Steel Douglass
James Douglass, the father of our subject, was the eighth child of William Douglass who it is said, was born in Ireland and emigrated to America when a youth. On June 21, 1753, he married Elizabeth Matthews, of York County. Penn., where he afterward lived. James Douglass was born in York County October 8, 1769, and on October 27, 1797, married Polly Taylor, oldest child of James and Martha (Steel) Taylor. There were born to them nine children, seven sons and two daughters, viz.: Levi, born April 4, 1799; Elizabeth, born July 29, 1801; Absalom, born October 22, 1804; Jeptha, born September 11, 1806; Thompson, born April 2, 1808; Steel, born March 10, 1810; Milo Adams, born August 12, 1812; Seymour Austin, born July 15, 1815, and Mary May, born May 15, 1818. All grew up and raised families, except Levi, who died in Columbiana County, Ohio, in his sixteenth year. Only two, Thompson and Steel, now survive. Mr. Douglass moved to Columbiana County. Ohio, in April, 1800; thence to Warren County in 1815, and one year later to Clinton County, where he settled on what was known as Hinkson's Prairie, on Anderson's Fork. He died August 21, 1835, leaving the home place of 232 acres to the four youngest sons. Our subject was raised to hard work on the farm, attending country schools during the winter seasons. Shortly after his father's death, Thompson, the eldest, son, sold his interest in the home farm to the other three sons, and our subject being the eldest left, assumed the management of the farm. In the spring of 1840, he sold his interest to the others and moved to Madison County, where he devoted his time to farming in summer and teaching in winter. In 1843, he married Sarah Ann Thompson, eldest daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Graham) Thompson. After marriage, he settled in Union (now Paint) Township, on a farm of 160 acres. In 1854, he sold this place and bought 220½ acres near Newport, in this township. This he has since divided between his children, reserving for himself only a nominal rent for life. His wife died of consumption January 3, 1876, having borne him six children, viz.: Charles Anderson, born June 11, 1844, married Emma J. Morris January 7, 1869, and has two daughters; James Porter, born December 15, 1846, married Charlotte Belle Postle December 24, 1868, and has two children; Mary, born October 31, 1848, and died August 18, 1872; Rebecca Jane, born June 11, 1853, and died May 27, 1880, married John Harrow, October 16, 1873, and has three children; Dora Ann, burn August 10, 1857, and died February 12, 1858; and Milo, born September 21, 1859, married Anna May Gitlin, of Sabina, Ohio, May 10, 1881, and has no children. Mr. Douglass is, as was his wife, a member of the Methodist Church. He was an Old-Line Whig until the formation of the Republican party, since which time he has voted with the latter party. He has never taken an active interest in politics, but has served his township in the capacity of Justice, Trustee and Clerk. He is a firm advocate of temperance principles, and has been a member of the temperance society, but is opposed to abolition
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]