad very active about the age of 14 or 15 and Elizabeth even younger. If we look at the census record for 1850, he is listed as being 17 years of age in the same household as Calvin. This would make him born in 1833. I think he and his relatives had more education than to deduct 12 years from his age just for the census taker. When he married the second time on 18 Nov 1870, he says he is Widowed and age 35 which would make his birth 1835 which is close to the census. As the rules in genealogy require you to use the government record nearest to the event, the event in this case being the birth, the census record takes precedent and his birth year would be about 1833. Both of these men have many decendents living in the area.
Margaret Steele, second child of Ralph and Mary Griffitt Steele, was born about about 1807 and died 4 Sept 1856 in Steelesburg, Tazewell Co. Va. She married 23 March 1825 Cornelius McGuire and 9 children have been accounted for although I am sure there were several more. Wesley, b about 1827 married Margaret Deskins, Daughter of Jefferson Deskins; Julia, born about 1835, married 4 May 1856 W. Davis, son of Moses and Elenor Davis; Francis M., born about 1836, married 11 May 1867 Victoria Louisa Harrison; Eliza, born about1840, married 30 May 1866 George W Reynolds, son of George and Matilda Reynolds; James was born about 1842; George was born about 1845; Margaret born about 1850, married George W Oney.
It was always believed by this researcher that Margaret was named for Mary's Mother. A reference was found that a William had a wife Margaret, possibly a first wife, but not enough information was found to state this as a fact. Ralph did name his first and third child for his parents. The fourth child William, was named for her father so it would follow to reason that Margaret was her mother. As I say, documentation is missing.
The third child of Ralph and Mary was Elizabeth. She was born about 1809 and died the 3rd day of April 1857 in Tazewell Co. She married 12 Sept 1826 Joseph Claypole Brown who was the son of John and Pheba Brown. Joseph married (2) 1 Oct 1857 Mary Deskins, daughter of Steven and Ann Deskins He married (3) Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Brown.This couple had 12 children.
Matilda born about 1829; George W, born about 1830 married 11 Dec 1855 Lillie B Young , daughter of Hugh and Lavisa; William Patton, born about 1831 married 25 August 1858 Lucinda Whitt daughter of Milburn and Mahala Whitt; Joseph; Ralph born about 1834 Married 6 Dec 1855, Catherine Harper daughter of James Steele and Adaline Harper. Isaac B, born about 1838 Married 28 Nov 1860 Mary J Steel daughter of Meshack and Nancy Steel; Mary "Polly" was born about 1839 and married 7 Nov 1866 William F Creger daughter of Alfred Creger; Virginia born about 1842; Clinton born about 1844, married 8 Nov 1866 Mary A Barnett, daughter of Thomas and N Barnett, married (2) 11 Jan 1872 Evaline Ball daughter of Andrew Ball; Rees b about 1847; Rebecca born about 1850; Louisa b about 1852, married 13 Jan 1870 James Brewster son of Bird and Elizabeth Brewster. These names and dates were taken from the 1850 Census and the Tazewell Co Marriage Records.
William was the fourth child of Ralph and Mary. He was apparently named for his grandfather William Griffitt. As this is a collateral line, I have not researched it as I have the other family members. William was born about 1810, married 11 November 1833 in Tazewell Co VA to Mary Brown, daughter of John Brown. They were living in John's household in the 1850 census as follows; John Brown Sr, William Steel, Polly, Rosanna (Rosinda), Betsy, Hulda, Bostic, Eliza, Matilda, Rafe(Ralph), and John. There may have been other children born after they left the area. It is said that the family moved to Kansas and Missouri but I have not searched those records.
James was born about 1816 and married 2 July 1846 Nancy Cecil, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Smith Cecil. I have not found any children of this couple.
Rachael, the third daughter of Ralph and Mary was born, according to her tombstone Mar 30 1817 and died Jan 19 1883. She married first William Wilson and had 4 children:
Nancy married 2 January 1860 William B Brown, son of Thomas and Rachel Brown.
They had at least 7 children.
Polly was born Feb 20 1839 and died Feb 11 1883.
Luemma Wilson was born Apr 5 1842 and died Aug 27 1873
William Low Wilson is listed on the 1850 census but not on the 1960.
Apparently William and Luemma were twins.
After William Wilson died, Rachael married 30 Mar 1848 John R Brown, born 16 Feb 1812 and died 29 Mar 1893. To this couple was born 5 children:
Zurrilda J was born about 1850 married 12 Mar 1874 John B Brown, son of John A and Nancy Brown.
Joseph R was born about 1952, married 31 Oct 1878 Jennie Belle Fields daughter of W H and Isabelle Fields.
William H was born about 1855 married (1) Dec 1876 Rosy J _______ (I can't read the microfilm)
John F was the youngest being born in 1860.
Robert, the next child of Ralph and Mary was born about 1823 in Tazewell Co., died 24 Jan 1916, Married 13 April 1848 Julia Ann Cecil daughter of Samuel and Rececca Smith Cecil and sister of Nancy Cecil, wife of his brother James. Robert and Julia had 8 children:
Rebecca Jane married 16 Sept 1874 William Vencil;
Samuel Sylvester was born in 1850, married 10 Aug 1870 Emily Jane Morton;
Almarine Lafayette was born 1853, married 28 Oct 1875 Mary Ann Claytor;
Julia S was born 1854, married 21 Dec 1875;
Mary Louise was born 12 Oct 1855 and died 9 Jan 1861;
Nancy Isabell (Nannie) was born 1861, married 11 June 1884 F J Graybeal;
Sarah Alice was born 1862, married 5 June 1884 Calab A Thompson, son of John and Sophonia Thompson;
Lenora Rose Ella was born 1872, married 27 Feb 1895 William C Witten.
Elihu John Steele, son of Ralph and Mary Griffitt Steele is the direct ancestor and therefore more time was on his family.
Mary Ann Steele was the youngest child of Ralph and Mary. It is believed her mother died at her birth and she was named for her Mother. She was born 7 May 1828 in Tazewell Co VA and died 15 April 1890. She married 30 March 1848 George W Steele her cousin who was the son of John Steele and Peggy Shufflebarger.
This couple had six known children and the names are family names. The oldest was William Ralph, born November 1853; married 28 March 1877 Nancy Virginia Claytor born 1859; Elizabeth Margaret was born May 1856 and died 7 Feb 1861 of Whooping Cough; John W, was born 12 April 1857, died 31 August 1908, Married 20 September 1886 Laura Sergeant born January 1858. Married (2) 17 December 1901 Mary J Lester; Robert B was born 4 March 1863, died 26 June 1936, married 12 December 1889 Mamie L Smith ; Rachel M was born 1868, Married 17 December 1889 Bramwell B Hunt.; Mary Bell better known as Mollie Belle was born 17 June 1871, died 14 September 1958.
