Robert Wiley Casteel (1816 - 1891)

Born 20 May 1816 in Tennessee, United States

Died 9 Mar 1891 at age 74 in Forrest City, St. Francis, Arkansas, United States

Biography

Robert W. Casteel and Eliza Goodwin. Robert's middle name may be Wiley. In most documents he is referred to as R. W. Casteel. Eliza Goodwin is referred as "Eliza" in the LW&T of R. W. Casteel Last Will & Testament for R. W. Casteel listing his 4 living children at the time of the writing of his will https://www.ancestrycom/discoveryui-content/view/2255737:8638?ssrc=pt&tid=13168453&pid=27121995144 R. W. Casteel and Eliza Goodwin had 7 children in birth order -

1. Alice L. Casteel (m. John W. Beck) died 3 Apr 1914 in Memphis Shelby Co TN (TN death certificate 589, lists father Bob Casteel) she is buried Forrest City Cemetery, Forrest City AR. She is referred to as Alice Beck in her father's Last Will and Testament.

2. Emiline "EMMA" Casteel (m. 1st Abraham Lafayette Grady on 09 Sep 1873, m. 2nd Dr. John B. Cummings 22 May 1882 both in St Francis Co AR, confirmed marriage records). SHE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN PROVING THIS JOHN. B. CASTEEL who died 3 June 1928 in Hot Springs, AR. Her Arkansas Death Certificate 1435 states date of death 21 April 1936 at Forrest City, St Francis Co AR. States that her parents are Robt W. Casteel and Eliz. Goodwin. This death certificate states that they were both born in Kentucky. This place factors in later. She is also buried at the Forrest City Cemetery. She is referred to in her father's Last Will and Testament as Emma Cummings.

3. Francis Casteel (female, not in her fathers LW&T) born circa 1853, probably Phillips Co AR. She is on the 1860 census with the family taken at Helena, Phillips Co AR. On the 1870 census she and sister Nancy are living in N. E. and Nancy Martin in Georgetown, Scott Co Kentucky. "Fannie Casteel" is listed as age 17 born in Arkansas and is "at home". Her sister Nancy Casteel is age 15 and is listed as "at school". Was this an educational boarding situation where the girls were sent off to school ??? Nothing on her after the 1870 census. She is NOT in her father's LW&T.

4. JOHN Branch. Casteel he was actually born 12 November 1853 in Livingston, Kentucky (will see documentation later). This John B. Casteel is on the 1860 census with his parents and siblings listed as age 6 but born in Arkansas but he really wasn't. They are living in Helena, Phillips Co AR and all children of Robert & Eliza Goodwin Casteel on this census are Alice, Emiline, Francis, John, Robert, and Nancy. BTW Robert has an 1850 slave census in what was called St Francis, Phillips Co AR so the family was in Phillips Co AR in 1850). John B. Casteel is on the 1870 census taken at Franks, St Francis Co AR with father R. W. Casteel, brother Robert, and other persons on the census are a Nancy Preston and son William Preston and men by the names of John Hopkins, Thomas Pugh, John Simmons, and Marsh Nelson. John's mother, Eliza is not on this census. By 1880 John's parents are living on their own at Forrest City, St Francis Co AR listed as R W Casteel and E G Casteel. He is listed as J. B. Casteel in his father Last Will & Testament.

5. Nancy Casteel born circa 1856 in Phillips Co AR. As previously stated she is on the 1860 census with her family and the 1870 census in Kentucky. Is she the Nancy Preston on the census with the family in Arkansas in 1870 - NO THAT NANCY WAS LISTED AS AGE 30 ON THAT 1870 CENSUS. She IS NOT in her father's LW&T.

6. Robert P. Casteel born 23 Oct 1856 in Phillips Co AR. An R. P. Casteel of Forrest City, St Francis Co AR married a Mary Wall of Forrest City, St Francis Co AR on 08 Aug 1882 in Pulaski Co AR, page 464, Pulaski Co AR Marriage Records. Robert is not on any 1880 census. Mary Wall Casteel died 18 Sep 1882 so they were married barely a month. She was age 15. Her headstone says Mary Lou WARR wife of R.P. Casteel. Some genealogists say her maiden name was Ware. The marriage record clearly says Wall. Did she lie because she was under age ??? Robert P. Casteel died 23 Oct 1883/1888. The Find A Grave says death year is 1883, but in the headstone photo the last digit of the year us obscured so it could be a 3 or an 8. His headstone says son of R. W. & E. G. Casteel. He is not in his father's LW& T nor on the on the 1900 census.

7. Mary Burton "Mollie" Casteel born 26 Mar 1861 in Phillips Co AR. Died 6 Dec 1897 in Forrest City, AR. See FAG memorial. She married Henry Paris Gorman on 5 May 1880 in St Francis Co AR. She is never shown on a census with her parents. She is listed in her father's Last Will and Testament as Mollie B. Gorman wife of H. P. Gorman. Her son Charles Gorman is mentioned in the obituary of brother John B. Casteel who died 3 June 1928 in Hot Springs, AR.

Sources

• Last Will & Testament of R. W. Casteel - https://www.ancestrycom/discoveryui-content/view/2255737:8638?ssrc=pt&tid=13168453&pid=27121995144

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8WS-DZX : 18 February 2021), Robt Casteel, 1860.

• "Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XX59-WXJ : 27 November 2014), Robert W Casteel, 1864; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M317 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 2.

• "United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Land and Property Records, 1865-1872", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2Q1-RQ7P : 17 March 2018), R W Casteel, 1865.

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCX-5WK : 28 May 2021), R W Casteel, 1870.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWL-1SH : 19 February 2021), R W Casteel, Forest City, St Francis, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 261, sheet 176A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,056.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15132546/robert-wiley-casteel : accessed 18 August 2021), memorial page for Robert Wiley Casteel (20 May 1816–9 Mar 1891), Find A Grave: Memorial #15132546, citing Forrest City Cemetery, Forrest City, St. Francis County, Arkansas, USA ; Maintained by Paul V. Isbell (contributor 46854064) .

For other sources see son John Branch Casteel (Casteel-1607) or within the body of the biographical/notes above.