Thomas Steele, one of the leading lawyers of Ripley, Tenn., and the youngest
living son of Isaac and Jane (Hadley) Steele, was born February 12, 1846, in
Ripley, and when eleven years of age was taken by his parents to Covington,
Tipton Co., Tenn., and he was educated under the direction of James Byars.
From April, 1864, until May, 1865, he served in Company I, Seventh Tennessee
Cavalry, and then began reading law in his father’s office, continuing until
1869, when he came to Ripley and has since had a lucrative practice. June 11,
1878, he married Laura Wardlaw, daughter of J. N. Wardlaw. She was born
September 22, 1855, in Ripley, and is the mother of three children: Thomas,
Wardlaw and Milton. Mrs. Steele is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr.
Steele is a Democrat, and for seventeen years has practiced law in Ripley.

Goodspeed’s Biographies of Lauderdale Co., TN