Page 1

THE STEED FAMILY 

Contents 

The Steed Family; Stead Line in 

England &: Virginia- page 2 

Jesse Steed; John Steed (1791)- 3 

Robert Steed (1820)- 4 

William W Steed (1~5)- 5 

John N steed (1859)- 6 

Elmer Steed (1870); Leah Kunce; 

Boyer Line- 7 

James F Steed (1862); Ralph W 

Steed (1891)- 8 

Linnie Finch; Finch Line- 9 

Thomas Steed (1922); Line of 

Margaret &: Rex Brown- 10 

William W Steed (1825)- 11 & 12

Matilda Steed Pyle- 12 

Jesse R Steed (1797)- 13

Thomas J Steed (1805)- 14

Frances Aker; Mary Randolph- 15

Sources-  16

Page 2

THE STEED FAMILY 

The name Steed was of Anglo-Saxon origin and meant a place. It was sometimes spelled Stede and incorrectly Stead. The first Steed of whom we have record was John Steed of Suffolk Co, England, in 

1273. 

The Steed Line 

1. John Steed who lived at Harrietsham in Kent County, England, in 1460, may have been descended from John of Suffolk. 

2. William Steed. 

3. William Steed (d 1574) married Joan Pordage. He purchased the Manor of Steed Hill at Harietsham. 

4. Sir William Steed, Lord of the Manor of Steed Hill, married Cecelia Culpeppor in 1586. He was High Sheriff of Kent in 1614; he was knighted. 

5. William Steed married Hester Sandys in 1632. He inherited the manor upon the death of his elder brother, John, without male issue. His younger brother, Thomas, was the ancestor of' Merlin Steed of California. 

6. Sir Edwin Steed (1652-1693) married Cecelia Clark in 1671. They came to Barbados by 1679 where he was appointed Governor in 1682. He was knighted in 1693. 

7. Dutton Steed (d 1735) married Alice Culpepper; he lived at Steed Hill. 

8. Edwin Steed (b ca 1705) married Elizabeth Hami1ton & came to Virginia with his wife & son John in 1737. 

9. John Steed (b ca 1725) married Mary Randolph. He was a Captain in the Revolutionary Army; lived in Brunswick Co, Va . 

10. Jesse Steed (b ca 1749). 

Page 3

JESSE STEED 

Jesse Steed lived in what was then Shenandoah County, but is now the Fork district of Warren County, Virginia. He was probably the son of John & Mary (Randolph) Steed of Brunswick County, Virginia. He and his wife, Eva, were buried on their farm with plain slate stones as markers. 

Children 

(1) Henry, m Ruth Hash Sept 28, 1810

(2) John, b 1791, see below. 

(3) Jesse R, b 1797, see page 13·

(4) Thomas J, b 1805, see page 14.

(5) Supposed to have had daughters. 

JOHN STEED 

John Steed was born May 1, 1791, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, being stationed at Ft. McHenry when the “Star Spangled Banner" was written. He married Frances Aker September 6, 1816. In 1829 they moved to Warren County, Ohio, then to Jefferson township, Jay County, Indiana, in 1837. He died August 15,1872, & is buried at New Mt. Pleasant. 

Chi1dren 

(1) Robert, b 1820, see page 4~ 

(2) Thomas, b 1822, see page 10.

(3) William W, b 18, 25, see page 11.

(4) Matilda, b 1827, see page 12. 

Page 4

ROBERT STEED (1820) 

Jesse Robert Steed, farmer of Pike township, Jay County, Indiana., who owned 337 acres, was born May 29, 1820, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Shortly after moving to Jay County, his father went away on a bear hunt, leaving the boys at home. The next morning they noticed large tracks in the snow around the barn, so he and his brother William followed them into the woods, where Robert shot the bear. On February 29, 1844, he married Leah Kunce; he died December 4, 1898, and was buried with his wife at Liber. 

Children 

(1) William W, b 1842, see page 5- 

(2) Lucy Ann, b April 8, 1847; m Thomas Barr; children: Charles, John, William, Bert, Fred, & probably others. 

