Robert E. Steele

Full Name: Robert E. "Honest Bob" Steele
Date of birth: October 1, 1840
Date of death: August 15, 1920

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Counties in District
S	12	Jan 10, 1893 - Jan 12, 1897	23rd ⁽²⁾ 24th ⁽¹⁾	Democrat	Cotton Gin / Freestone	Brazos, Freestone, Limestone, Robertson
H	59	Jan 11, 1887 - Jan 8, 1889	20th ⁽³⁾	Democrat	Cotton Gin / Freestone	Freestone
H	59	Jan 13, 1885 - Jan 11, 1887	19th	Democrat	Cotton Gin / Freestone	Freestone
H	59	Jan 9, 1883 - Jan 13, 1885	18th ⁽⁴⁾	Democrat	Cotton Gin / Freestone	Freestone

(1) 24th Legislature - Roll of holdover Senators, 1/8/1895, p. 1. Senate Journal.
(2) 23rd Legislature - All 31 Senators are listed in Roll Call on First Day, 1/10/1893, p. 1; resolution by Sen. Cranford that the Senators shall now be divided by lot into two classes, 1/11/1893, p. 5; drew term of 4 years. Senate Journal. January 10, 1893 January 11, 1893
(3) Roster of senators and representatives of the 20th Legislature with their postoffice address, Austin Weekly Statesman, "Governmental," 12/30/1886, p. 6. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(4) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Eighteenth Legislature of Texas, 1883.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 12
Jan 10, 1893 - Jan 12, 1897
Legislatures: 23rd ⁽²⁾ 24th ⁽¹⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Cotton Gin / Freestone
Counties in district: Brazos, Freestone, Limestone, Robertson

House District 59
Jan 11, 1887 - Jan 8, 1889
Legislatures: 20th ⁽³⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Cotton Gin / Freestone
Counties in district: Freestone

House District 59
Jan 13, 1885 - Jan 11, 1887
Legislatures: 19th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Cotton Gin / Freestone
Counties in district: Freestone

House District 59
Jan 9, 1883 - Jan 13, 1885
Legislatures: 18th ⁽⁴⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Cotton Gin / Freestone
Counties in district: Freestone

Biographical Information top

Biographical Sketches

Biographical sketch, "Lawmakers of Texas: Something about Men Who Left Records at Austin: Cranford, Bowser, Simpson, Atlee, Imboden, Steele, Greer and Douglass. Their Personal and Political Points," 8/27/1893, p. 13. Galveston Daily News.
Biographical sketch, R.E. Steele, p. 49. Born 1840 in Alabama. Personnel of the Texas State Government for 1885, 19th Legislature, 1885.
Biographical sketch, R.E. Steele, pp. 180-181. Born 1840 in Alabama. Personnel of the Texas State Government with Sketches of Distinguished Texans, 20th Legislature, 1887.
Biographical sketch, R.E. Steele. Lewis Publishing Company. Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas, 1893, pp. 531-532, crediting Palestine Public Library. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
Biographical sketch, p. 263. Born 1841 in Alabama. Texas Legislative Manual, 1882-83, 1883.

Military Service Notes

Confederate States Army, 7th Texas Infantry and Tennessee Army. Lewis Publishing Company. Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas, 1893, pp. 531-532, crediting Palestine Public Library. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
Confederate States Army, Company G, 7th Texas Infantry Regiment. Robert S. Steele, birth date 10/1/1840, death date 8/17/1920. Elected to 18th, 19th, & 20th legislatures, 1883-1885, elected to state Senate in 1892, from 12th district. Burial-Mexia. "Freestone Freemen." Freestone County, TXGenWeb Project.

Other Resources

Robert E. Steele, birth date 10/1/1840, death date 8/15/1920, burial in Mexia City Cemetery, Mexia, Limestone County. Find a Grave.
Obituary, Robert E. Steele, The Mexia Weekly Herald, 8/20/1920, p. 7, crediting Gibbs Memorial Library. "Familiarly called 'Honest Bob' . . . known in all his public and private dealings as 'Honest Bob Steele.'" Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
"Many are here for Mrs. Steele's burial," Mexia Weekly Herald, 2/17/1930. Josephine (Williams) Steele was married 30 Nov 1865 in Freestone County to Robert E. Steele. USGenWeb Project, 1996.

Photographs

Photograph. R.E. Steele, 24th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. R.E. Steele, 23rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. R.E. Steele, 19th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. R.E. Steel, 18th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

23rd session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber gallery, west wall. 3E.5). State Preservation Board.
24th session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber gallery, west wall. 3E.5). State Preservation Board.
18th session composite photo of House members (House chamber vestibule, east wall. 2W.V1). State Preservation Board.
19th session composite photo of House members (House chamber vestibule, west wall. 2W.V1). State Preservation Board.
20th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, north wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

24th R.S. - 1895 Agricultural Affairs Claims and Accounts Constitutional Amendments Contingent Expenses Education Finance General Land Office Internal Improvements Judiciary No. 2 Penitentiaries Public Debts, Claims and Accounts Roads and Bridges (Chair) Treasurer's and Comptroller's Departments
23rd R.S. - 1893 Agricultural Affairs (Chair) Claims and Accounts Contingent Expenses (Chair) Education Finance Internal Improvements Labor Penitentiaries Private Land Claims Rules
20th R.S. - 1887 Capitol Dedication Arrangements Comptroller's Office, Examine Internal Improvement New Capitol, Governor's Message Privileges and Elections Revenue and Taxation State Affairs (Chair)
19th R.S. - 1885 Agricultural Internal Improvement Public Roads, Bridges and Ferries State Affairs (Chair)
18th R.S. - 1883 Agricultural Affairs Public Roads, Bridges and Ferries State Affairs Texas Siftings Publication, Select

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