Introduction
The Ray and Steele Family

In September 1863, William Gray claimed his life was threatened by William F. Steele a local neighbor along Wilson Creek in Greene County, Missouri. Gray and his wife, Holly, testified that Steele came to their home demanding money from the sale of a yoke of steer. When Gray responded he did not have the money and would not be able to get it for over a month, Steele pistol drawn stated “God damn you it the longest time that I will Give you If I don’t Get it in one way I will have in an other.”1 The Grays reported they had no business transaction with Steele and owed him no money. Steele rode away from the Gray estate leaving the family alone for about two months.

In November, Steele came back to the Gray house stating he was “lost” and needed a guide back to his regiment. According to William and Holly Gray, Steele stated he had been cut of from his command during a recent engagement and needed help getting back to his men. Steele was raised and lived only four or five miles from the Gray house, so his “request” for a guide seems very unusual as he should have had a firm knowledge of the roads and terrain. Steele offered any of the Grays five dollars to go with him to the road. Holly responded, “I would not go for twenty and that I did not wreckon that the children would go for an hundred dollars or for any price.”2 The Grays believed Steele was trying to lure a family member from the house to murder them. The Grays offered him water and medication for a tooth ache, but did not leave their house. Steele eventually left without incident, but returned a week later.

Around 7pm on November 27, Steele and an unidentified man rode up to the Gray house. Holly, nervous about the unexpected visited, attempted to lock their door, but Steele forced his way into their home. Steele drew his pistol and took aim at Holly’s son, Price Gray. Holly grabbed Steele’s arm to divert his aim. She tried to fling his gun to the ground, but instead the pistol discharged and hit her daughter. The bullet passed through the girl’s left thigh. As Steele left the house his comrade also fired his pistol, but no one was hit. Holly could not remember if he was aiming at her.

Two weeks later, the Grays filed a complaint with Chesley Cannefax, a Justice of the Peace, for Greene County. Based on their testimonies Cannefax issued a warrant for Steele’s arrest and had him imprisoned through a Writ of Commitment. Steele was to be released if he could post $1,000 as security of his good will towards the Grays and general peace of the region.

Steele petitioned Judge John A. Mack for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, claiming he was wrongfully and illegibly detained form his liberties, and that no legal testimony or sufficient cause was presented to warrant his commitment. Steele declared,

…all of the evidence offered to support said complaint and on which said Justice Committed Your petitioner, was the testimony of Wm Gray and his wife Holly Gray, both of whom wer incompetent witnesses and both of whom were shown to have sworn falsely in regard to a material matter.
William Steele, Petition – Dec. 17, 1863

Mack reviewed the evidence and ultimately sided with William F. Steele. Steele was released from jail on the grounds that the “evidence showed no legal and sufficient cause for the commitment.”3 Several of Steele and Gray’s neighbors testified; many of which, on Steele’s behalf, commented on his character and general reputation for truth and veracity. Nearly all of Gray’s neighbors commented that he was untrustworthy, and they would not believe him upon oath.

Reportedly, before the War, Gray was a strong Union man. Once the War began and General Sterling Price was in the region, Gray was caught “affiliating with rebels” and rumors circulated he had even taken an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy. Alsey Oneal testified that while Price was in Greene County Gray openly expressed his desires to have all Union men driven from their lands.4 Rumors circulated that Gray wanted all union men given ten days to leave their property, or they should be shoot or hung.5 These rumors, however, were reported by a witness who heard it from someone else, and the origins never truly uncovered.

This court case embodies the struggles among communities during the War. William Steele and his family were devoted Unionists, while they Grays were reportedly Confederates. Before the War, William Gray conducted business with William F. Steele’s father, William Steele. William Steele worked as a blacksmith along Wilson Creek, and Gray hired him before his death in 1848.6 The War turned neighbors against each other and common feuds escalated to new levels of violence. It is unknown which events in this case are true and which are exaggerations, but we know similar events occurred in communities throughout the Ozarks.

Contributed by the Greene County Archives and Records Center

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1. William Gray. Deposition. ca. 10 Dec. 1863. State of Missouri vs William Steele. CW 1, Greene County Archives and Records Center, Springfield, Missouri.
2. Holly Gray. Deposition. ca. 10 Dec. 1863. State of Missouri vs William Steele. CW 1, Greene County Archives and Records Center, Springfield, Missouri.
3. John A. Mack. Discharge Order. 22 Dec. 1863. State of Missouri vs. William Steele. CW 1, Greene County Archives and Records Center, Springfield, Missouri.
4. Alsey Oneal. Deposition. ca. 22 Dec. 1863. State of Missouri vs William Steele. CW 1, Greene County Archives and Records Center, Springfield, Missouri.
5. William Ward. Deposition. ca. 22 Dec. 1863. State of Missouri vs William Steele. CW 1, Greene County Archives and Records Center, Springfield, Missouri.
6. Edwin C. Bearss. The Ray House: Wilson Creek Battlefield National Park (Washington, DC: National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Division of History, Office of Archeology and Historical Preservation, 1968) 23.