Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 129

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 129

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planters of this state. He served during the entire period of the late war under General Lee's command as captain of company G, of the Fifteenth Mississippi regiment. At the close of the war he resumed planting, in which he was successful. He was first married to Eliza Catching, who bore him two children: Whitman, a resident of Copiah county, and Julia, wife of Dr. J. T. Alford, of Rockport, Miss. Our subject, the relict of Archibald Steele, was married to him in 1857, and to them were born eight children, six of whom are living: Mary, wife of Frank Catching, of Copiah county; James B., at home; Archella, wife of Dr. J. M. Catching, of Hazlehurst, Miss .; Abner P., at home; Oscar, at home; Bennajuh, who also lives at home. Mr. Steele was a member of the Masonic order, and was for a long time prior to his death identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomination his wife was also a devout member. The leading characteristics of Mr. Steele were industry, frugality and unswerving honesty. He was a model planter, indulgent husband and father, and as a citizen was widely known and respected.

Johan Otto Steen, father of Otto Steen of Enterprise, Clarke county, Miss., was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1797. He was the son of Johan Otto Steen, Sr., who died in 1842, at the great age of one hundred and three. The first mentioned was a great machinist and a polished artisan, who executed the finest styles of work in metals. The Danish government employed him in the manufacture of the finest naval instruments, compasses, lanterns, etc. He spent ten years in visiting the shops of the famous artisans of Europe, which went far toward his preparation for his life-work. He was married to Miss Jacobini Bless, in 1826. She also was a native of Copenhagen, born in 1809. Otto Steen, the eldest son of Johan Otto Steen, Jr., was born April 5, 1834, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He attended the schools of his native city, and at fourteen years of age was apprenticed to the trade of metalworking in a shop of which his father was superintendent and head workman. Here began that train- ing which was to develop in young Steen the finest powers as a mechanic in his chosen branch. It is not out of place here to remark that the Danish government requires all males to learn a trade. After four and one-half years of continuous service, Mr. Steen passed the required examination and was admitted to the grade of journeyman workman. Among the require- ments for promotion to this rank was the execution of a most artistic and difficult piece of work in hammered brass. This exquisite piece of work, which is now in the possession of Mr. Otto Steen, has been examined by the writer, and is certainly a testimonial of the mas- terly skill of the maker. After serving his apprenticeship and after his graduation from the Polytechnic institute, Mr. Steen visited Germany and Great Britain, and, in the autumn of 1852, came to the United States. Landing at New York, he immediately found employment on Pearl street. He spent two years in Greenwich street, later, and, in 1854, went to New Orleans, La. In March, 1854, he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and later returned to New Or- leans. Becoming interested in Mobile, Ala , he removed there in December, 1854. Here he was employed until 1857 in a steamboat shop, owned by Robert S. Kirk. He then went into the same business on his own account, which he continued until 1860. In that year he re- moved to Enterprise, Miss., where he continued the business of metalworking. On the out- break of hostilities in 1861, he was employed by the Confederate government, in whose service he continued during the entire war. Mr. Steen's wide reputation as a skilled machinist caused his services to be sought by the Mobile & Ohio, the Vicksburg & Memphis, and the Memphis & Charleston railway companies, and by others also. Simultaneously he was doing difficult and finished work for the Confederate government. The close of the war found Mr. Steen, like other Southerners, well nigh broken up; but with characteristic energy he set himself about the task of rebuilding his broken fortunes. His services had now be-

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come indispensable to the roads employing him, and he was continued in the employ of the Mobile & Ohio company, which connection existed till 1870. Mr. Steen has kept in connection with his shop a stock of merchandise hardware. His services are yet sought far and near when work of most intricate character is demanded. Mr. Steen was married in 1858 in Mobile, Ala., to Miss Alena Robertsen, born in 1836, a native of Marstral, Denmark, which is not far from Copen- hagen. They have had eight children: Emma, Otto, Laura, Mary, Clara, Lena, Minnie and James, of whom the first, third, sixth and seventh survive. Miss Laura married Mr. Tib- betts, a gentleman from Minnesota. In religious affiliations Mr. Steen and his wife are Lutherans, while their daughters are Presbyterians. Mr. Steen is financial reporter for the Knights of Honor, which position he has filled for the past five years. He is eminently a successful man, having never been embarrassed in business. He is one of the pillars of his town, and a citizen of whom his countrymen are justly proud.

