Steele, Frances Olivia (Moshier) 1839-1928

STEELE, MOSHIER, AUSTIN, FLENNIKEN, SIMMONS, STAMP, WHEELER, DODGE, PORTER, HORSEFIELD

Posted By: Judy Moyna (email)
Date: 4/24/2011 at 23:26:35

In the passing of Mrs. Geo. Steele, Clayton county loses one of its earliest pioneers.

Frances Olivia Moshier was born July 1, 1839 at Naples, Ontario Co., New York. When she was sixteen yrs. Old she came with her parents to Delaware county, locating at Edgewood, known at the time as Yankee Settlement.

On Oct. 8th, 1857 she was married to George Nelson Steele. To this union two children were born, William and Carrie.

The family resided at Edgewood during the early years of their married life but moved to Strawberry Point fifty-seven years ago. This has been her home since that time.

Mrs. Steele was a devout Christian, a loyal member of the W. C. T. U. She had been a member of the Congregational church since 1878 and during her last illness often expressed her love and faith in her Master. She was a mother who gave a consecrated devotion to her home, a wife loyal and loving thru all the years that brought both sunshine and shadows, a firm believer in teachings of Christ, a friend and companion to both old and young. She gave much that will be kept in the heart treasury of all, the memory of a worthy woman.

She passed away April 6, 1928, at Mercy hospital in Oelwein, at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 17 days.

Her husband George N. Steele preceded her in death June 4, 1912, her son William Nov. 8, 1924 and her daughter Mrs. Carrie Austin, Feb. 22, 1884.

She is survived by two grandchildren, Mrs. Norma Steele Horsefield of Oelwein and George C. Austin of Roadhouse, Ill.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Congregational church conducted by Rev. T. J. Elwick, pastor of the M. E. church. Interment took place in the family lot beside the loved ones in our cemetery. The casket bearers were J. C. Flenniken, N. A. Simmons, A. J. Stamp, G. F. Wheeler, G. M. Dodge and Alex Porter. The only out of town relatives who attended the funeral were her granddaughter, Mrs. E. A. Horsefield and husband of Oelwein, who kindly looked after her the last few years.

~The Clayton County Register, Elkader, Iowa, Thursday, April 12, 1928, p. 8.