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Descendants of John Steele

6. CHRISTINA WILSON⁴ STEELE (ANDREW CRAWFORD³ STEEL, JOHN² STEELE, JOHN¹)^61,^62,⁶³ was born December 22, 1876 in Bothwell Parish, County Lenark, Scotland, and died December 29, 1957 in Detroit, Michigan. She married THOMAS MACDONALD^64,^65,⁶⁶ June 24, 1898 in Glasgow, Lenark, Scotland, son of GEORGE MCDONALD and JANE MCMILLAN. He was born November 17, 1872 in Campsie, Lennoxtown, Sterling, Scotland, and died October 11, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan.

Notes for CHRISTINA WILSON STEELE:
GRO Record of Births 1876 in the District of Holytown, in the County of Lanark, Scotland page 166; line 498:
Christina Wilson Steel was born 1876, December 22, 4 hr. 15 min. a.m. in New Carubroe, Parish of Bothwell. Her parents were Andrew Steel (Carter) and Agnes Steel, m.s. Hodge. Parents were married 1874 November 24th, Quarter, Parish of Hamilton. The person reporting the birth was Andrew Steel, father. This record was recorded 1876, December 26th, at Holytown, by William Richard, registrar.
I have a copy of the actual page is anyone would like a copy.

In the 1920 census in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan:
MacDonald, Thomas age 46, birthplace Scotland, occupation carpenter
Christina, wife age 42, birthplace Scotland
Agnes, daughter, age 17, birthplace Scotland, occupation telephone operator
Jean, daughter, age 10, birthplace Iowa
George, son, age 8, birthplace Iowa
Thomas, son, age 5, birthplace Mich.
Elizabeth Steele, sister in law, age 38, birthplace Scotland, occupation auto factory inspector

On her application for Naturalization states that Christina MacDonald is 5'3" with a fair complexion and brown hair.

More About CHRISTINA WILSON STEELE:
Burial: Unknown, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit Mich.

Notes for THOMAS MACDONALD:
1901 Census, Campsie, Lennoxtown, Scotland:
Shalison Rd.? Lennonmill Dairy
Thomas McDonald 28 yrs. old, dairyman, Christina, wife, age 21 and a Mary McGunic ? dairymaid, servant.

Apparently Thomas was more of a soccer player than a farmer/dairyman and he reportedly bought two bulls from Argentina to breed with the dairy cows [on his family's dairy farm]. Unfortunately, these bulls had anthrax and infected the entire herd. Needless to say, Mama McDonald (who apparently wore the pants in the family) suggested that Thomas might be better off trying his luck in the states!
[Story from Christina MacDonald Law, granddaughter of Christina Wilson Steel MacDonald]
So in 1906, he gathered his wife, Christina Steel, and their young daughter, Agnes Hodge McDonald, along with Christina's sister, Jeannie, and Thomas' nephews, James Stewart and George McDonald Stewart, and headed for the "new world." The ship was bound for Quebec (which is why they do not show up in the Ellis Island Immigration records) and arrived at the end of April, 1906.
On his naturalization papers, his name is spelled MacDonald as well as Christina Wilson Steel MacDonald on her naturalization papers.

In the 1920 census in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan:
MacDonald, Thomas age 46, birthplace Scotland, occupation carpenter
Christina, wife age 42, birthplace Scotland
Agnes, daughter, age 17, birthplace Scotland, occupation telephone operator
Jean, daughter, age 10, birthplace Iowa
George, son, age 8, birthplace Iowa
Thomas, son, age 5, birthplace Mich.
Elizabeth Steele, sister in law, age 38, birthplace Scotland, occupation auto factory inspector

On Thomas application for Naturalization states that he is 5'7", a medium complexion with grey and brown hair.

More About THOMAS MACDONALD:
Burial: Unknown, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit Mich.