Dr. W. J. Stegal, of Evergreen, Itawamba county, Miss., was born in this state in 1847, and is a prominent physician and planter. His parents were Stanley D. and Dollie A. (Thomas) Stegal, his father having been born in North Carolina and his mother in Alabama. Of a family of four children, Dr. Stegal was the only son. He attended medical lectures at Mobile, Ala., in the winter of 1872-3, and has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession ever since. He was married, November 9, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Armstrong, who was born in Mississippi, February 5, 1855. She is a daughter of Maj. J. M. Armstrong. To Dr. and Mrs. Stegal have been born five children: Carrie Janet, William T., deceased, James Stanley, Aunie L., deceased, and Frankie R. In 1864, Dr. Stegal enlisted in the company of Capt. F. M Armstrong, known as company C, of the Second Mississippi regiment. He served in the Confederate army until the close of the war, when he was paroled at Macon, but did not participate in any engagements. Politically, he is a democrat, and as a citizen he is public-spirited and helpful. He has a large practice, which extends over a large territory, and as a physician he has been unusually successful. He owns and operates a large planta- tion, raising considerable quantities of cotton and other products, and is regarded as one of the leading planters of this section. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

William L. Stephen is well worthy of being classed among the substantial residents of Jefferson county, Miss., for since near the close of the war he has been a leading merchant of Fayette. His parents, George and Barbara (Schneider) Stephen, were born in Germany, and a few years after their marriage immigrated to the United States, landing at New Orleans in 1832 with three small children. Unfortunately it was the year of the cholera siege at that place, and though they remained in New Orleans but about three weeks, they were called upon to morn the loss of one of their little ones. From New Orleans they went to Cincinnati, but after a residence of two years in that city they bought a farm in Warren county, Ohio, and on this farm the father breathed his last in 1845, he being at that time sixty-three years of age. He left a widow and seven children, three sons and four daughters. After his death his widow continued to reside on the farm, and with the assistance of her sons cultivated the land until 1854, when she sold out and moved with her family to Clarke county, Mo., where she remained about two years. At the end of that time she came to Fayette, Miss., and here the rest of her days were spent, her home being in the family of her son, William L. She was born May 14, 1796, and departed this life October 6, 1875. Lieut. William L. Stephen was born May 21, 1836, in Warren county, Ohio, and although his early opportunities for obtaining an education were somewhat limited, he made the most of the few months of country schooling that was afforded him each year. At the age of sixteen years, being ambitious of securing a better education, he obtained permission to work for

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wages on an adjoining farm in order to obtain sufficient means with which to enter the Maine- ville academy, a school of high order located in the eastern part of Warren county, and after completing his studies he went to Missouri and began working for his brother on a farm, remaining with him one year. At the end of this time, at the solicitation of his uncle, who was a merchant of Fayette, Miss., he came here for the purpose of assisting him in his grocery store, and to this work devoted his time and attention until the war cloud, which had so long hovered over the country, burst in all its fury, at which time he left the store to take up arms in defense of the Confederate cause, enlisting May 4, 1861. During the first year of the war he was fourth corporal of company D, Nineteenth Mississippi volunteer infantry, army of north Virginia, but the second year he was promoted to orderly sergeant, and while acting in this capacity was often called upon to command the company. The third year of the war he was made lieutenant, and discharged the duties of this position faithfully and well until the close of the war, participating in all of the battles fought by the army of north Virginia. He was the last officer commissioned for his company, and at the time of the surrender was with General Lee. He was neither wounded nor taken prisoner during his service. At the close of the war he returned to Fayette and once more engaged in the mer- cantile business, and so well did he succeed in this calling that he has followed it up to the present time. His stock of goods consists of an assortment of general merchandise, and as he disposes of his goods at reasonable rates, and is strictly honorable in all his transactions, he commands a large trade. In 1878 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Paul, daughter of F. C. Paul, a former citizen of Natchez, but now a resident of this county. Their union has been blessed in the birth of three sons and two daughters: Barbara, Frederick William, Adolph, Lewis W. and Isabelle. Mr. Stephen is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge of Fayette, and for three successive years officiated as worthy master. It is remarked by those who were members at the time he took his seat, that the lodge was in a very depressed con- dition, but that during his administration a new interest was awakened, many accessions were made, and the lodge brought into good working condition. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, of which order he is now treasurer, having filled all the offices within the gift of that organization. He at present holds the position of commander in the camp of Confederate Veterans lately organized at this place, called J. J. Whitney camp No. 10. He at all times manifests a deep interest in the advancement of education, and is treasurer of the board of trustees of the Fayette high school. He has at different times held the position of alderman of the city, besides other offices of trust. His family are members of the Presby- terian church, and his wife is a most devoted Christian and is highly respected and beloved by her acquaintances. She is a devoted mother, and is endeavoring to train her children in the ways of usefulness and right living. Mr. Stephen inherits many of the sterling qualities of his German ancestors, prominent among which may be mentioned faithfulness of purpose, honesty, industry and frugality.

