The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-03-20
PEN PICTURE OF THE
PEA RIDGE VOLUNTEERS.
Continued from page u.


The story of his success at the Bar
is told by the "In Memoriam" in other
columns of this paper. 1t can only
be said here that no one who knew
him ever failed to find something to
admire in his life and character.
To what he called the "bull dog in
him." Capt. F. M. Farr gives this
testimony. "Maj. Steedman had more
real "grit" than any man have ever
known. | was associated with him
in some very complicated business
matters. 1t was always his custom
to carefully study a subject and de-
eide what was right-that done no
power could move him. Once reck-
less fellow got mad at him, rushed
into his office and aiming a pistol at
him cried, "I am going to shoot you"
Looking up without the culver of a
muscle, the Major said cody. "Shoot,
Pm not one bit afraid The hand
that held the pistol lost its nerve be-
fore the calm, quiet countenance and
fell to the holders side. One of the
most comforting and beautiful things
in the life record of this perfect gen.
tleman, brave man, and gallant SOL
On Jan. 81, 1868 the Record of the
states that "Mr. James B. Steedman
on examination was received as a
member Of this church. Rev. Henry
M. Dickson, moderator of the session.
Elders VIM. Perry and C.Gagebeing
present" Because of his weakness
Major Stedman could not attend the
communion services and Rev. Wm.
Dickson, with the elders mentioned,
held n service for him at the residence
of DR.. Dogan. Abram,, the carriage
driver, slave around the Dogan fam
lily, earnestly begged to be allowed
to take the communion with the Mai.
This request was granted and he sat
beside the cot on which the Major
was lying and received the elements
as they were passed from the Majors
hand.
On March 10. 1881, his wife, Mrs.
Carrie Dogan Steedman, died and was
buried in the Dogan plat at the evil
lage cemetery, close beside the little
daughter, Sue, who had died in 1865
at the age of a years.
The only remaining child, Miss Ad-
die Steedman, developed into a young
woman of fine character and charp.-
ing personality. In 1882 she was mar
ried to Capt. Thos. Thorpe. of Vir-
ginia, and in 1883 Major Steedman
spent some time with her and her
husband and they made trip by
carriage to Luray Springs, revisiting
much of the country through which
he had marched and fought in the
GG's. Early in 1884 he was married
t" Miss Susie Harrington of Virginia
and in December of that year Mrs.
Steedman went to spend the Christ
mas holidays in Brooklyn. N. Y, with
he parents who were visiting there
She contracted pneumonia and died
during the holidays. Maj. Stcedman
vas with her during her illness and
after her death returned to Union by
way of steamer to Charleston. IN
some way he contracted q severe cold
and when he reached Union was very
i'll. Pneumonia set in, the old wound
became inflamed and very soon his
condition was serious. It was not
the day of trained nurses and friends
watched by his bedside. S. M. Rice
was reading law in his office at the
time, and the Major asked for his
constant presence with him during
the day, having him act as an aman-
uensis and take down business notes
at his dictation. The night watches
were kept by special friends of the
sufferer, Judge Townsend, VIM. A..
Nicholson. David Johnson and Rev. B.
G. Clifford taking turns in this loving
service. One night when DR.. Clifford
sat beside the Major was wakeful and
in the midnight said. "You are my
pastor and I want to tell YOU that I
should be plad to die. but if the Lord
wishes me live, bow in submission to
His will" The last week of his life
Judge Townsend did not leave him
and when the summons came to him
in the early watch of the morning
1885 his sister leaned over him and
WHISPERED. "Ruhber the Everlasting
arms are underneath" With a peace
full smile upon his pallid lips he muir
INJURED "The Everlasting-arms-a
underneath" and those arms enfolded
his weary spirit and bore it into the
presence of the Father and his God.
The day before Major Steedman
was called to his rest. a little son
was born to his daughter, Addie, and
they gave the babv boy the name
James Steedman. The mother died