Benjamin Franklin Steele

7. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN3 STEELE (JOHN JEHU PYLE2, THOMAS1)31 was born March 15, 1846 in near Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, and died August 19, 1932 in Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas. He married (1) MARY M. "MISSIE" CROSS September 19, 1869 in Ouachita County, Arkansas, daughter of HENRY C. CROSS. She was born 1846 in between Chidester and Bluff City, Ouachita County, Arkansas, and died June 22, 1880 in Arkansas. He married (2) LUCINDA "LOU" ANN DAVIS32 December 15, 1880 in Missouri Township, Nevada County, Arkansas33, daughter of JOHN DAVIS and MARGARET MILLER. She was born May 27, 1848 in Tippah County, Mississippi, and died March 15, 1928 in Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas.

Notes for BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEELE:
From: Goodspeed Biography and History Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, Pages 586-587.
Benjamin F. Steele, an extensive farmer in Missouri Township, and one of the most extensive in the country, was born near Oxford, Miss., March 15, 1846, a son of J. P. and Christiana (Bargar) Steele, natives of North Carolina. (Benjamin) spent his school days in Ouachita, Columbia and Hempstead Counties. In September, 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Monroe's regiment of cavalry, an served until the close of the war, participating in a great many battles, the principle ones being Pine Bluff, Poison Springs and Mark's Mill. In 1865 on account of the exposure he had undergone, he was taken ill, and left with a relative until the close of the war. In the meantime his regiment surrendered. He then joined his family who had refugeed to Texas, but in 1865 returned to Ouachita County, Ark. The same year he worked on the farm, went to school in 1866, and soon commenced to farm for himself, though being destitute of means. He came to this county (then Hempstead), in 1872, and purchased 160 acres of land, and has since sold this and purchased other lands near by amounting to 420 acres, 250 acres being in an excellent state of cultivation. His success in life is due solely to his own efforts, he having been diligent in business, using industry and economy - the sure road to success and happiness. September 19, 1869, Miss Mary M. Cross, daughter of Henry C. Cross, became his wife, and June 22, 1880, she died, leaving him five children. She was born in Ouachita County, in 1846. Their children are: Emma S., Lissie C., John P., Josie J. and Mary D., all at home. In 1880 Miss Lou A., daughter of J. D. and Nancy Davis, of this county, a native of Mississippi, born in 1848, became his wife. By this later marriage he is the father of seven children, six of whom survive, viz.: Ruth, Bessie F., Leola and Viola (twins), Andrew N. and a baby daughter. Both Mr. and Mrs. Steele are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as was the first Mrs. Steele. Mr. Steele Joined the church in 1868, and since that he has taken a very active interest in church work, serving in an official capacity most of the time. He is a member of the Alliance, and in politics is Independent, voting most of the time with the Prohibition Party.

WESTERN UNION
Received at 204 Pine St., National Bldg., Pine Bluff, Ark. Telephone 2498
LR 111 9 PRESCOTT ARK 840P AUG 19 1932
C J REED
RTE 6 BOX 375 PINEBLUFF ARK
FATHER DIED TODAY FIVE THIRTY PM FUNERAL TOMORROW AFTERNOON
MRS J H BRYSON

More About BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEELE:
Burial: August 20, 1932, Moscow Methodist Church Cemetery, near Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas
Education: Educated in Ouachita, Columbia, and Hempstead Counties.
Military service: Civil War, September 1862 until end of war, CSA, Co. D, 10 Arkansas Cavalry
Political Party: Independent (voted most of the time with the Prohibition party)
Religion: Methodist Episcopal Church, South (joined 1868)

Notes for MARY M. "MISSIE" CROSS:
Mary was born in Ouachita County, Arkansas between Chidester and Bluff City.

More About MARY M. "MISSIE" CROSS:
Burial: Moscow Methodist Church Cemetery, near Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas
Religion: Methodist Episcopal Church, South

Pg 8