Eugene Charles Steele & His In-Laws
The Greenwade Family
PART 1
You might wonder why I've started this posting with an image of the Kentucky flag.
Well, dear relatives, we do have a small tie-in with this blue-grass state!
If I had to choose what my very favorite ancestor's name was, it would be this one:
Myrtle May Greenwade
It was such a pretty name that once belonged to a lady from Camargo Kentucky. Myrtle was married to Eugene Charles Steele~ great grandma Nell's older brother.
Eugene was the first born son to Eugene (senior) and Mary Ann Steele. He was 16 years old when he lost his mother Mary Ann in 1893. Unable to find a census moving from 1893 to five years later, I can only assume that Eugene perhaps continued his education and/or assisted in taking care of the younger siblings.
But in 1898, Eugene landed his first job as a bottler for one of the three main bottle companies that existed in San Francisco.
For those not familiar with the term ~ A bottler is someone who mixes drink ingredients and fills up cans and bottles with the drink. The bottler then distributes the final product to the wholesale sellers in a geographic area.
Below are two pictures of the work a bottler would be doing. These are not of Eugene Charles Steele.
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The following year of 1899 would bring two new changes to Eugene’s life. First, Eugene was promoted to what they then called a “Chauffeur” position meaning the delivery truck/wagon driver for the company as shown in the above right photo. Secondly and more importantly, Eugene would meet his future wife~ a beautiful young woman named Myrtle May Greenwade.
Born on July 20th, 1879, Myrtle was the daughter and only child of of Henry Robert Clinton and Cleopatria (Shouse) Greenwade.
~ The Greenwade
Family History ~
Before continuing on with Eugene and Myrtle's story, I'd like to share with you some of the Greenwade family history I learned. The Greenwade (or sometimes known as Greenwood) surname is quite popular and there are literally thousands upon thousands of families who share it. Ancestry.com estimates that there are over 14,000 records for Greenwade, including birth, marriage, death, military, immigration records, and census/voter lists.
The most well known individual with the Greenwade name would be Thomas E Greenwade- an American Baseball scout. According to Wikipedia:
After a brief minor league career as a pitcher and manager, Thomas Greenwade scouted for the St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1941 and 1964. He is best known for discovering players such as Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard, and for his role in Jackie Robinson's ascent to break baseball's color barrier.
You may well ask why I am including more than just our direct ties to the family?! Well, not only were the stories of the Greeenwade family interesting to read, but I found out there were relations who participated in both the revolutionary and civil wars! Feel free to scroll down to the end if you must, but I think you will enjoy reading it!
The first generation of Greenwades born in England is where we shall start. Thomas Greenwade (born in May 1756) came from an area called, Dalton in Furness, Lancashire, England. Thomas arrived in America in 1775, settling in Allegany, Maryland. Seven years later in 1782, he would marry a woman by the name of Lydia Ann Long (born Jan 10, 1762 in Leonardtown, Saint Marys, Maryland).
Five children were born into their family.
It is with their third child and second born son, Samuel Jackson where our Greenwade linage continues. Samuel would be Myrtle's great great Grandfather.
Below is the only known existing photo of Samuel. I have included both the original and a revised enhanced version.
During the early 1800's, Samuel left Maryland and made his way to Kentucky, settling in the town of Bourbon~ the very birth place of Kentucky Whiskey/Bourbon!
In 1812, Samuel would meet his future wife Emma "Annie" Leanna Thomas. Below is the only known picture of her.
Emma, later known as Anna/Annie, was born in Loudoun County, Virginia in/about 1791. She was one of 15 children in the family of *Moses E. Thomas (a Revolutionary War Soldier) born 1749 in Prince William Virginia and Elizabeth Remey Whaley born December 12, 1755 in Bourbon County Kentucky
*According to one family tree of Moses, this Revolutionary War Soldier's history was as follows:
On July 16, 1863 Moses was in the Confederate 1st KY Cavalry., Co. B. An arrest warrant submitted by Patrick Henry on March 20 1780 lead to Moses eventual capture at Mount Sterling, Montgomery Co., KY. Below is a copy of the actual warrant!
