Washington Co., AR - Biographies - Dr. Marion D. Steele *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** Dr. Marion D. Steele, an enterprising and thorough-going merchant, of Elm Springs, and the son of Price C. and Elizabeth B. (Cooper) Steele, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in the year 1824. The parents were of Irish and Dutch extraction, respectively. Price C. Steele moved with his parents to Tennessee at a very early day, and, like his father, was a farmer all his life. He was a justice of the peace of Bedford County for many years, and was also associate justice of the county court. He died in 1881, at the hale old age of eighty-one years. His son, Dr. Marion D. Steele, was educated in Bedford County, Tenn., and remained on the farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits with his father, until he was nineteen years of age, when he began the study of medicine. In 1847 he moved to Lawrence County, Ark., and at once began the practice of his profession, which he continued for nine years in that county, meeting with remarkably good success. In 1849 he was united in marriage to Miss Frances S. Poer, of Lawrence County, Ark., and the fruits of this union are two children: William B., and Elizabeth, who married William D. Wasson, of Springtown. Mr. Steele lost his wife in 1860, and one year later he married Mrs. Mary E. Deaver, of Washington County, Ark. They were the parents of nine children, seven now living: Thomas D., who married Miss Mollie Hobbs, of Missouri; James C.; Joseph A., who married Miss Jennie Venable; Mary I., Sarah Frances, H. S. and David A. In 1856 Dr. Steele moved to Benton County, Ark., but remained there only one year, when he moved to Washington County, of the same State, and located at Elm Springs, where he continued to practice until 1874. He then engaged in merchandising at this point, and has remained engaged in this business up to the present. He owns the store building and the stock of goods, which comprises all the articles usually kept in a first-class country store, and amounts to over $5,000. He also owns forty acres of land, besides several lots in the village of Elm Springs. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He, his wife and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.