UPDATED 4/28/2020 | ORIGINAL 04/05/2010
DAVID SAMUEL STEADMAN (20 Feb 1862 – 20 Dec 1932) was born in Pennington, Bradley County, Arkansas the son of Ancel Green Steadman and Margaret J Waters.
David Samuel Steadman
During his early years, census records indicate that David lived with his family in Warren County, Arkansas. At age 17, David was noted as living in Bradley County in a boarding house while attending school.
As a young adult, David took work as a logger at a logging camp in Bradley County. It was while working at the logging camp that David met Lenora Weir, one of the young women working as a cook at the camp. David and Lenora’s relationship resulted in their only child together, Esther Weir (Stedman), born out of wedlock on 18 Mar 1883.
Once it was discovered that Lenora was with child, Lenora left the logging camp and moved to Gifford, Hot Springs County, Arkansas where, at age 28, she gave birth to their daughter. To the best of our knowledge, Lenora remained in Gifford, estranged from David after Esther’s birth. Lenora died four years after Esther’s birth from cause(s) unknown.
After Lenora’s death, responsibility for Esther’s care fell back to David who initially arranged for his father, Ancel, and mother, Margaret, to look after her. Later, David made formal arrangements for Esther’s guardianship, initially granting responsibility for Esther’s care to a Mr. J.H. Adams. Esther’s guardianship was later transferred by court order to David, who in turn, made an agreement with Samuel and Zilpha Owen to provide foster care for Esther thereafter.
David married Panolia Hill on 7 Dec 1893 in Bradley County, Arkansas. David and Panolia had 11 children of record:
- Eleanor Panolia Steadman (1895 – 1987)
- Maggie E Steadman (1896 – Unknown)
- Irven Hill Steadman (1900 – 1900)
- Robert Steadman (1901 – 1956)
- David Monroe Steadman (1903 – 1944)
- Winfred Spence Steadman (1905 – Unknown)
- Hill Caruth Steadman (1907 – Unknown)
- Thelma Moss Steadman (1909 – 1958)
- Doris Inez Steadman (1912 – 1983)
- Alabama Lorene Steadman (1915 – 1961)
- Infant Daughter Steadman (1917 – 1917)
David died at his home in Bradley County and was buried in the Adams-Singer Cemetery in Bradley County, Arkansas.
An excerpt of his obituary follows:
Obituary
The Eagle Democrat, Warren, Arkansas, Thursday, Dec. 29, 1932
David S. Stedman
David Samuel Stedman, aged 70, died at his home 10 miles south of Warren last Wednesday morning at 12:45 o’clock from heart trouble. He was born February 20, 1862 three miles north of Warren and in 1869 moved with his parents to the farm 10 miles south of Warren. He married Miss Panolia Hill on December 7, 1893.
Mr. Stedman is survived by his wife and five daughters, Mrs. G.B. St. John of Hermitage, Mrs. Sell Forrest of Sumpter, and Mrs. W.M. Measles, Mrs. Jimmie Hargraves and Miss Bama Stedman of Warren; four sons: Robert Stedman, Monroe Stedman, Winfred Stedman and Carruth Stedman of Warren; one brother I.M. Stedman of Warren.
Funeral services were conducted last Thursday morning at 11 o’clock at Adams cemetery, five miles south of Warren by Rev. Bruce C. Boney, Presbyterian pastor here.
David Samuel Steadman Gravestone
This page has the following sub pages.
George Samuel Reid Family Roots 
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