Joseph Trimble Steele

Death of Mr. J. T. Steele.

Mr. J. T. Steele is dead!

His death occurred at his residence on the corner of Jackson and Residence streets at half past four o'clock Thursday afternoon.

The news of the death of this good man and prominent citizen spread rapidly throughout the city, and was received everywhere with expressions of sorrow. Soon after it had become known that he was dead, neighbors and friends commenced to call at the house, and there was an almost constant stream of visitors to the bereaved family until a late hour last night.

His death was not wholly unexpected. He had been in a low state of heath for several months, and he had been confined to his room for two weeks or more. His death was due to organic heart trouble, and his condition had been at times alarming to his family since the latter part of last year. He, too, had realized the gravity of his own case, and had lost all hope of ever being a well man again for some time before the final summons came. Absent members of the family had been summoned, and the members of the immediate family were all present when he died. His death was calm and peaceful. He was a true Christian and was not afraid to die.

Of such a man as the subject of this notice it would be easy to say many things that would be consoling to those who mourn for him. He was a man of character and scrupulous integrity, and none knew him but to respect him.

Joseph Trimble Steele was a native of Virginia, and was born in Alleghany county August 26, 1829. He was, therefore, in the sixty-seventh year of his age at the time of his death. In 1854 he married Miss Lucretia A. Wilson, who survives him. While still a young man he removed to Georgia, and a few years after the War Between the States he entered the service of the Atlantic and Gulf railroad, now a part of the Plant System. He was a business man who could be relied on, and when the railroad was extended from Thomasville to Albany he filled the responsible position of terminal agent, moving with the progress of the road and acting as agent at different points until Albany was reached. Here he continued as the road's agent until about ten years ago, when he resigned and oponed a furniture store, in which business he continued and was successful up to the time of his death.

In the death of Mr. Steele Albany loses one of her best men and most useful citizens. He will also be greatly missed in his church. He had been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church for many years, and was the senior ruling elder of the Presbyterian church of Albany at the time of his death.

His wife and three children—Mr. H. H. Steele, of Americus, Mrs. Samuel Weldon, of this city, and Mrs. W. R. McIntosh, of Waycross—survive him.

The funeral will take place from the Presbyterian church at 4 o'clock this afternoon. The following named gentlemen are requested to act as pall bearers: H. M. McIntosh, Wm. Lockett, B. F. Brimberry, David Comfort, C. W. Arnold, B. F. Manning.

Albany Weekly Herald, Albany, Georgia, 11 April 1896, page 3, column 6.

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