What I have written here is what I have learned about the parents of James Wilbur Steele, my Grandparents. Their story is a documentary composed from the memories of their children, and my cousins, and from some small stories that my Dad shared with my Mom about his parents. He had only two pictures of his mother, who he loved dearly. One you see here after she died. It was sent by his sister, Uva to him after he came to California....The other a little, wrinkled snapshot of America standing in what looks to be a field.....
Sterling Price Steele (George Washington, Jeremiah Wilkinson, David, George, George) was born February 19, 1881 in Caney Kentucky, and died June 2, 1949 in West Liberty, Kentucky. He married America Lizabeth Lykins February 10, 1900 in Morgan Co. Kentucky.
Sterling, was the first child of George Washington Steele and Margaret Kilgore. He was tall and thin with beautiful green eyes. He managed to receive an 8th grade education. He wanted to be a teacher and took the State examination and passed it. However, the year that he took the exam the minimum grade completion in school was extended to 9th grade. This upset Sterling as he had already passed the Teacher's Examination and it would have required another year of schooling. For this reason he didn't pursue a teaching career. He married at the age of 18 and both he and America lived with George W. and Margaret for a while after their marriage.
Sterling was called Price by all who knew him. He was a good Christian man and a Baptist, who worked very hard during his lifetime to support his family. He tried his hand at many occupations...He worked for Standard Oil Company, operated a logging and trucking business. He loved farming and at one time moved to Texas with his family and purchased a farm. Apparently these were the drought years in Texas...so the farm failed and the family had to move back to Kentucky. It wasn't long after they returned to Kentucky when oil was discovered on the land that they had sold in Texas. It would seem that life dealt Sterling much bad luck. After Sterling returned to Kentucky, America's father gave them a house to live in and he did what he loved...he farmed. By this time they had moved to Ohio. They were poor for most of their lives together, but blessed with a beautiful family. There were no modern appliances in their home and America cooked on a wood cook stove all her life. She nursed her own family as well as other ill neighbors.
After America died, Sterling married Sallie Williams. He died of a heart attack on June 2, 1949 in West Liberty, Kentucky. His children never approved of his marriage to Sallie and after he died they made sure his final resting place was next to America, his beloved first wife and mother to his children. They are buried in the Maineville Cemetery, Ohio. To this day someone tends the graves of America and Sterling with a great deal of care and love.
"Part of a letter from my Aunt Dot dated January 19, 1999....Dear Jodi and Paul....I have fretted for years because we had no
picture of our family. One was always missing when we took pictures. After contacting all family members in an effort to find
one..nobody had one. So after much thought I came up with the idea to complete one picture I have. It was our entire family
except Mildred...Betty our niece sat in for Mildred. I found an old picture of Mildred, cut her face off of it and pasted it over
Betty's face. We now have a picture of our entire family. I am pleased with the way it turned out hope you like it! Love
Aunt Dot!"
My Aunt's sense of humor shines through this picture. I wish we could meet. She is one of James Wilburs sisters. So it is with
her blessing that I bring this picture of my Dad's whole family to Dodie's Families of Steele to share! The blood in my veins ran
through theirs and even though this is only a picture it brings my Father's secret family closer to my heart.
Jodi