Moses appeared on the rolls of Camp Morton, Indianapolis, IN, Aug 10, 1863. On Aug 18, 1863, he was sent from Camp Morton to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Cook Co. Illinois. He arrived at Camp Douglas on Aug 22, 1863, but died two months later in October. MORE ON MOSES IN A FUTURE BLOG POSTING
Samuel Jackson and his wife Annie had a total of 12 children! There were also others who worked on his farm and within his home. An 1850 U.S. Federal Census titled "Slave Schedules" indicates 15 enslaved people. This was 11 years before the Civil War began and 13 years before the The Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln went into effect.
CHILDREN OF SAMUEL AND ANNIE
Three of these names are ones you don't often hear such as~Evaline, Drucilla and Algin! The 11th child Henry Robert Clinton Sr is the next branch of the Greenwade family as it relates to us.
Henry Robert Clinton Greenwade Senior was born on October 5, 1829, in Montgomery, Kentucky. In 1848, he married Emily Amanda Wills.
Emily Amanda Wills was born on September 9, 1831, in Menifee, Kentucky. She was one of fourteen children in the family of James and, Aleatha (Anderson) Wills. Below are their photos.
JAMES
ALEATHA
James Wills was born on February 15, 1801, in Winchester, Kentucky. On December 2, 1819, James married Aleatha (Born April 10, 1803). Recent findings have indicated that James was the son of a revolutionary hero William Wills a farmer in Brazoria County, Texas.
What does this mean? Well, as it turns out, William Wills, was one of the (many) defenders who died in the battle of the Alamo! History books taught us that this particular battle (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event within the military engagement of the Texas Revolution. During the Texas Revolution, the Battle of the Alamo saw a 13-day siege of the Alamo fort by Mexican forces. The end resulted in a decisive victory for Mexican forces, who overran the fort and killed nearly all of the Texan defenders.
James and Althea raised a large family of fourteen children! Among them was a boy they named Nimrod! While a rather an unusual name, it is of Akkadian and Hebrew origin. This name translates to “rebel” and can be traced back to one of the kings of the Hebrew Bible.
CHILDREN OF HENRY AND EMILY GREENWADE
The 7th child Henry Robert Clinton Jr is the next branch of the Greenwade family as it relates to us.
Henry Robert Clinton Greenwade (Jr) was born on March 16, 1860, in Montgomery, Kentucky. At age 18 he married Cleopatria Shouse.
Born on December 1, 1860, in Montgomery, Kentucky, Cleopatria was one of eight children in the Shouse Family. Her father, William James was born on September 11 1831. Her mother Sciota Brown was born on March 18, 1831
Unlike the previous generations with large families. Cleopatria and Henry only had one child, a daughter they named Myrtle May born on July 20 1879. Below is an early picture of Myrtle May.
Sadly, Myrtle's mother Cleopatria passed away on November 26, 1891. She was only 30 years old and may have died in childbirth.
After his wife's passing Henry made the decision to move to California for better opportunities and a fresh start.
A census from the fall of 1891 shows Myrtle (now age 12) and her father living in the town of Watsonville. Located five miles inland from the shore of the Monterey Bay-this city has a rich history, dating back to its Indigenous roots with the Ohlone Nation. It is famous for its strong agricultural industry, particularly its production of strawberries, cauliflower, broccoli, and other crops. Below is an early photo of the town.
How Eugene and Myrtle first met is unknown, but the announcement of marriage would soon be posted in the October 18th issue of the San Francisco Examiner in the year 1899.
Below, a family group photo taken shortly after their marriage. Eugene is on the left, Myrtle in the middle with her father on the right.
Eugene and Myrtle first took up residence at a property located on 46 Erie St in San Francisco. Also living with them was her father Henry and Eugene's younger brother James Alexander.
In 1900, the couple, along with Henry and James relocated again to a bigger home, located at 20 Camp Street. Exciting changes would soon come to the new Steele/Greenwade family. Myrtle was pregnant with her child and her father Henry would find true love again.