Col. M. D. L. Stephens, the subject of this notice, was born in Williamson county, Tenn., November 9, 1829. His father, Dennis Stephens, the son of Thomas and Martha Stephens, was born at Fort Nash, now the city of Nashville, in May, 1796. Thomas Stephens was born near Lynchburg, Va., in 1760, and his grandfather took part-in what is known in history as the Bacon rebellion, in 1675, in which Bacon and his adherents were either killed or banished from the country by the British government. W. H. Stephens being one of the prominent actors in this rebellion, was banished and all of his property confiscated. He took his wife and went west, and settled on the James river, near where Lynchburg now stands, being obliged to raise his family amid the most adverse circumstances, in rugged wilds, amongst

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the Indians, without any schools or advantages for his family. From this family Thomas Stephens sprung, and the many families bearing this name and that of Stevens who have spread over the South and West. Georgia's great statesman, A. H. Stephens, belonged to this family. Thomas Stephens and Martha Davis were united in marriage near Knoxville, Tenn., in what was then the territory of North Carolina, in June, 1790. Soon after their marriage Thomas Stephens moved to Fort Nash, and at or near this fort Dennis Stephens was born. He was reared in Montgomery and Murray counties, with but little educational advantages. In 1822 he was united in marriage to Jane Hudson, the only daughter of John and Elizabeth Hudson. John Hudson was of Irish nativity, and his wife was Elizabeth Spratt, who was the daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Blythe) Spratt. Andrew Spratt was born in north Ireland and was educated for a Presbyterian minister, but when he had grad- uated he fled to America instead of embarking in the ministry. He settled at Charlotte, N. C., where he established a school in 1760. In a short time he was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Blythe, who had a brother, Dr. Blythe, who was a surgeon in the Continental army. Andrew Spratt left his family, to serve some years in the army. At the close of the war he found himself very poor, with a large family to support. Dr. Blythe was the owner of a large tract of land in what is now Tennessee, which he gave his sister, and there this family set- tled. Sixteen children of this family lived to be grown. John Hudson and his wife came out to Tennessee with Mr. Spratt, and settled here in 1800. A postoffice was soon estab- lished in this settlement, named Bethesda.

