Freestone County, Texas
Biographies 



Biography of Robert E. Steele
(1 Oct 1840-17 Aug 1920, buried Mexia City Cemetery in Mexia, TX.)

A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, 
  Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893; pages 531-532

   R. E. Steele, one of the conspicuous figures in either public or private life
in Freestone county, is an old timer in point of residence, his advent dating
from 1854. He was born in Greene county, Alabama, and came to Texas at the age
of fourteen years. His father, A. A. Steele was a farmer by occupation, and in 
one sense a public man. He died quite early in life, as did also his wife nee
Mary Bingham, leaving our subject to the protection of an uncle. The parents had
the following children: Samuel and Elihu, deceased; and R. E., our subject.
   R. E. Steele grew to manhood on a farm. The Civil war came on just as he 
attained his majority, and his services were required by his country. He enlisted
in the Seventh Texas Infantry, under Colonel Gregg and later Colonel Granberry,
in the Tennessee Army.  After the capture of the command at Fort Donelson by the
Federals.  Mr. Steele was sent to prison at Chicago, and was released after an
incarceration of five months by an exchange at Vicksburg. Rejoining the army at
that city, he participated in its maneuvers about the city and Jackson until 
ordered to Port Hudson, Louisiana. After an engagement with Farragut, he returned
to Jackson and fought the battle of Raymond, skirmished about Jackson ten days,
fell back to Enterprise, and then ordered to reinforce Bragg at Chickamauga.  Mr.
Steele fought in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Ringgold Gap, and then went 
into winter quarters at Dalton.  Their next movement was the campaign about 
Atlanta, ending with the battle of Franklin, where Mr. Steele was again captured,
and this time taken to Johnson's Island, where he remained until the close of
hostilities, a period of several long, hungry months. He then located on a tract
of 800 acres of unimproved land, the greater part of which he now owns. He 
cultivates 350 acres, and is one of the leading farmers in the county.
   In 1882 our subject was elected Representative of Freestone county, performing
the duties of that office in the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Legislatures
of Texas. He was chairman of the committee on State affairs two sessions; was a 
member of the committee on agriculture, public roads, bridges, revenue, privileges,
and elections and internal improvements; was a member of the committee to consider
the railroad commission question, favored the common-school land and fence-cutting
questions, and was one of a special committee to examine the law with respect to
receiving the new State capitol building. He was elected to the State Senate 
from the Twelfth Senatorial district in November, 1892, and is now a member of
that body.
   In 1865 Mr. Steele married Miss Josephine, a daughter of Josephus and Catherine
Williams. The parents were early settlers of this State from North Carolina. Our
subject and wife have had five children, viz: Ella, wife of W[alter] B[erry] 
Banner [sic, Bonner] of Wortham, Texas; Ellis, deceased; Zuma; Robert and 
Josephine.  Mr. Steele is an Elder in the old-school Presbyterian Church.