Legend

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Her Tree Story, My Genealogy Blog
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My Genealogy Blog

Martha MCKAMIE STEELE - [BIO 005]

Article by William Edwards Baxter, Frankfort, Kentucky, November 9, 1904, submitted by Marjory Watts

"MRS. MARTHA MCKAMIE STEELE

The McKAMIE family or clan McKIMMEY was a power in the north of Scotland, and no inknown to heraldry. They were Presbyterians, consequently subjected to petty annoyances. It was a liberty-loving family, and not one to humble itself before any human power; especially were the branches that emmigrated to the north of Ireland, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. They loved an untrammeled, free and pure life, and were willing to sacrifice temprorary comfort and undergo hardships and dangers for its possession; and it was no mean wage when won, and bore with the accomplishment distinction and honor. In this connection we mention Richard STEELE, and his good wife, Marta McKAMIE STEELE, and their kindred, who came to the "dark and bloody ground" Kentucky, when it was an unbroken wilderness, teeming with many dangers and much promise.

The McKAMIES and STEELES were of well known and high families in the old and new worlds, born to comfort and cultivation, reading Latin and Greek with as much ease and please as we of today read our magazines; Living the ambition to be of learning and of lands, a credit to the country and an influence and aid to the people among whom they lived. The McKAMIES and STEELES were of those Scoth-Irish Presbyterians who first set forth the idea of independence for this country and helped to carry the belief into effect and to a triumphal culmination.

"More human, more divine that we -
In turth, half hum, half divine -
Is woman when good stars agree
To to temper with their beams benign
The hour of her nativity."

Surely all of the good stars were in accord and beamed on the nativity of Martha McKAMIE, for here whole life glowed with an effulgence and radiance to those who knew her in life, and has not been dimmed even to this day with those in whose memory she lives still with a good and strengthening influence. Who is it that can say good deeds ever die, or that a beautiful life, no matter how long severed with this world, ever loses its imprint for good made to follow generation after generation? She was as pure as light, and as beautiful as morning.

In her day she was know far and near for her goodness, beauty of form, face and character. Martha McKAMIE was the daughter of Robert and Martha BRECKINRIDGE McKAMIE. She was a neice of Rev. Francis McKAMIE, famous in Presbyterianism, and "of Revolutionary fame. He saw much service during the Revolutionary War, fighting during the week and the soldiers whenever it was to be done, and preaching to them on Sundays" (The passage in quotes had been crossed out with an explanation that it could not have been Francis, who died long before the Revolutionary War, could have been about Robert STEELE and Colonial Wars.) It was he who founded the school that is now known to the civilized world as "Princeton." There are several Presbyterian churches in the United States named for him, notabley on in New York City, called the "Framcis McKAIE Memorial Church." Her mother's name was BRECKEINRIDGE, related to the BREKINRIDGES of Maryland and Kentucky. From Martha Breckinridge down to to present generation there have been five Marthas in direct line of descent, viz: Martha BRECKINRIDGE, Martha (McKamie) STEELE, Martha BRECKINRIDGE (STEELE), Martha BRECKINRIDGE (STEELE) MENDENHALL, Martah (MENDENHALL) BAXTER, Martah Antoinette BAXTER.

Richard STEEL (who was grandson of Sir Richard STEELE, of Ireland) and his wife, Jane (McKEMIE) STEELE, married in 1745, emigrated to this country from Londonderry county, Ireland, landing on the eastern shore of Maryland. He had a land grant of 1,000 acres, by the crown, for military servies, which he located in the beautiful country near Mercersburg, PA. He and his wife raised there a family of eight children.

Richard STEELE, their oldest son, married Martha McKAMIE, the subject of this sketch, in 1769. A STEELE BIBLE, printed in Edinburg in 1735, by Alexander KINKAID, His Majesty's printer was brought over by Richard STEEL and is now in the possession of our oldest sister. Unfortunately, a page of record was torn out by children at play, but on the remaining page is a record of the births and marriages of the children of Richard and Martha McKAMIE STEELE.

The STEELES lived on their lands near Mercersburg until after the death of Richard STEELE.

Richard STEELE saw service during the Revolutionary War, as also did many of his and his wife's kinsmen, notably Genl. John STEELE, a member of Washington's family and field officer of the day at "Yorktown." The country was in need of brave and tried men on the frontier, and selected and offered men large land grants in the western counties of Virginia (Kentucky being then a county of Virginia) to go and protect her borders from the ravages of the Indians and British.

