Introduction

Biography

Steffe was a book­keep­er and in­sur­ance agent in Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia, or Rich­mond, Vir­gin­ia (sourc­es va­ry).

He is cred­it­ed with col­lect­ing and ed­it­ing the tune for a camp-meet­ing song, Say Bro­thers, Will You Meet Us? in 1852. Dur­ing the Am­eri­can ci­vil war, the tune was paired with new words to form John Brown’s Bo­dy and Bat­tle Hymn of the Re­pub­lic.