John Jacob Steagald (sometimes Stegall or Steagall) was born to John Baley Steagald (b. 20 Jan 1792-VA d. c1816-1819-NC) and Eula (Ula) Short. In 1830, the family moved to Decatur Co., TN. On February 18, 1841 in Perry Co., TN, he married Mary Elizabeth Haley (daughter of Coleman Haley and Emily McPherson). Together, they had five children:

Elizabeth Emily Steagald*
b. 06 FEB 1843 - Decatur Co., TN
m. 01 MAY 1859 - George Washington Walters - Decatur Co., TN
d. 05 NOV 1911 - San Saba, San Saba Co., TX

Absolom Albert Steagald*
[SERVED in American Civil War Union - 2nd Regiment, TN Mounted Infantry Co. K]
b. 04 FEB 1845 - Decaturville, Decatur Co., TN
m. 07 JUL 1867 - Catherine A. Crain - Dallas, Dallas Co., TX
d. 08 FEB 1912 - Ardmore, Carter Co., OK

Frances C. Steagald
b. 10 APR 1848 - Decatur Co., TN
m. 09 JAN 1866 - John Peter Simpson - Pope Co., IL
d. c1872

Martha Jane Steagald*
b. 24 AUG 1849 - Decatur Co., TN
m. 1864 - Samuel Jackson Rogers - TN
d. 1921 - Le Flore Co., OK

Mary L. Steagald
b. 14 NOV 1851 - Decaturville, Decatur Co., TN

His wife, Elizabeth, died on 14 Nov 1852 in Perry Co. Tennessee (which became Decatur County), after a tree limb brushed her off her horse and she was mauled by wolves. In 1856, the Colonel married Miss Sarah Luna "Sallie" MacDaniel in Perry County, TN. John and Sarah had five children:

Decora "Cora" Ester Steagald
b. JAN 1857 - Decaturville, Decatur Co., TN
m. 1882 - Gordon J. Palmer (postmaster at Cabot, Lonoke Co., AR)
d. 24 AUG 1942 - Lonoke Co., AR

John Alexander Stegall*
b. 11 MAY 1860 - Decaturville, Decatur Co., TN
m. 03 AUG 1885 - Mary Elizabeth Lafferty - Wilbarger Co., TX
d. 09 APR 1918 - Hereford, Deaf Smith Co., TX

Josephine L. Steagald*
b. MAR 1864 - Decaturville, Decatur Co., TN
m. 1887 - J.B. Sutherland - Vernon, Willbarger Co., TX
m. 01 MAR 1888 - Will Callous Wells - Vernon, Wilbarger Co., TX
m. 20 APR 1893 - William W. Brown - Vernon, Wilbarger Co., TX (husband is a banker)
d. 13 JUL 1912 - Vernon, Wilbarger Co., TX

Sarah Jane "Jennie" Steagald*
b. 16 DEC 1869 - Decaturville, Decatur Co., TN
m. 25 AUG 1885 - William Kyle Bell - Vernon, Wilbarger Co., TX
d. 26 MAY 1959 - Clovis, Curry Co., NM

Minnie Irene Steagald*
b. 03 FEB 1874 - Decaturville, Decatur Co., TN
m. Dr. Robert Keith Harris
d. 12 MAR 1953 - Austin, Travis Co., TX

In 1876, he took his 2nd wife, Sarah Luna McDaniel, and their children to settle in Clay County, Texas. Just after moving to northern Texas, his second wife passed on. He moved to San Saba, Texas to live with his daughter, Elizabeth Walters, until he died at age 91.

He accumulated considerable property before the Civil War. He owned three large farms and operated three large business stores of general stocks in Decatur, Wayne and Perry Counties, Tennessee.

In 1865, he was elected a delegate from Decatur and Perry Counties to go to the convention to reconstruct the state government. The same counties elected him to the legislature 1866-1869 in which body he did all he could to reserve the confederate soldiers' right of franchise. He was appointed by the Governor as Commissioner of Registration under the Disfranchisement Act, which position he held until the law was repealed. He was then elected District and County Clerk of Decatur County, which offices he held for four years and then retired of his own accord.

Colonel John J. Steagald died at 6:10 o'clock Saturday afternoon, April 20, at the home of his son-in-law, G.W. Walters. On February 2nd, Colonel Steagald broke his leg and from that injury owning to his advanced age, he never recovered. The funeral services were held by the Reverend F.A. White on Sunday afternoon and interment was made in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.