Transcribed from Goodspeed’s History of  Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketches of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, etc., etc. (Chicago and Nashville:  The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887), pp. 962-987.  See footnote below for on-line access.

J. A. STEED, one of the leading druggists of Cleveland, is the son of J. C. and Sarah J. (LASATER) STEED. The father was born in North Carolina, and when about eight years of age (1829) was brought to McMinn County, Tenn., where he grew up and married Miss LASATER. In 1849 they moved to Bradley County, where they have since made their home. For a livelihood he followed brick-laying till sixty-two years of age, since which he has farmed. In his family were nine children, four living — three sons and one daughter. The STEEDS are of Scotch-Irish descent. Our subject was born May 8, 1847, in McMinn County, and when two years of age came to Cleveland, where he grew up and was educated. On reaching manhood he took a a course of medical lectures at the University of New York. Having returned and clerked in a drug store for some time he and Dr. A. D. SCRUGGS opened a drug store in partnership. Having sold out he opened another, and in 1885 took as a partner his brother, W. C. STEED, giving the firm title of J. A. STEED & Bro. In 1878 he married Miss Ida JOHNSTON, a native of this county, by whom three children: May, Sadie and James C. were born. His wife is an Episcopalian. He is a director in the Cleveland Street Railway Company, and is a Democrat. He has made a handsome property by his industry.

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This biography was transcribed by Sherry Pollard. We thank her for transcribing all the Goodspeed’s biographical sketches.

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