Hampton Steele Speech, 1923

From an article appearing in the August 27, 1923 edition of the Mexia Daily News in Mexia, Texas:

Hampton Steele was the older brother of my great great grandfather, Francis Marion "Frank" Steele.

Hampton Steele Organizes Native Sons of Texas

Portal to Texas History

An excerpt from a speech delivered on Steele Day at Joe Johnston Camp by Hampton Steele as it appeared in the August 27, 1923 edition of the Mexia Daily News in Mexia, Texas:

"Myself, the oldest son of the last survivor of the battle of San Jacinto and his grandson and his great grandson have procured a charter from the State of Texas to organize the Native Sons of Texas in a grand organization in memory of Fannin's men who were slaughtered on the plains of Goliad! and, in memory of Sam Houston and his brave army who gained our independence on the plains of San Jacinto! and in memory of our father whose blood was spilt on San Jacinto's plains for the liberties of Texas! in memory of the old pioneers and the little boys and girls who went to the front and drove the Indians back for civilization to follow."

"That's what we want to organize the Native Sons of Texas for. To perpetuate those memories to hand it down to future generations.  Our plan that we have laid out for the future when we get funds enough is to buy a piece of land somewhere in the State and make a park and we will call it Steele Park and home and we will dedicate it to the Native Sons of Texas for all time to come."

Mary Ann "Polly" Powell (1823-1903)

Mary Ann "Polly" Powell was born in McNairy County, Tennessee on January 2, 1823 to the marriage of Archibald G. Powell and Telitha Berryman.

She was a sister to Mahala, Missouri Ann and Francis Marion Powell.















Per the 2012 Mexia Proclamation, Mary Ann and family came by covered wagon to Texas with their cousins the Berryman and the Parker families in 1833.

Partial Transcription:

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Powell and family along with the Daniel Parker family endured hardships and dangers as part of the first settlers in Grimes County, which later became part of Montgomery County, in the fight for Texas settlement and freedom, she endured chaos and loss from the massacre of family members at Fort Parker and as part of the Runaway Scrape from the approaching Mexican Army; thereafter she resettled in Montgomery County.

On September 28, 1838, Mary Ann "Polly" Powell married Alfonso Parcutt Steele in Montgomery County, Texas.

Alfonso and Mary Ann

The following children were born to this marriage:

Hampton, 1839-1928
Alonzo Leo, 1841-1936
Alvarado "Rado", 1843-1934
Francis Marion "Frank", 1847-1883
Leonard, 1851-1938
Mary Ann "Molly", 1854-1940
Missouri Alice, 1860-1938

Mary Ann "Polly" Powell Steele passed from this life on May 9, 1903.  She is buried alongside her husband in the Mexia City Cemetery in Mexia, Limestone County, Texas.  Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member and descendant, Catherine.

Mary Ann "Polly" Steele was my great-great-great grandmother through her son,Francis Marion "Frank" Steele; grandson, Isham Alfonso Steele; great granddaughter, Mary Allye Steele Edmonds; and great-great grandson,Bruce Alfonso Edmonds.