Richard STEELE was one of the above. From Boone, his people had heard of the beautiful Ohio river and the incomparable Kentucky country. He sumitted his plans to his wife, as he did all of his undertakings, and his good and brave wife answered and said she would go with him when and wherever his judgement led. The handful of brave souls was made up, consisting of the widowed mother - Jane STEELE, Richard STEELE and his wife, Martha McKAMIE STEELE; his sisters, Mary LYTLE and Jane HUESTON, and their husbands, and a number of other trusted ones. They travelled on flat-boats down the Ohio river, and were in constant danger. Three children had then been born to Martha McKAMIE STEELE and husband, the youngest at that time being Joseph, aged nine months. This was in the spring of the year 1780. They left good churches, schools, civilization. and good homes, and after a hazardous trip, landed on Corn Island at the falls of the Ohio. Here they were compelled to stay for a number of months on account of the Indians. The father of U.S. Senator John ROWAN, who was the head of the Kentucky bar when legal giants pleaded before her tribunal, was one of the company of pioneers. Corn Island afterwards became a part of the ROWAN estate. In time the pioneers moved over to the main land and build a stokade and fortress on Beargrass Creek (present site of Lousiville) and called it Spring Station, they being in reality the founders of Louisville. Each fall the Indians would come to Kentucky on annual hunting trips, and would cause much suffering and hardship to this little band of pioneers at Spring Station by their forages and attacks. One combined attack of extermination was planned by the Indians. A friendly Indian warned the pioneers. The children and women, among whom was Martha McKAMIE STEELE, were sent for safety to FLOYD's stockade, seven miles away. The fight began, as was anticipated, before daylight, and was continued during the day and into the night. The Indians were repulsed, but did not leave the vicinity immediately. During the fight and a sortie by the pioneers, their commander, Richard STEELE, was shot above the heart and in the left hand. Col. Wm. LYTLE, a brother-in-law, at midnight carried the news of the victory to the woman and children who were in anxiety waiting at "FLOYDS." Martha McKAMEY STEELE, hearing of her husband's terrible wounds and condition, could not and would not be persuaded of the almost certain death she would court by venturing to her husband's side and aid. She made them bring her a horse, mounted it with a nursing babe in her arms, and rode out into the night, in a wilderness, past the Indians, safely through the quickly opened and closed heavy gate at the stockade and nursed her husband to life and health.

It was this brave band of pioneers who helped to maintain the western line of defense during the Revolutionary War, and the organized resistance to the British with their Canadian and Indian allies along the Kentucky shore. "This," says Col J. Stoddard JOHNOSON, in his admirable address on the "Life of Gen. George Rogers Clark," proved and improtant factor in the struggle. Had this line been broken by these incursions as was that in Western Virginia in the early part of the French and Indian War, when the settlers were driven back to the Blue Ridge, Washington's eastern line would have been taken in the rear at a critical period of the the war. Kentucky would have been relegated to the wilderness state, and the struggle for independence might have had a different termination.

"When peace came to the Atlantic States by the treaty which closed the war, it was long only nominal in the West. Indian hositilities, encouraged from the British posts, continued there for more than ten years later, from which the Kentucky pioneers suffered, her soldiers proving also the chief defense for the Northwestern frontier until the treaty of peace at Greenville, Ohio, in 1795. This is a feature of the history of the West in its contribution to the struggle for independence and the preseration, as well as extension, of our national boundaries, for which due credit has never been awarded,"

James STEELE was born to Richard and Martha McKAMIE STEELE while on Corn Island and John Rowan STEELE was born to them while in the fort at Spring Station. Nancy LYTLE, daughter of Mary (STEELE) LYTEL, was a child about nine years of age during the stockade life at Spring Station. She married United States Senator John ROWAN, of "Federal Hill,", Bardstown, and she often told her children and our mother of the Indians and of her fort life. About the year 1784, Richard STEELE and family moved to their plantation near Lexington, for in March 1785, we find (Davidson's History), Richard Steele represente Mt. Ziuon Church (Lexington) at the first "gathered meeting" for conference, five Presbyterian churches being represented. He was one of the organizers of the Presbytery of Transylvania, at Danville, on March 17, 1786, "and a member of this august and honorable body, the first Presbtery of Kentucky." A few years later, Richard STEELE was appointed a delegate to the General Assembly, which met in New York in May. He consulted his wife, Martha, about the trip, and its hardships and dangers. She heard with silence and a strange respectfulness, the revelations of his plans, then answered that it was for, and in, a good cause, and that he would be blessed on his trip, and safely returned. She, by instinct or the grace of Heaven, had in early girlhood, given herself to God, and during a life of saintly purity had the convictions and good that come of faith. She was a woman of superior motives and heart, as shown by her loyalty to God, to her husband and to duty. In those days when most needed there were many brave and good women of the same spirit as Martha McKAMI STEELE; we can not show too much reverence for them. Much has been said and written of the goood wives and mothers who really were the moulders of greatness in times of emergency and need.

