Two Francis Marion Steele's served in the 29th Virginia Infantry. Family tradition says that this F.M. was wounded in action at Drewry's Bluff, VA.

Biography:

Francis Marion(1831-1924) and Nancy Jane Sykes(1844-3/21/1821) Steele

Alexander Columbus(4/29/1872-1951) m. Josephine Gent( )
Levi A.(8/18/1874-11/30/1940)
Isaac Bostic(6/4/1876-1953) m. Nan Williams( )
Mary Catherine(8/18/1878-2/29/1957) m. James Vincent Campbell(10/22/1867-7/13/1944) 4/4/1895
Charley Ramon(9/10/1880-1948) m. Nell Lynch( )
Anna Eliza(6/2/1882-1952) m. Charles William( )
Mathilda Bertha(4/4/1885-1939) m. Joe Fields( )


Francis Marion was the son of George and Elizabeth Steele who both died before 1840. Francis Marion was living with his grandparents, Richard and Eleanor (Marlow) Steele, until 1840 when they both died. At the time of his grandparents death Francis Marion and his brother Calvin, as well as their two sisters Elizabeth and Ann Eliza were all underage and chose various uncles as their official guardians. Francis Marion and Calvin chose their eldest uncle, Harvey, to live with. Later on, Francis Marion's first marriage was to Harvey's daughter Mary Jane. His second wife was Sarah M. Griffin, who bore him one child. Francis Marion's third wife was Nancy Jane Sykes. By this time, circa 1870, Francis had removed to Russell County. Francis Marion was active during the Civil War serving in the 29th Virginia Infantry, a unit made up of Russell and Tazewell County men. He enlisted April 4, 1862 in Tazewell. He was present for several months and also home sick for several months, he remained enlisted through 1864. The 29th Virginia Infantry, unlike another Russell County unit, the 16th Cavalry, saw little actual fighting although it did participate in the second battle at Drewry's Bluff in 1864. Drewry's Bluff was a coastal fort on the west side of the James River, a few miles below Richmond. It was used by the Confederate Army as a training location for Marines. Francis Marion died on February 17, 1925, several pictures from his funeral still survive. Many of his children were in attendance, from two of his three wives. He was buried on a hillside near his home, adjacent to two, older, unidentified graves. Later their son, Levi, was buried with them. The inscriptions on Francis and Nancy Jane's gravestone read as follows:

Francis M Steele                Nancy J Steele
Sept 15, 1821                   Mar 25, 1847
February 17, 1925               Mar 21, 1921
The pains of death are past     Mother thou art now at home
Labors & sorrows cease          Many angels fair above
and life's long warfare         But get below thy child roam
closed at last                  til summon'd by his love
His soul is found in peace