The eldest daughter of Dennis and Jane Stephens was Susan T. J., born in 1825; the next child was a daughter, Martha E. N., born in 1827; Marcus D. LaFayette, the subject of this notice, was born in 1829, and Melissa A. E. was born in 1832. Dennis Stephens left Tennessee with his family and moved to what was then called the Chickasaw Nation, and set- tled in Marshall county, Miss., near Tallaloosa, in January, 1838. Sarah married W. H. Daniel, February 14, 1844, and became the mother of three daughters, Dora, Scott and Fannie, and three sons, Duruyter, William L. and Robert Lee. Mrs. Daniel died in 1871. The children are now residents of Nevada and California. Martha married Berry O. Best in 1847, and became the mother of five daughters and three sons. All are now residing in Tallahatchie county, Miss., being all married except one. Melissa married Jerard Burch in December, 1852. They have two daughters and one son, and all are married. R. L. Burch married Cora Weathers; Nora married R. J. Thompson; Ella married Newton Matthews. Mrs. Best and Mr. Burch are both living. LaFayette, the subject of this notice, the only son, engaged with his father in working a small farm on Pigeon Roost creek, in Marshall county, until he was seventeen years old, working on the farm, and going to school through a few months of the year. His parents were in straitened circumstances and had hard work to keep the daughters in school, but LaFayette was enabled to get a fairly good Eng- lish education. He began teaching school in the neighborhood and afterward taught in Tippah and Panola counties, in Mississippi, for the purpose of making money with which to complete his education. In 1851 he took up the study of medicine in connection with teach- ing, and in 1853-4 he attended lectures at Louisville, Ky. His preceptor was Dr. R. M. Glover, of Tallaloosa, Marshall county. Having completed his education, he located at Ban- ner, in Calhoun county, and entered into a large and lucrative practice. He remained at Banner until 1858, when he removed to Sarepta, in the same county, some eight miles east of Banner, and continued the practice of his profession in partnership with Dr. J. M. Lyles until 1860, when he was nominated on the union co-operation ticket for a seat in the state convention which had been called by Gov. J. J. Petters to consider the question of the seces-

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sion of the state of Mississippi. He voted against the ordinance of secession in all of its various forms presented to the people of the convention, but on its final passage he recorded his vote for it with these remarks: "I was elected to this convention on what is known as the co-operation ticket, and every vote I have cast since this ordinance has been before the convention has been cast in good faith to carry out the pledges made to my people. The question now having narrowed down to secession or submission, and as between the two I am for secession, I cast my vote for the ordinance, feeling at the same time that a different course should have been pursued; but I am a Mississippian to the core-the bones of my ancestors sleep upon its hills-and all I am and have, and ever expect to be, are within her borders; and whatever my destiny may be, I am with her heart and soul."

Immediately after the state had seceded he wrote home to his partner, Dr. Lyles, that war was imminent and that they must organize to resist, and directed him to enroll his name on the muster roll of a company then organizing by Dr. Lyles. Upon his return home he found the company organized, and on the 7th day of April, 1861, he mustered into the state service under General Lowrey, of Pontotoc. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Stephens was engaged in a Incrative practice and stood at the head of his profession. February 14, 1856, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Duff, the daughter of James Madison and Jane (Hullam) Duff, who were married in South Carolina in 1837 and settled near Sarepta. The result of this union was the birth of two daughters and two sons: Mary Jane Duff, the eldest, was born March 29, 1839; William Duff, the eldest son, joined Captain Wheeler's company of mounted men, attached to Col. Robert Pinson's First Mississippi cavalry, and was killed at the battle of Island No. 10, holding the rank of first lieutenant at the time; Mittie N. married A. McDonald, and died in 1872, leaving no children; James F. Duff joined the same regiment that his brother did and served as a private until the close of the war, taking part in all the engagements in which the regiment participated. He married Miss Mary Scott Mayes, the eldest child of W. D. and Mary Jane Mayes. He is now living in Water Valley, Miss. The Magnolia guards, the company into which Mr. Stephens enlisted, was called into active service May 29, 1861, and ordered to Corinth, Miss. Here this company was attached to the Seventeenth regiment of Mississippi volunteers, with W. S. Featherston as colonel, John M. Guirk, lieutenant-colonel, and John M. Lyles, major. Captain Lyles having been promoted, W. L. Duff was elected captain of the Magnolia guards, now company K. Mr. Stephens was tendered the position of assistant surgeon, but declined, preferring to remain with the company as second lieutenant. The regiment was ordered to Manassas Junction, Va., June 9, 1861. The regiment was attached to General Jones' brigade, which was composed of the Fourth and Fifth South Carolina regiments and the Seventeenth Missis- sippi regiment. July 17 Lieutenant Stephens was sent with a detachment from the Seven- teenth regiment to guard Conrad's ford, on Bull Run, and he reported the enemy advancing in force, and that evening he was joined by the entire brigade of General Jones, General Longstreet guarding Mitchell's ford. On the morning of the 18th the enemy advanced on Longstreet and a sharp engagement ensued, when the enemy was repulsed and withdrew. On the morning of the 21st the heavy boom of artillery announced the attack of the enemy on the left, near the stone bridge, or above. In the afternoon the regiment advanced in the direction of Centerville, and was confronted by twelve pieces of artillery. The enemy sent shot and shell upon the regiment so heavy that they fell back in a deep ravine and there sent forward skirmishers to keep posted on the movements of the enemy, when they found that the enemy had fallen back. The regiment was then ordered back to position on Bull Run, and spent the night in bivouac. This was the first battle of Manassas, or Bull Run, as it is called.