(3) Mary Ellen, b Sept 11, 1849; d Feb 21, 1853. 

(4) Francis, b Mar 26, 1852; m. Jacob Miller; d Sept 19, 1889; children: Emma, Jennie, Robert, Daniel & Samuel. 

(5) Matilda Jane, b Oct 23, 1854; m Rev Benj Sutton; d Feb 7, 18; children: Clara, Bert & Alf. 

(6) Rebecca, b July.6, 1857; m Calvin Finch; children: Char1es, Sarah, Elmer, Harry, Lee, Everett, Ernest & John. 

(7) John N, b 1852, see page 6. 

(8) James F, b 1862, see page 8. 

(9) Sarah Emmaline, b Aug 9, 1864; m Edward Ayers; children: Frank, Guy, Grace & Glen. 

(10) Ruth Alice, b Dec 10, 1866; m Elmer Warner; d Aug 24, 1902; children: Haskel, John, Duan & Carrol.

(11) Elmer, b 1870, see p 7. 

Page 5

WILLIAM W STEED (1845) 

William Wesley Steed, farmer of Pike township, Jay County, Indiana, was born October 10, 1845; married Mary Catherine Miller October 28, 1866; died February 3, 1928. 

Children 

(1) Elizabeth, b Aug 18, 1867, m Chas Ashley; d 1938. 

(2) Laverna, b Aug 20, 1869; m George Bush; d Oct 18, 1956. 

(3) Cyrus, b Feb 16, 1872; d 1886. 

(4) Joseph, b May 18, 1874; d April 14, 1947; sole. 

(5) Ella, b Feb 11, 1877; m David Garringer; d Apr 6, 1943. 

(6) William Robert, R 4 Portland Ind; b May 18, 1880; m Pearl Warren 1904; 4 children: Cha1mer (R 1 Yoder Ind; b Mar 10, 1905; m Marciel Brockway; 2 children: Janet Sue & Terry Richard), Agnes (b Oct 14, 1909), Harold (b Apr 20, 1912; d May 19, 1937; sole), Anna (b Oct 20, 1914; m James Stoker; a son Bobby C Stoker, b Jan 1, 1943 & d Jan 28, 1948). 

(7) James Noah, Gd Traverse Co. Mich; b Mar 13, 1883; m Alice Bye 1906; d April 2, 1951; 3 children: Herbert (Interlochen Mich; b 1911; m Lucille Guernsey; 3 children: Myrna, b 1934. d 1935, Fama, b 1935 , Herbert b 1938), Stanley (1319 Peninsula at Traverse City Mich; m Helen Newmarch; 3 children: Lee James, b 1938, Sal1ie, b 1939, Stanley b 1947), James William (R 1 Buckley Mich;' b 1923; m Agnes Zalud; 5 children: Roger, b 1942, Jesse, b 1944, Sandra b 1952, Mary Alice, b 1954, James b 1956).

(8) Ernest, b July 30, 1885; d 1887. 

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JOHN N STEED (1859)

John Newton Steed, farmer of Pike twp, Jay Co, Indiana, was born May 7, 1859; married Ellen Martin; died Aug 9, 1916. 

Children 

(1) Bertha, b Oct 16, 1882; d Aug 6, 1896; sole. 

(2) Adrian, R 1 Shepherd Mich; b Dec 14, 1883; m May Miller. 

(3) Pearl, b Aug 2, 1885; m Wm Stultz; d July 1923; no children. 

(4) Edna, b Jan 23, 1888; m Elmend Foltz; d 1935. 

(5) Jennie, b Nov 8, 1889; m Geo Rathburn; d Oct 5, 1929. 

(6) Razen R, Coral Mich; b April 16, 1891; m Adah Bye; children: John (b 1914, d 1950, 1 child: Dianne), Mary (b 1916, m Geo Baker), Louise (b 1918, m Roy Wiarda), Lois (b 1921, m John Wilson), Robert (780 Wells N.E. Grand Rapids Mich, b 1923; children: Carol, James, Mari1yn & John). 