Marriage Notes for CHRISTINA STEELE and THOMAS MACDONALD:
1898 Record of Marriages in the Parish of Campsie, in the County of Stirling, Scotland; page 9, line 18:
On the 24th day of June at The Town Hall, Lennoxtown; after the Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland; (signed) T. McDonald, Dairyman, (Bachelor), age 25 of Lennoxmill Dairy in Lennoxtown; and (Signed) C.W. Steel, Dairymaid (Spinster) age 21 of Lennoxmill Dairy in Lennoxtown were married. Thomas parents were George McDonald, Dairyman and Jane McDonald m.s. McMillan; Christina's parents were Andrew Steel a Glasgow carpenter, Carter, Agnes Steel m.s. Hodge. (signed) Joseph Brown and Jeannie Steel witness and registered by M. Baird
This document can be viewed at: http://community.webshots.com/user/richards312
Under the album of Steel, Patterson, Stewart and MacDonald Families

Children of CHRISTINA STEELE and THOMAS MACDONALD are:

16.	i.	AGNES HODGE⁵ MCDONALD, b. April 29, 1902, Scotland; d. January 15, 1994, Redford Twonship, Wayne County, Mich..
17.	ii.	JEAN MACMILLAN MCDONALD, b. September 10, 1909, Hocking, Iowa; d. April 28, 1997, Gross Pointe, Wayne County, MI.
	iii.	GEORGE MCDONALD⁶⁷, b. January 27, 1911, Hocking, Iowa; d. May 22, 1997; m. MURIEL HILL, July 22, 1935; d. September 22, 1979.
18.	iv.	THOMAS ANDREW MCDONALD, b. June 03, 1914, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan; d. April 01, 1996, Wayne, Michigan.

7. JEANNIE⁴ STEELE (ANDREW CRAWFORD³ STEEL, JOHN² STEELE, JOHN¹)⁶⁸ was born October 19, 1879 in Glasgow, Scotland, and died April 04, 1954 in Windsor, Canada. She married GEORGE MCDONALD STEWART⁶⁹ September 27, 1909 in Chalmer Church, Walkerville, Ontario, Canada, son of JAMES STEWART and JANET MCDONALD. He was born November 05, 1884 in Main Street, Lennoxtown, Scotland, and died July 26, 1975 in Windsor, Canada.

Notes for JEANNIE STEELE:
GRO- Record of Births 1879 District of Ruthenglen in the County of Lenark:
page 135; line 403:
Jeannie Steel born Oct. 7,1879; 7 AM and 51 mins. at Crosshill Farm; Bunkhead, Ruthenglen to the parents of Andrew Steel Farm servant and Agnes Steel ms Hodge married 1874 November 27 Quarter Parish of Hamilton; birth reported by Andrew Steel, father.

Picture: Jeannie Steel w/ George McDonald and Mary King w/ James Stewart

Jean is found arriving at Ellis Island on May 14,1906. She sailed on the ship "Columbia" which had left Glasgow Scotland on May 5,1906. Age given was 26 and occupation was Dairymaid. Her ethnicity was Scotch and her place of residence was Lennontown. Her destination was Albia; her ticket had that destination; paid for by herself; and had in her possession more than $50.00. She was going to join her brothers, James and John Steel in Hocking, Iowa.

Deb,
My grandmother, Jeannie Steel(e),lived in Glasgow, worked on a dairy farm in Paisley. According to my grandfather George McDonald Stewart, she moved to Lennoxtown to work for McDONALD Family at their dairy as a milk maid. My grandfather's mother was the daughter of George and Jane McDonald. Jane was a McMillan who's parents were the former owners of the dairy. George McDonald Stewart and his brother Jim came to Canada, entering at Montreal in 1906. His aunt Jean Lieshman nee (McDonald) was living in Walkerville on Monmouth Rd. She had come out in the late 1890's and her husband Andy worked for Canadian Bridge where his father was a foreman. I would assume that after my grandfather became established he journeyed to Iowa to get Jeannie. They were married in a double ringed ceremony in 1908 with his brother Jim and Mary Campbell( King).
[email from Cousin George Stewart]

More About JEANNIE STEELE:
Burial: Unknown, Windsor Grove Cemetery, Windsor, Canada
Immigration: 1906