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Lieutenant Stephens' regiment was then ordered to Leesburg, Va., to report to Gen. G. Evans. Joining that brigade, they went to Levettsville on the Potomac, near Harper's Ferry. captured and sacked the town and returned to Leesburg. Here they remained in camp a few days, when the company was ordered to the Potomac to do picket duty. Captain Duff camped the company at Big Springs, near the residence of Mr. Bell. From here the regiment went back twelve miles to Grouse creek, near Aldic, where they were soon ordered to the brigade, consisting of the Eighth Virginia regiment of volunteers, Colonel Hunton; the Thirteenth Mississippi, Colonel Barkdale; the Seventeenth Mississippi, Colonel Featherston; the Eight- eenth Mississippi, Col. E. R. Burt, and the Richmond hunters, with four pieces of artillery. When the brigade returned to Leesburg Captain Duff and his company were ordered back to the Big Spring, and pickets placed on the Potomac river. The evening of October 20 General Evans visited this company and told them to be on the lookout, as the enemy was making some movement, and if they crossed the river to fight them. Lieutenant Stephens asked him what was to be done if they came in overwhelming numbers. General Evans replied, "Fight them if they come twenty thousand strong." In the morning the company was notified that the enemy had crossed the river at Ball's bluff. They hastily organized, there being only forty-eight men, the rest being on picket duty. They moved rapidly in the direction of the firing and met a detachment of the Fifteenth Massachusetts regiment on the crest of Ball's bluff, with five hundred men. A sharp encounter ensued, and the enemy was driven back. The company was relieved by the appearance of two companies from the Eighteenth and Thirteenth Mississippi regiments, and with their aid succeeded in driving the enemy back to Ball's bluff. This was a complete victory for the company, as they had not a man killed or taken prisoner. and they were outnumbered by the enemy. After this engagement the regiment went into winter quarters near Leesburg. In the battle of Leesburg or Ball's bluff Lieutenant Stephens also participated. Early in February, 1862, Lieutenant Stephens was granted a leave of absence and ordered to report to Col. J. A. Orr in Mississippi. He did so, and raised com- pany D in his, the Thirty-first Mississippi regiment, and at the organization, after several weeks, was elected lieutenant-colonel. The regiment was ordered to Corinth, soon after the battle of Shiloh, and was placed in a brigade in General Breckinridge's division, going then to Vicksburg to join General Pendleton. This was in June, and they remained there during the bombardment, until the last of July, going thence to Baton Rouge, La., where they participated in the battle at that place. Thence they went to Grand Junction, pressing the enemy back, and then returned to Davis' mill. General Breckinridge then left the regi- ment, and with his division went to join Bragg's army in north Georgia.

Under Van Dorn, the regiment then went to Holly Springs, and remained until after the battle of Corinth, when they went to Coffeeville, where a sharp engagement ensued, which resulted somewhat disastrously, and the regiment retreated to Grenada, Miss. Here they remained inactive until the spring of 1863. Van Dorn in the meantime took the caval- ry and attacked the enemy at Holly Springs, which induced Grant to retreat to Memphis. In July, 1863, the regiment was ordered to Jackson, Mississippi, where they remained for a short time, going thence to Snyder's bluff, on the Yazoo river, and from there went up Deer creek to meet a detachment of the enemy coming through Black Bayou and Deer creek to Vicksburg, where the enemy met a defeat and was driven back to Black Bayou. The regi- ment then went to Grenada, Miss., and from there to Edwards depot, near Big Black river. They met the enemy at Baker's creek, where they were defeated, and the army fell back to Vicksburg. Loring's division, of which Lieutenant-Colonel Stephens' regiment was a part, retreated to Jackson, where they were joined by General Johnston, and

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 129

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314