Richard STEELE was accompanied on this journey by Rev. Archivald CAMERON, and the trip to and from New York was on horseback, through wilderness, across streams, over mountains, the entire journey consuming about two months in time. The danger from Indians and ambuscade were many, and the hardships of the trip were innumerable. It was promised by the the "STEELE folks" to let the countryside know of the safe arrival home of Richard STEELE and the Rev. Archibald CAMERON, by a certain signal from the huge dinner horn used by the strong lunged negroe used to call the blacks from the fields for refreshment.

One day, in the latter part of June, the delegates" were espied by the one on watch, coming over a distant hill. Immediately the signal was given and taken up and reverberated by many horns from the different plantations for miles; then the inpouring of the good neighbors commenced and assemble to welcome the travlers home. The best cooks were commissioned, and the day and night turned into one of feasting and joy. In this journey of danger and hardship, the abnegation of Martha McKAMIE STEEL was the Christian faith of Richard STEELE and his good wife exemplifed. She gazed upon him on his return with eyes that beamed with love ineffable, and a a glow of pride which the gravity and well-bred poise could not disguise; but she was besides other things a good hostess. She and others were the women who enveloped this plain prosaic world of ours in an ideal atmosphere.

Six children were born to Richard and Martha STEELE while on their plantation, making in all eleven children, among them was our good grandmother, Martha BRECKINRIDGE STEELE (born June 23 1786) and of whom we hope to write later, her history being a part of the early Kentucky life. She married John MENDENHALL, M.D., surgeon in the War of 1812 on the 14th of February 1826, and from this marriage came our good mother, Mrs. Martha MENDENHALL BAXTER. Martha McKAMIE's Sister, Jane McKAMIE, married Alexander RENICK; another sister married Captain McAFEE.

The fitting forms of dusky savages at twilight did not always disturbe the dreams of Richard and Martha McKAMIE STEELE, but hopes sprang to meet the light of dawn, and the days that folowed were many days of peace and contentment, spent by them on their plantation in Fayette county, KY., surrounded by kindred and friends. Any descendant of these good souls, in Kentucky or on the frontier can safetly say, "My name is McKAMIE, and my foot is upon its native heath."

At Frankford, in the land office, can be found records of land grants to Richard STEEL for military services, located in the counties of Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Henry, Carroll, Owen, Gallatin, Boone, Woodford, Frankling, and notably the home plantion near Lexington, consisting of 1,000 acres. Other land grants to him by Virginia were located near Charleston, W. Virginia, and are on record in Richmond, Virginia.

Richard STEELE died at the age of sixty two, and was buried at Bethel church, near Lexington. His will was probated in the Fayette county court in May 1809. Martha McKAMIE STEEL after her husband's death, made her home with her oldest son, Adam STEELE (Shelbyville), who was the organizer and president of the first bank in Shelby county. Her husband and children had her constant love, unlimited save by the bounds of mortal tenderness. At the age of seventy-two her portrait was painted by JOLLETT, her face at that age scarcely showing the ravages of time, being placid and benign. She died at 8 o'clock on the morning of September 22, 1822 at the home of Adam STEELE. A daughter, Esther (STEELE) EDWARDS, died the same day and date, at 8 o.clock in the evening at the EDWARDS place, four miles east of Louisville, on the Ohio.

Martha McKAMIE STEEL was a good woman. "who with insight keen, had wrought a scheme of life, and measured well her womanhood; had spread before her feet a find philosphy to guide her steps; had won a faith to which her life was brought in strict adjustment - brain and heart meanwhile working in conscious harmony and rhythm with the great scheme of God's great universe, on toward her being's end."

Standing by the mount that has long covered her earthly mold, the words come unbidden -

"Gratefull for all her tender ministry
In life and death, I bring these leaves, entwined
With her own roses, dewy with my tears.
And lay them as a tribute of my love
Upon the grave the holds her sacred dust."

There was an Errata for this sketch of life of Martha McKAMIE Steel in January number of Kentucky Historical Register.

On page 70, 1st column, 1st line, Revolutionary should read Colonial and 3d line, Revolutionary War should read Colonial Wars. Same page and same column, the date relating to the marriage of Richard STEEL and Jane McKEMIE STEELE, should read 1835 inseatd of 1845. On page 71, 1st column, and in the 5th line, the date 1780 should read 1778, and after the word stockade in the 19th ine, morning should read evening, and September 22d should read September 18th; and same column 5th line evening should read morning. Signed by Wm. Edwards BAXTER."

As with any written record, this should be researched for authenticity and documentation. MW