Katherine Hannah (Cochran) Steele (1896)

COCHRAN, STEELE

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 5/21/2008 at 08:50:21

Semi Weekly Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, September 4, 1896
Page 1

Obituary

Died, Wednesday, August 26th, 1896, near the hour of 11 a.m., at Creston, Iowa, Mrs. Kate Steele, wife of John T. Steele, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Cochran.

Mrs. Steele was born in Grand River township, Madison county, Iowa, August 6th, 1865, and died in Creston, Union county, Iowa, August 26th, 1896, making her age at death to be 31 years and 20 days.

She early had a great desire for books. After spending several terms in the Macksburg high school, which is near her father’s beautiful country home, having a desire to still press “onward and upward,” she spent several faithful years of hard study in the Drake University of Des Moines. She was not only fortunate in securing a good education but was also fortunate in having the natural faculty of imparting knowledge to others, thus making her one of the most successful teachers of Madison county.

She was married to John T. Steele March fifth, 1889. Their married life was a brief one, being less than seven and one-half years. During this time they had three children born to them, Mamie, who only lived three weeks, Joseph Wesley, aged 4 years, and Edward Leland, aged 1 year and 9 months; who are too young to realize their great loss, or to know a mother’s love.

Early in the year that dreaded disease consumption began to show itself. Accompanied by her husband they at once sought the light, dry atmosphere of Aspen, Colorado, hoping for immediate relief if not a speedy cure. All efforts to restore health were fruitless and she rapidly failed. A few days before her death the attending physicians informed her that she must die, and if she wished to return home alive she must go at once. She was unable to reach home, but died at Dr. Claybaugh’s residence in Creston, where all possible kindness and medical care was given her by the good, kind Doctor and family.

She embraced Christ as her Savior in the year 1884, and united with the Baptist church of Macksburg, leading a constant Christian life to the end.

Many of her relatives were permitted to see her before she passed away. She bade them all good-bye without a tear, and spoke of death as one about to take a short earthly journey. She asked all to meet her in heaven. Then with a peaceful smile as none but a saint of God could wear she met her Savior and the loved ones who had so recently gone before.

She made all arrangements for the funeral, requesting it should take place from the Baptist church of Macksburg, and that Rev. W. Myers’ should preach the sermon; the text she selected for him is recorded in St. Matthew 5: 8, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God;” the hymns she selected were, “Asleep in Jesus” and “Cast Thy Burden on the Lord.” She also requested that the birthday gifts which she had received be returned to the donors with her thanks.

Being conscious to the last moment she spoke of many friends whom she could not wait to see and wished to be remembered to them and by them.

Neither did she forget her little family to which she had been a loving wife and fond mother. She left many encouraging words to her bereft husband, and also instructions as to how she desired her two little boys to be brought up.
Kate was highly respected by all who knew her.

The beautiful floral offering which formed a solid bank the entire length of the church rostrum as the casket lay before it, the vast throng which filled the church far beyond its utmost capacity, and the long procession which followed her remains to their last resting place, all spoke of the many strong friendship ties she had formed in this life by her winning and gentle character.

We feel sad to lose her from our midst, but our loss is her gain. She has gone to be with her Lord; and we must bow to God’s dictations and say, “Thy will, Oh Lord, not mine, be done.
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Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, September 3, 1896
Page 2

Grand River Township

Died - Mrs. Kate H. Steele, August 26th, 1896, at Creston, Iowa, in the 31st year of her age. The remains were brought to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Cochran, the same evening after her death.

The funeral service was conducted at the Baptist church, in Macksburg, the following day at 10 a.m., Rev. Saulter officiating at the opening and closing services and Rev. Myers preached the funeral sermon.

Mrs. Steele became converted to Christ and joined the Baptist church in 1884, and has lived a devoted Christian to the time of her death.

In her girlhood days she attended the preparatory high school at Macksburg and completed her course of study at a college in Des Moines, and afterwards taught several successful terms of school near her home.

Soon after gaining her majority she married Mr. John T. Steele to whom were born two children who survive her.

For several months Mrs. Steele’s health was failing and believing a change of climate would be beneficial, Mr. Steele accompanied her to Colorado, where she remained several months, but gradually growing weaker she expressed her desire to return home that she might bid farewell to her children, parents, brothers and sister, but got no farther than Creston where the friends met her only to part too soon. She called them to her side, one by one, and told them not to weep, that all was well beyond, to meet her there where there’s no severing of loving ties.

She was a loving and self-sacrificing wife and mother, her noble example and Christian character will remain precious to the memory of her many friends.

Her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery south of Macksburg, by her many devoted friends which reached a magnitude never before witnessed attending a funeral here, the procession contained near one hundred and forty teams, and occupied a great part of the road from the church to the cemetery.

Gravesite
 

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