Notes for GEORGE MCDONALD STEWART:
George MacDonald Stewart was born November 5, 1884, 10:20 P.M. at the home of his parents who lived in the apartment above Boccuck�s Store on Main Street. He had one older brother, James, born December 31, 1882 at 4:00 A.M. His mother Janet Mc Donald died January 3, 1885 and his father, James, died the following year, January 11, 1886. The responsibility of raising the two orphans was left to the mother�s parents who owned the Lennoxtown Dairy. They were George and Jean McMillan McDonald. The McDonalds had four children in addition to Janet. They were Jean, Angus (whose son was Captain Angus Jr. of the Royal British Navy), James (who died young), and Tom. As George and Jean McDonald had to run the dairy during the early years of George�s life, his grandparents were forced to board him with John Miller at Hallersley�s land, Campsie (the same people who boarded his father when he first came to Lennoxtown).
He attended public school up in the Cross Hill on the right side of the road just before the bend going to Jamie Wright�s Well. His last few years of schooling were spent at the new school located opposite the old graveyard where his parents were buried.
His grandparents (McDonalds) were buried in the new graveyard located behind the Presbyterian Church. George was a member of the Junior choir in this church and he related the time he broke a strike being conducted by the Senior Choir by walking in the church saying to the Senior Choir, standing outside, that he would sing himself if they refused to follow. As he walked down the aisle towards the choir loft, the Senior Choir followed. Instead of proceeding up to the loft, he turned at the row delegated to his family and sat down. The Senior Choir continued on to the choir loft.
I asked Grandpa if he knew the people who lived at the Lennox Castle, as they were originally of Stewart (Royal) descent. He said he knew them, they had their place in the front of their church as was the custom (according to class)
On Sundays, after church, the kids would often go to the Cross Hill. Before climbing up, they would gather a stone. When they reached the top, they would place it in a pile located there. These piles of stones may still be located there. On weekends, the town�s children would come out to the dairy to ride the donkey. If the donkey became angry, he would dump the kids in a nettle patch next to the wooden print mill fence.
Early Sunday morning it was George�s job to take the two wheel cart and horse to Lensie located south of Kirkintilloch where he would pick up the choir master who would arrive there by train, as he lived in Glasgow. He also made the same trip for the Thursday evening choir practice. As a boy, he often went to the little streams in the area where they caught small trout by hand. They would lift the rocks and logs under which the trout rested on sunny days and would grab them as they scooted away.
The living quarters were located at the west end of the dairy. Twenty-six cows were in the east end. This building is now the clubhouse for the Black Watch Soccer Team. There was a hole in the wall at the west end of the dairy where people would come to pick up milk and butter. There was an indentation in the wall, which was used for a bed by George. Behind the dairy was a small building which held six cows that Janet McDonald, George�s grandmother, always milked. As a child, one of George�s jobs was to milk the cows again after the first milking. Daily, George would deliver milk to the townspeople by carrying it in two pails hanging from a board on his shoulders. He had a dipper, which he used to measure the milk taken from the pails.
In the center of the dairy property was the print mill. It was enclosed by a wooden fence. The cow dung produced by the dairy cattle was used to set the dye in the calico patterns made there.
Grandfather George McDonald had the job of hitching his horses to the railway cars and pulling them in and out of the Print Field Property. Every Saturday, he and his three friends would take the horses and buggy up the Hawkeed Road around through Torrance and back home. On the way they would stop at friends and various pubs for socializing. The horse was also used for delivering milk and would automatically stop at the proper place, just as he did when on his milk run during the week. George McDonald recalled, one day when the old boys returned home, young George was asked to put the horse and buggy away by one of his uncles. Since young George had to deliver his milk in the town, he asked his grandfather to put the horses away. Old George, still feeling good, was found the next morning, under the bull, in a stall, with a bottle of spirits in hand. Apparently, he kept an extra bottle in the bull feed bag, a place where his wife Jean would not venture. That morning George was whipped by the uncle for not putting the horse away as he was told. The next evening when his uncle punched the time clock at the print mill gate he was greeted by Grandpa and young George. The old man raised his cane and proceeded to beat him over the head while repeating the words, �You who would harm an orphan boy�.
George served his apprenticeship (carpenter) working for contractor John Mc Lucky in Lennoxtown. They made caskets, cabinets, and wagon wheels in addition to general home contracting. George worked here from the ages of 12 to 13, at which time he boarded on the Campsie Row and the Crox Road. There were two Muire Coal Mines at Lennoxtown, one located at the present area of the Aluminum Works and the other in the Campsie Fells. When George MacDonald Stewart worked for Mc Lucky, they had a contract to repair the carts used for transporting the ore in these mines. George recalls them taking the lime from the Campsie Fells and working it. Tells how they would place a layer of brush, a layer of limestone, a layer of brush, a layer of limestone and so on until they had about eight layers. This would all be placed in a deep hole with vents in the sides of the hole to let the smoke out. Then it was set on fire and the lime was drawn for use by the plasterers.
The last year of his apprenticeship, he worked for Jack Mc Millan, a relative of his mother. He boarded at Jack�s sister�s home on Brewery Lane, Dunbarton. Jack Mc Millan was a boss in the shipyard in Dunbarton. At this time he worked as a cabinet maker on Sir Thomas Lipton�s famous yacht, Shamrock, which lost the Americans in the America�s Cup.

