Samuel Steadman

STEADMAN, PRATT, ROLLINS, SCALES, GARDNER, STONE, ROBBINS, POTTER, HUTCHINSON, TILLOTSON, WHITMAN

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 2/3/2008 at 02:04:09

History of Fredericksburg and Vicinity, by Dr. Pitts

"By the fireside they sat and retold the story of bygone days, and their hearts were glad."
____________________________________________

Samuel Steadman was born in the state of Maine, May 1, 1821, town of Foxcroft. He was the son of John and Patience Steadman. His father was a mill right. Samuel, while young man, worked out by the month, spending several seasons rafting on the Penobscot river. December 11, 1843, he was married to Betsy Jane Pratt, by whom he became the father of 11 children, four dying early in life. Ella L., Lucius D., Charles R., Edwin and Wilson are known to our people. Ella married Melville Rollins, and now lives in Dresden Township. Lucius married Lily Scales, he died at Nashua. Charles married Ida Gardner and now lives in Dresden Township. Edwin is in the northwest somewhere. Wilson married Lizzie Stone and lives that Alpha, Iowa.

Samuel Steadman came to Iowa the fall of 1854, locating in McKee Township, Allamakee County. His first wife died in 1864, and their daughter Augusta, died in 1866. His second marriage was to Alinda P. Robbins, May 1, 1865, by whom he had seven children: Elbert W., who is married and lives in Howard County; John A. is single and lives in Fredericksburg; Julia A. who is the wife of Rufus Potter; Walter C., who married Laura Hutchinson and lives in Dresden Township; Arthur F. who married Alfa Tillotson; George C., who married Laura Whitman; Clarence who is single, and Frank, who lives in Minnesota.

Mr. Steadman located in this Township, April 23, 1869, upon section 22, where he lived for four years in a board shanty. He built a comfortable home in 1873, and set out an orchard from which he took a 75 bushels of apples the season of 1884, mostly of the Duchess and Wealthy varieties. He took the first premium on apples at the county fair in 1882. Mr. Steadman and his wife joined the Baptist Church at Fredericksburg, March 3, 1878. He was a man of great probity. He died September 25, 1890.

~about the author of this biography:
W.S. Pitts, MD was a physician and surgeon in Fredericksburg from 1865 until he retired & moved to Wright county in October 1906. Dr. Pitts was well-known around the United States for writing the song and music: "The Little Brown Church in the Vale". Dr. Pitts died in Brooklyn on September 25, 1918 at the age of 88. His reminiscent biographies of Fredericksburg (Chickasaw county) area settlers were published in various issues of the 'Fredericksburg News' throughout 1906.