(7) Albert, R 1 Portland Ind; b Dec 22, 1892; m Bathel Creamer; children: True (R.1 Portland Ind, b 1916, m Alice Smith, children: True Jr, b 1940 & Janice. b 1944 ), Leta (b 1918, m Leroy Hummel). Eathel d & Albert m Ora (Warnick) Losch; children: Lucille (b 1922, m Wm Reeves, d 1952), Leona (b 1928, m Chas Hale). 

(8) Charles, R 1 Shepherd Mich; b Feb 16, 1897; m Cora Garringer; children: Okla. (b 1920 m Basil Davis), Basil (Shepherd Mich, b 1922, m Donna Mullet, children: James, Daniel, Bernie), Marie (b 1928, m Emory Keilholtz), Janet (b 1930, m Jas Cline), Anna May (b 1932, m Murland Hammond), Ellen (b 1933, m Wm Heath). 

Page 7

ELMER STEED (1870) 

Robert Elmer Steed, farmer of Pike township, was born February 15, 1870; married Jane Creamer 1895; died September 16, 1940. 

Children 

(1) Ernest L, 620 E Arch St, Portland, Ind; b July 5, 1895; m Treva Lee 1919. 

(2) Hattie, b Jan 3 1897: m Ora Lawson; 1 child: Velma b Oct 9, 1917. Velma m Chester Sanders & has a. son, Gary, b Sept 20, 1951. 

LEA1I (KUNCE) STEED 

Leah Kunce, of Pennsylvania German descent, was born November 5, 1826, in Perry County, Ohio, & came to Indiana with her parents in 1838. She died July 19, 1897. Her father Jacob Kunce (b Jan 13, 1799; d Feb 18, Itl59), may have been the son of Thomas Kunce. Her mother was Mary Boyer. 

The Boyer Line 

1. John Boyer; b 1714 Germany, came to America, lived at Hagerstown, Md. 

2. Michael  Boyer, b 1747 Pa; m Margaret Clapper (b 1749 Germany); Captain in the German Continental Troops on the American side in the Revolution; d Aug 9, 1810. 

3. Henry Boyer, b Oct 14, 1772; m Elizabeth Wo1fe (dau Peter & Doroths.); moved. to Perry Co, Ohio, 1808; served in War of 1812; d Dec 29, 1863

4. Ann Mary Boyer, b Mar 12, 1798, m Jacob Kunce  Jan 30, 1823; d Jan 19, 1873. 

Page 8

JAMES F STEED (1862) 

James Finley Steed,  life-long farmer of Pike township, Jay County, Indiana, except from 1917 to 1919 when he and his family lived in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, was born November 10, 1862. He married Linna. Finch September 14, 1890; died. July 10, 1942, & was buried at Green Park. 

Children 

(1) Ralph, b 1891, see below. 

(2) Leah Margaret, violinist; b Dec 3, 1898; d Oct 5, 1929; sole. 

(3) Noel Allen, machinist, R 1, Portland Ina; b Feb 7, 1901. 

(4) Oliver Kenneth, tanner, R l Portland, Ind; b Oct 28~ 1903. 

(5) Ruth Edna, R 1, Portland, Ind; b. Apr 5, 1910. 

RALPH W STEED (1891) 

Ralph Waldo Steed, farmer, R 1, Buckley, Mich, was born July 10, 1891, in Jay Co, Ind. He went to Grand Traverse Co, Mich, in 1915. He married Bernice Barr Dec 12, 1917. In World War I he fought in four major battles in France & Germany, in one of which he was injured by poison gas.

Children 

(1) Ivan Eugene, R 1, Corydon, Ind; b Apr 2, 1920; m Dorothy Chipman Aug 28, 1942; 4 children: James Oliver, b July 23, 1945; d Dec 12, 1945; John Andrews b Sept 21, 1947; Stephen Virgil, b Oct 23, 1949; Dav1d William, b Mar 5, 1955& 

(2) Virgil Ralph, R 1, Buckley, Mich; b Oct 18, 1922 

Page 9

LINNIE (FINCH) STEED 

 

Loulinna Finch was born October 19, 1870 in Green township, Jay County, Indiana. Her father suffered greatly with ague (malaria) & so they moved to Coffey County, Kansas, in 1875 & later settled in Franklin County. They returned to Indiana in 1880 & her father ran a store at Collett. She married James F. Steed. 