When George completed his apprenticeship, he took two years of night school and trained to build buildings up to four floors. He took pride that he could figure a job such as a school or a church and order all the materials correctly.

In 1906 George MacDonald Stewart came to Canada with his older brother Jim, his uncle
Tom MacDonald, wife Christine "Teenie" nee Steele and their daughter Agnes Hodge MacDonald(1902) who later Married Clare Goodrich. Agnes had her 4th birthday on the boat also accompanying them was Jean "Jeannie" Steele Christine's sister, who George would later marry on Sept 29,1909.

He went into the construction business , working on buildings like the new post office on Ouelette Ave and a number of schools and churches. He built his house at 1133 Monmouth and helped build his brother Jim's house across the street at 1148 Monmouth. George finished off his attic, making it into an apartment. It could then be used by his relatives as they came to Canada. He built a number of cottages at Linden Beach and homes in the Walkerville and Windsor areas.
After working as a contractor, putting in the railway underpass at Droillard and Wyandotte,and the tunnel from the river to plant 6 at Ford Motor Co., he was offered a permanent job by Ford's chief engineer as supervisor over the mill rights. This was in approximately 1929, since the depression was on he took it.While at this job he claimed to have memorized the piping layouts in all the Ford buildings and any deviations from the normal he had in his little black note book. He was able to determine if changes were possible right from his desk.

George played for the Walkerville soccer team. They competed in a league with teams in Detroit. The teams they played against were, Sons of England, Thistles, Packers, Sons of Scotland, and the Old Scots. They won the Michigan Cup in 1909. Members of the team he could remember when he was 89 years old were Andy Leishman, Tom Crosby, Tom Telford (right wing), and Vic Bowman. George played center half.
He recalled the last year he played, the Walkerville team signed an agreement to split the gate at Packard Park in a five game play down. They played before massive crowds and were paid only four dollars, so he quit playing. He said �Work comes first, play second�. He said he gave the cup to one of his daughters, Betty or Jessie. He received a gold medal of which the girls made into a broach.
He built his house at 1133 Monmouth and his older brother Jim's house across the street at 1335 Monmouth.

For relaxation he spent most of his time at the lawn bowling club at the Bridge Works. He was proud of his lifetime membership given to him for the maintenance and construction contributions he had made to the club.
He was also often seen at the Walkerville high school yard teaching the boys how to kick a soccer ball.
He was a member of the Mason's.
He is remembered for singing his Scottish songs and being there to help his children with their carpentry projects. [Source: Email from family member; George Sewart, direct relation]

More About GEORGE MCDONALD STEWART:
Burial: Unknown, Grove Cemetery, Windsor, Canada
Occupation: Carpenter

Marriage Notes for JEANNIE STEELE and GEORGE STEWART:
According to their grandson, George Stewart and his brother James both married in a double ring ceremony on September 27, 1909 in Ontario, Canada. Both brothers remained in Canada.

Children of JEANNIE STEELE and GEORGE STEWART are:

19.	i.	JAMES⁵ STEWART, b. July 10, 1910, Windsor Canada; d. August 12, 1990, Windsor Canada.
20.	ii.	JESSE MACDONALD STEWART, b. October 11, 1912, Windsor Canada; d. August 25, 1986, Ontario, Canada.
21.	iii.	ANDREW CRAWFORD STEWART, b. June 09, 1914, Windsor Canada; d. June 06, 1969, Windsor Canada.
	iv.	GEORGE MCDONALD STEWART⁶⁹, b. 1917; d. 1924.
22.	v.	ELIZABETH JEAN STEWART, b. Private.

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