Harvey Steele grew to be known as an old timer of Gentry County Missouri, but his story begins in Virginia. Harvey was born Nov 1, 1827 in Wythe County Virginia, the son of Reuben Steele (born 1797) and Clarissa Louise Peery (b. 1808) . Clarissa and Reuben were married on the 24th of March 1825 in Tazewell County, VA. Harvey’s father, Reuben, was the son of Robert Steele and Rebecca Oury. Harvey’s mother, Clarissa, was the daughter of John Peery Jr. and Deborah Kidd. Both of Harvey’s grandfathers (John Peery Jr. and Robert Steele) were Revolutionary War Patriots, serving as Virginia militiamen.
By 1860 both of this Steele-Peery family (as well as several relatives) had left Virginia and were living in Lawrence County, Kentucky, per 1860 census.
In August of 1864 Harvey Steele married Mary Ann Crabtree in Lawrence County, Kentucky. They had the following children:
- Ida Steele (6 Jul 1866 – 22 Nov 1929)
- Olive “Ollie” Evelyn Steele (1 Jul 1867 – 7 Mar 1950)
- Hiram Venoah “Noah” Steele (1870-1948)
- Mary Ella Navada Steele (25 Feb 1874 – 31 May 1902)
This young family continued their westward migration, and by 1866 they were living in Missouri, as indicated by the birthplace of their daughter Ida. On July 18, 1870 they were enumerated in Howard Township, Gentry County, Missouri, as part of the US Federal Census (see record below).
According to the census record above, Harvey Steele was 43 years old, worked as a farm hand, he owned $125 worth of real estate and $200 of personal estate (property). Both he and his wife, Mary, were born in Virginia; and their daughters Ida, 4, and Ollie, 2, were both born in Missouri. Harvey had many Steele and Peery extended family members who also settled in and around Gentry County, Missouri.
Harvey’s wife, Mary Ann Crabtree Steele, passed away in 1899. Twenty eight year later, Harvey also passed away, and the two of them were buried side-by-side, with a shared headstone, at Shepherd Cemetery, in Albany, Gentry County, Missouri. Harvey’s obituary below provides additional insight into the life of this Gentry County old timer.