The Finch Line 

1. John (?) Finch. Some of his greatgrandchildren claimed that he came from Scotland. 

2. Thomas Hamilton Finch, b Aug 4, 1784, NC; m Elitha Holoman Aug 15, 1806, Wake Co, NC; moved to Wayne County, Ind, 1829; d Nov 3, 1845. Elitha, b March 8, 1782; d Sept 25, 1861. 

3. Thomas Hamilton Finch, b Feb 14, 1816, Surry Co, NC; m Sarah Barnes Nov 6, 1837; went to Franklin Co, Kans, 1877; d June 30, 1901. Sarah, dau Adam & Rhoda (Lee) Barnes, b Feb 22, 1817, Warren Co, d Oct 23, 1885. 

4. Thomas Jefferson Finch, b Mar 19, l841, Henry Co, Ind; moved to Jay Co, Ind, 1861; m Margaret Allen Oct 29, 1869; d Nov 24, 1899. Margaret, deu Ebenezer & Margaret (Fruit) Allen, b Jan 5, 1852, d July 15, 1892. (Rebecca Steed m Thos J Finch's brother, Calvin). 

5. Linnie Finch (above). Her brother Oscar m Hazel Grimes &Adah Miller. Margaret Finch, dau Oscar & Hazel; b Nov 23, 1916; m Geo W Brown. 

THOMAS STEED (1822) 

John Thomas Steed, farmer of Jefferson township, Jay County, Indiana, was born Nov 20, 1822. He married Elitha Martin February 18, 1847; died June 25, 1878. 

Children 

(1) Caroline, b Nov 17, 1847; m Chas Payne 1869; d June 8, 1917. 

(2) Ma1inda Catherine, b Apr 23, 1849; m Emanuel Nixon 1874; d June 8, 1908. 

(3) Wi11is Albert, b Jan 22, 18S1; m Sarah Pyle 1874; d Oct 30, 1930; no inmation on children. 

(4) John Wesley, b Nov 1, 1853; d Jan 15, 1929; sole. 

(5) Mary Ann, b Nov 11, 1855; d July 25, 1937; sole. 

(6) Cinderella, b June 15, 1858; d Dec 20, 1859; sole. 

(7) George, b Nov 30, 1860; machinist; d Oct 8, 1932; sole. 

(8) Silas M, b July 6, 1864; machinist; d June 13, 1934; sole. 

(9) Seth Thomas, b May 21, 1870; d Mar 29, 1872; sole. 

Line of Margaret & Rex Brown 

1. Caroline Steed (above) m C Payne. 

2. Mary Ellen Payne, b Jan 3, 1874; m George D Brown 1902; d 1954. 

3. George Woodrow Brown, b Sept 17, 1915; m Luella Margaret Finch 1939. 

4. Margaret Ann Brown, b Oct 1, 1939, & Rex Brown, b Apr 21, 1941. 

Page 11

WILLIAM W STEED (1825)

William W Steed, farmer of Jefferson township, Jay County, Indiana, was born March 9, 1825; married 1st Phoebe Pyle; married 2nd Eliza Jane Heston 1856; died December 28, 1899. 

 Children of William & Phoebe 

(1) "Squire" John, b Oct 16 .1849; m Nancy Elizabeth Boyer Aug 11, 1810; children: Oliver, John W, Cora, Nettie B, Frank L (m Nellie Brenner), Lawrence Leo (R 5 Portland Ind, school supt, m Lulu Mills), Ralph (m Gladys Reedy), Nay (327 Blaine Pike Portland Ind), & probably others. 

(2) Calvin, b Jan 26, 1851; d sole.

