My Genealogy Hound

Capt. William T. Stepp, an enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Spring Creek Township, was born in Clark County, Ill., in 1841, and is the son of Samuel and Parthena (Smith) Stepp, who were born near Lexington, Ky. They were married in Clark County. Ill., and here they both died, the father when William T. was two years of age, and the mother when he was seven years old. The mother was married three times, her first husband being Mr. Sheapley, and her last husband a Mr. Porter. Mr. Stepp was a farmer by occupation, and the only child born to his union was William T. Stepp, who, after the death of his parents, lived with his half-brother until twelve years of age. He then began as a cabin boy, cook, etc., on the Mississippi, and there continued for two years. He then learned the plasterer’s trade at Terre Haute, Ind., which he followed there until the breaking out of the war. He then enlisted in Company H, Thirteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Union Army, serving one year as a private, one year as a corporal, and about one year as duty sergeant. In December, 1864, he was made captain of Company E, of the same regiment, which he commanded until September, 1865. He was discharged at Goldsborough, N. C., after over four and a half years of service. He was in the fight at Rich Mountain, Winchester, Malvern Hill, Petersburg and vicinity, was at Charleston, Morris Island, etc., his regiment being in twenty-two regular engagements. He was also at Cold Harbor, and Forts Darling and Fisher. He was wounded in the left arm at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, and this has left him a cripple for life, but he was only off duty about sixty days, when he was commissioned captain. He made his home at Terre Haute, Ind., until 1867, when he came to Dent County, and taught school that winter. The next year he and Perry Barricklow, an army comrade, founded the Salem Monitor, which our subject was connected with for about eighteen months. In the meantime, in 1868, he was elected collector and sheriff of Dent County, and re-elected in 1870, holding the office four years with credit. In 1869 he married Miss Mary J. James, daughter of Stephen C. and Keziah James, formerly of Tennessee, but early settlers of Wayne County, Mo. They came to Dent County about 1846 or 1847, where Mrs. Stepp was born, and here the father died in November, 1869, and the mother in January, 1870. To Mr. Stepp and wife were born four children, one son and three daughters. In 1873 Mr. Stepp was made business manager of a stock company which founded the Western Success at Salem, which he controlled until after the campaign of 1876, and in 1877-78 he was deputy collector of internal revenue for the Second (now the First) District of Missouri. In 1879 Mr. Stepp was appointed gauger for the same district, holding the position until change of administration in 1885. Since then he has devoted his time and attention to farming. Mr. Stepp has lived on his present farm, which consists of 327 acres, 110 under cultivation, since 1878, and has made a success of farming. He is politically a Republican, and his first presidential vote was for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Salem Lodge No. 118, is a member of the G. A. R, and also a member of the Agricultural Wheel.