The Texas in the Civil War Message Board

"Cap'n" Steele or Steel

As a child in the late 1930s--early 1940s, a well-known figure on the streets of Port Arthur was a "Cap'n" Steele--a tall, dignified and bearded old gentleman, always (even on the hottest summer days) dressed in a black suit, white shirt and tie with a tall, black stetson hat. To a kid he was a most awesome and imposing figure. He was supposedly among the last of the WBTS veterans in PA and was variously said to have been a Texas cavalryman, a Ranger and and/or a captain of a blockade runner operating out of Sabine Pass.

Since Port Arthur wasn't founded until about 1898 (a small community called Aurora existed earlier in that area) I would assume if he was a native of Jefferson County any wartime service by him would be from a unit possibly raised in Beaumont or the surrounding area...but so far I haven't found a reference to him.

I have a vague memory that the Port Arthur News or Beaumont Enterprise once carried a feature article about him. Any old timers from Jefferson County remember him and have any idea as to the accuracy of the rumors/stories?

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"Cap'n" Steele or Steel
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