(3) Elias H, b Feb 6, 1853; m Sarah J Hoppes Apr 25, 1882; children: Esther (b Jan 11, 1883, d Sept 14, 1884), Palmer (b Aug 19, 1885; d 1896), & an adopted dau Freda (m Percy Gleason). 

(4) Oliver H P, b Nov 6, 1854; m Eliza A Flesher Apr 20, 1876; children: Minnie, 011iver Harry (m Ino McBryant), Charles F, Dolly E (m Edward Hose), Clarence C, Glenny C, Zenobia S, & probably others. 

'* '* '* '* 

Gov. Edwin Steed is one of the characters in Sabatini's novel “Captain Blood”. His description there is not exactly flattering. 

Page 12

WILLIAM W STEED (Con’t ) 

Children of William & Eliza J 

(1) Lavina G, b Jan 11'; 1857; m Martin L Williams. 

(2) Homer H, b Nov 2 1860; m Phoebe Jane McDonald Nov 26, 1882; 9 children: Foster (d young), Guy (d young), Ruby (d young), Beverly (d young), E1tha (m Geo Mills), Belva {m Ross Bell), Chester (m Winidred Walters and had a son Philip deceased), Preva, Tyra (m Howard Jones). 

(3) Lewis N, b Sept 12, 1862; m Flora B Mann Nov 8, 1882 children: Nellie G (b 1884, Fred L, b 1886), probably others. 

(4) Matilda M, b May 23, 1864: m Elby Hall. 

(5) William Elmer, b Aug 25, 1868; m Della VanSkyock 1895; children: Dexter (m Leta Bechdolt 1917), probably others.

(6) Chester E, b Aug 16, 1872; d aged 5 yr.

(7) Maude, b July 3, 1878. 

MATILDA (S'I'EED) PYLE 

Matilda Steed was born Oct 1, 1827; m Cheyne Pyle Feb 16, 1851, d Mar 31, 1917; 14 children: Frances, George, John, Mary, Sarah (m William Steed), Levinia, Matilda, Emaline, James, Jasper, Monroe, Thomas, Jesse & Cheyne. 

Page 13

JESSE R STEED (1797)  

Jesse Robert Steed was born 1797 in Shenandoah County, Virginia; married Mary Elizabeth Craig (dau Thos) Mar. 18, 1822; moved to Randolph County, Indiana, about 1854; he married 2nd in 1872 Eva Kunce, but had no children by her; he died 1874. 

Children (not in order)

(1) Philip W, b April 12, 1833; m Anna Hindsley; children: James A (Feb 18, 1853)  Jesse R (res Deerfield Ind. b Feb 21, (1859), Mary E (b Nov 2, 1861, m Jellison). 

(2) Colonel Noah, res Deerfield; b Mar 4, 1842; m Minerva; d Nov 27, 1928; children: Elizabeth (Fields), Sarah (Burton), Mrs. Scott Whisler, Cornelius (1867-1895), probably several others. 

(3) John Thomas, res Pike twp; b 1835; m Nancy Henry; d Aug 8, 1817; children: 

William H (b Oct 1; 1861, m Sarah Miller), John Robert (m Mary Garringer, father of Bud Steed), Susan R (Winegardner), Seatta R (Ritenour) Emma (Sanders), Elizabeth (Whitaker), Newton (m Lola Juday), Reese (d young), probably others. 

(4) Jackson, res Geneva, m Sophia Ritenour. 

(5) Marcus N., m Leah Jane Stokes.

(6) Jesse, res Marion Ind. 

(7) Siatta, b Oct 1, 1841; m Jas Jellison, d July 4, 1913. 

(8) Mary Jane, b July 24, 1845; m Sherman Miller; d Feb 10, 1905.

(9) Elizabeth, sole. 

10) Sarah, m Burley Merchant.

(11) Eve, m Harvey Watson.

(12) Ellen, m Arthur Mitchell. 

(13) Carl Steed., Son of James A. (M) O. 

