The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-03-29
REv. ROBERT sTEELE PAssEs AWAY
Great Leader Ofhis Race Lays Down
his LabOrs and Enters Upon lis
Reward.

Rev. Robert Steele, colored, died at
his late home on Monticello avenue
at $3.50 o'clock, Saturday night, March
q, 1901, after four weeks illness Of
lagrippe and burns received by falling
from his chair against the CRATE. Im-
presslye funeral services were held at
the Water street u. b. church at 2
O'Clock Monday afternoon and inter.
ment was made In the Elk View
cemetery. The church was crowded
to its utmost capacity with relatives
and friends to pay their last respects
to him, whom they loved and respected.
Eloquent eulogies were pronounced
by RevS. j. H. Watson, Z, u.
Peters, j. L. Howard, j. E. Morris,
and ], T. Moten, OF Baltimore. Rev,
]. H, Watson preached the funeral
sermon from the text, mark the per-
sect man, and behold the upright; for
the end OF that man Is peace The
life of the deceased In all Its greatness
and goodness was reviewed by the
minister, and truly, as Rev. Watson
said, the text applied TO Rev. Steele
In its fullest meaning.
Floral tributes were profuse, rich
and beautiful, the comm being
literally buried beneath sweetest
flowers sent by various organizations
of the church.
Rev. Robert Steele was born IL
slavery September "a, 1880, in Lextng
ton, Va, and was ln the 7Ist year Of
his age. He was reared in the With
row family in Lexington, and given
the trade OF tanner, which trade he
followed successfully for years, before
entering the ministry and also a few :
years afterwards as a means toward
self support. While in slavery he
passed to the ownership Of General
Stonewall Jackson, and, IL Is related
of him that he frequently conducted
prayer meetings and other religious
exercises in the famous Confederate
generals household and In all proba-
bility taught that brave general to
pray.
After gaining his freedom he came
to Clarksburg. About 10 years ago he
married Mrs. Francis Bowyer, a.
widow with three children. He ever
proveda faithful, loving husband and
a kind, Indulgent father.
The deceased entered the ministry
about the year 1867, Clarksburg being
his first charge, but also continued to
work at his trade as tanner 10 the
old Stealey tannery.
Besides serving as a stationed pas
tor at Washington, D. c.; Baltimore,
Md; Winchester, Lynchburg, and
Staunton, va; Huntington, Clarks.
burg, FaIrmonL and Grafton, w. Va,
he held the position six years OF
presiding elder of the Wheeling Dis
trlct OF the Washington NJ. E. Con-
ference. He was the founder and
builder OF the Water Street ME-.
church, the oldest c0lored church in
the city. His power and influence as
a minister OF the Gospel and as an
honorable, upright citizen were great
not only with his own race but among
white people as we'll Though not
college bred, he was eloquent Of
speech and cultured In mind. He
possessed an intellect almost super
human, liberal on all subjects and
practical beyond degree. Asa pulpit
orator he had no superior. AS
leader OF his race he was unexcelled.
A truly great man! He was Iaborlng
in the service Of his Master when
stricken down by Illness, and sent in
his last report from his charge, Graf
ton and Fairmont, to the Washington
Annual Conference ut Wheeling two
days before his soul took its flight to
the Great Beyond. In memory Of him
the conference hastened its delibera-
lions and adjourned on Sunday, the
only time In 20 years, because Of his
death.
All that love and duty could do was
done for the venerable man, by rela-
lives and frlends--both white and
colored. But God saw tit to move him
from labor to reward
so--