Steen, John F. 1861 - 1935

STEEN, FRAZIER, KOTTMAN, EHRHARDT, SEIFERT, NIELSON, LIVINGSTON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Clayton County Register, Thur., 18 July 1935.

John F. Steen, one of Clayton county's native sons, died at his home here in Elkader Wednesday, July 10th, at three o'clock in the morning, following failing health of the last year.

Mr. Steen was born March 28, 1861, on the old Steen homestead, south of Elkader. His parents were Fred and Henriette (Frazier) Steen.

As a young man Mr. Steen spent several winters in the lumber camps of northern Wisconsin. This period in his life was one of his fondest memories, for he took great delight to recite to his friends incidents of that period.

After returning to Clayton county he __________, through hard and industrious labor, the farm which was his home up until January 31, 1914, when he removed to Elkader. Settling in Elkader did not cause him to lose interest in farming, for though he did not live on the farm he continued active in its management until poor health forced him from active work.

On May 31, 1894, he married Louisa Kottman. To this union one daughter, Henriette, now Mrs. Geo. Ehrhardt, was born. Mrs. Steen died June 13, 1895. On July 14, 1896, he again married, this time to Bertha Kottman, a sister of his first wife. To this union three daughters were born, namely, Mrs. Alving Seifert, Elkader; Mrs. Florence Nielson, Cedar Falls; and Mrs. Mabel Livingston, Cedar Falls. They, together with Mrs. Steen and eight grandchildren, survive to mourn the death of a kind husband, father and grandfather.

Two brothers also survive. They are Jacob Steen of Boardman township and Martin Steen of Hopkinton. Three sisters preceded him in death.

Mr. Steen was never a man to desire to get into the public eye. For that reason many knew little of his activities from a community standpoint. He was one of the charter members of the Elkader Fair and continued an interest in that association as late as last year. Several of the modern conveniences on those grounds are there largely through his efforts. He never sought public office but served his township as a member of the board of trustees. That he was interested in education for all was well demonstrated at the time the local junior college was proposed. He, together with two other men, were three of the most active workers in behalf of this institution.

In the passing of Mr. Steen the community loses a man it will miss for a long time, the type of a man communities such as Elkader need all the time.

Funeral Services were held at the Evangelical church Friday afternoon at two o'clock, with interment in the East Side cemetery, the Rev. C. T. Brewster officiating.