JOHN STERETT.

Pg 25

         In all probability John Sterett is the oldest inhabitant in Morning Sun when considered as a continuous resident, as every building in the city with the exception of one was erected after he located here. He is a son of James and Isabella (Crawford) Sterett, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio. James Sterett, who was a tanner and harness-maker, as well as farmer, migrated to Louisa county in 1853, settling in Morning Sun, where he resided continuously until his demise in 1884. His wife passed away in 1866. Of the six children born unto them but one besides our subject is living: James, who is also a resident of Morning Sun. The four who are deceased were: William, who was the eldest; Robert, who was captured by the Confeder- . . .

Pg 26

. . . ates during the Civil war and consigned to Libby prison, where he died; David, who was killed in battle; and Nancy E., the only daughter.

         John Sterett was eighteen years of age when he removed to Iowa and located upon eighty acres of land which is now within the corporate limits of Morning Sun. He engages in general farming but has always made a specialty of the breeding and raising of Black Hawk Morgan horses, having sold some of his at one thousand dollars a piece.

         On the 16th of April, 1857, Mr. Sterett was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Brown, a daughter of Hamilton and Sarah (Ramsey) Brown, who were the parents of ten children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sterett were born two sons: Edward, who was born in 1858 and passed away in 1889; and Will R., who was born in September, 1860, and is a resident of Des Moines.

         His first vote Mr. Sterett cast for John C. Fremont in Morning Sun precinct and has ever since voted there. He assisted in arranging the first Fourth of July celebration ever held in the place and has participated in the observation of every succeeding anniversary of the Nation’s birth, having spent fifty-eight Fourths in Morning Sun. Mr. Sterett is a public-spirited, as well as patriotic citizen, and has always striven to fulfill his civic duties and toward this end has served in various township offices. He belongs to the Fremont Association, of which he was one of the organizers and at one time vice president, and was president of the Old Settlers Association, when Mr. Springer assumed the duties as local historian of these volumes, appointing Mr. Sterett as one of the advisory board. Religiously he affiliates with the Presbyterian church, in which his wife also held membership. Mr. Sterett went to Des Moines to visit his son on the 29th of November, 1910, and upon his return home the following Saturday he found Mrs. Sterett dead. She was lying on the floor and from all indications the physicians decided that death must have occurred on the morning Mr. Sterett left. Mr. Sterett, who has now reached the venerable age of seventy-six years relates many interesting reminiscences of the early days of his residence here when pioneer customs still prevailed.