Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-09-25
OBITUARY.
An Active and Useful Life Ended in the
Death Of Hon. r. A. Steere, at his
Late Home Near Gray,

Death Of Hon. r. A. Steere, at his
Late Home Near Gray.
Hon. Russell A. Steere died at hi
home near Gray on the morning o
September 2Srd. He died rs he lived,
christian and in peace. For man,
weary weeks he has suffered heroicall,
and patiently the pains Of tumor an,
complications, but during the days i'm
mediately preceding the final summon,
80 surely presaged by ebbing vitality
he rested in comparative ease, in a con
seriousness that was dear to the mourn
ing friends, and when the end came l,
was peaceful, with scarcely percepti
Bile cessation of respiration to note the
boundary line between life and death
The deceased was man of great &C
tiyity, personal energy and ability, and
commanded distinction in any com
munity. Being called to serve in the
legislatures Of both Minnesota and
Michigan, and In the Mexican and
Union armies, indicated the manner in
which he was regarded by his fellow
men rs well MS his personal inclination
to be at the post Of duty. Owing to de-
clining years his career In Audubon
county has been more retired though
not less respected. The following obit.
uary written by an intimate friend OF
the family at Gray, is very faithful and
worthy Of reproduction.
Another old friend and soldier is
gone the way of all the earth--Hon
Russell A. Steere. lie was born in JEFF,
ferson county, Ohio, March 9Th, 1921,
Having passed his boyhood days in
Ohio, in 1888 he went to Michigan, and
remained there until he was Is years OF
age, lie then entered Mount Pleasant
college, Quaker institution of Jefler'
son county, Ohio, where he graduated
in 1871. He then began teaching, and
taught In Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky
and West Virginia. In 1874 he went
to Cincinnati, and was there employed
in an importing dry goods house until
lS47, when he entered In the Mexican
war, entering Company b, Second Ohio
Col. Charles Brought commanding
was sent to Matamoras, then to Vera
Cruz, where nearly the whole command
contracted the yellow fever; all of tn,
officers and large per cent of the
soldiers died OF this dread disease. Mr.
Steere was sent to the New Orleans
hospital, under the care of the Sisters
of Charity. After being mustered out
of the service he returned to Cincinnati
Ohio, and resumed his position In the
wholesale house, remaining there until
1853, when he went to Minnesota and
settled In Fillmore county. In 1854
when there was an urgent call for more
men to defend the stars and stripes Mr.
Steere again shouldered the musket and
enlisted in company A, Second Mime
sofa volunteer infantry; was sent south
and joined Sherman's army ut Sayan'
nah and took part In the pursuit OF
Gen. Johnson, who surrendered al
Raleigh; was then ordered to Washing.
ton, ID. O., took part in the grand re.
view; was mustered out July 18th, 1866
was paid off at Fort Smelling and re-
ceived his final discharge July Goth,
1866. Mr. Steerc was married In DE,
cember, 1855, to Miss Alice King, In
Fillmore county, Minnesota, was elect.
ed member Of the legislature, and
afterward appointed to the offices of
county commissioner and county clerk,
acquitting himself In these positions
with much credit. In 1875 he moved
to his home farm In Cameron township,
Audubon county, Iowa, where he has
devoted his useful life in improving his
farm, and raising his respected family;
being pioneer In this township his
early experience of business matters
was of much value In directing the
course of "a new section Of country, his
counsel was wise and well defined and
always without malice; prudent, ga
gacious, thoughtful, manly man, small
in stature but great in deeds; was a
member of the Masonic, l. o. o. +. and
Union League, was staunch temper
ance man, and good Republican; vot-
ed for Harrison In 1910 and Harrison
in 1888. lie leaves family Of wife
four boys and two girls to mourn his
loss. Was u member of Allison Post
G.. A. r., which inters the remains to-
day in Maple Grove cemetery. He
died as he lived. Christian