O. Dakin -Portland. 

Page 14

THOMAS J STEED (1805) 

Thomas Jefferson Steed of Fork district, Warren County, Virginia, was born February 13 1805; married Mary Supinger April 13, 1830; died January 9, 1893, and is buried in the same cemetery as his father, Jesse Steed. As a Major he served in the Confederate Army, as well as his sons, only 2 of whom survived the war" 

Children 

(1) Ceattia Summerville, b Nov 25, 1830.

(2) Shelton Alexandria, b Oct 28, 1831; shot Dec 1864 at Battle of Gordonville; died Jan 3, 1865.

(3) Roberta Rebecca, Apr 6, 1833.

(4) Mary Arthela, b June 6, 1834.

(5) Anngeline, b Oct 1, 1835.

(b) William Thomas, twin of Anngeline, b Oct 1, 1835; Co E 7th Va Calvary CSA; res Fork dist;

d Feb 17, 1893· 

(7) Franklin Stephon, b Sept 4, 1837; res Fork dist.

(8) Chaney Jefferson, b Oct 2, 1839; wounded Aug 29, 1862; d Oct 30, 1862. 

(9) Martha Almira, b Feb 4, 1841; m Dr Grimes; no children. 

(10) Charles Benton, b July 30, 1843; shot Feb 12, 1864, Goldsboro, N.C. 

(11) Zelda Arbela, b Aug. 24, 1845; m Chas Wm Funk; res Deerfield Ind; d Jan 20, 1921. 

(12) Allis Lutishia, b Aug 8, 1847.

(13) Ida Bell, b Dec 11, 1849.

Page 15

FRANCES (AKER) STEED                                                                                                                           

Frances Aker was born June 13, 1794, in Virginia. She was probably the daughter of John and Susanna (dressIer) Aker. She married John Steed; died Dec 13, 1876. 

John Aker 

John Aker was born-1769 in Virginia. 

On December 29, 1789, he married Susanna Dressler in Shenandoah County, Virginia. He had moved to Wythe County, Virginia, by l802. In 1816 he went to Washington County, Tennessee; in 1819 to Preble County, Ohio; and in 1837 to Randolph County, Ind1ana. He was a carpenter, cabinet, maker & wagon-maker by trade. He died in 1845. Susanna, the daughter of John Peter Dressler. died in 1840. Five of their children set settled in Randolph, County and four of them lived elsewhere. Two of them were probably Frances Steed & Isaac Aker of Jay County. 

John Peter Dressler 

John Peter Dressler was born in Germany and came to America about 1739. He settled in Allegheny County, Virginia about 1762.

 MARY (RANDOLPH) STEED 

Mary Randolph, daughter of Simon Randolph, of Brunswick· County, Virginia, was born about 1725 and married John Steed in 1746. They had children: Nathaniel, Jesse, Moses and Mark. Merlin Steed thinks this was; our Jesse Steed. 

Page 16

SOURCES 

This booklet was published by Ivan Corydon, Indiana, 1957. 

Chief Unpublished Sources 

Linna Finch Steed (Mrs Jas F), R 1, Portland, Ind.  As a result of the visit of Merlin Steed in 1908, she made a brief' record of the Steed family.

Ralph W. Steed, R I, Buckley, Mich. In 1921, he collected data from various relatives, including Wm W Steed (1845-1928).

Margaret Finch Brown (Mrs. Geo W),  R 8, Box 888, Jacksonville 7, Florida. See under Adah Finch. 

Adah Miller Finch (Mrs. Oscar T), R 2, Portland, Ind.  She & Margaret Brown collected considerable data from cemetery markers, Bible records, correspondence & interviews. They graciously permitted their material to be incorporated in this booklet. 

Amasa Werlin Steed, 1849 So. Bentley Ave., Los Angeles 25, Calif.  He and his wife, Alice, have done a tremendous amount of research on the Steed family. We are especially indebted to them for the ancestry of Jesse Steed. 

Many others contributed Bible records and other information. They are not mentioned because of lack of space. 

Books 

"Biographical & Historical Record of Jay & Blackford Counties, Indiana" by Lewis, 1887. 

“History of Jay County, Indiana”, by Jay, 1922.