Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-06-23
DIR. WILLIAM L. STEELE.
Montana People Pay Tribute to For
mer South CaroIinian.

residents or upper Carolina, that
feel like sending you some items re-
garding DR.. Steele's funeral-reso-
lutions, etc. The Montana papers
published long accounts of his life,
death and funeral.
Dr.. Steele was known all over the
State When engaged in mining he
did great deal Of practicing as
physician, for often no physician re-
sided in many miles of mining
camp" and DR.. Steele was always
ready to help. His life was given to
deeds of charity; he cheered with
his presence and helpful service, and
the compensation for labors never
entered his mind. His. death is
personal loss to hundreds of people.
He and his brothers were here be-
fore the days of railroads, telephones,
etc., and have seen the State pro-
gress to the present state of rail
roads, churches, schools, colleges,
and quite a large population, too.
Funeral Of DIR. VIM. Il. Steele.
Beautiful indeed were the services
over the body Of DR.. William l..
Steele at the funeral held from his
residence, and touching indeed were
some of the scenes in connection with
the observance of the last sad rites
over the remains of one who had
been dear to many and respected by
all, Men and women, public officials
and private citizens, the rich and the
poor, the laborer yea, even the aliens
were assembled. All had loved DR..
Steele in his life time, and in his
passing they had lost friend. Wo-
ofro cfD
with bowed heads before the bier.
Some Chinese were led before the
casket to see for the last time the
face Of their friend, cold in death.
AS the last one passed he broke into
a sobbing cry, "He my heap friend"
The deep grief of those poor China
men and the tears of friends were
far greater tribute to the life of the
departed or> than were all the
spoken words of praise, and testified
in a far greater degree to the real
greatness of the old pioneer than oil
the flowers, and the enconius ut.
tered
The members of the Society of
Montana Pioneers. the members of
the City Council, CDR. Steele having
been three times Mayor of Helena).
the uniformed police, fire depart
ment, the fire wagons, the medical
profession, Of which he was an hon
ored member, county and State oil
cials and hundreds of citizens were
in the cortege which followed the
BODY to .he grave. The funeral SER
vice was conducted by Rev. DR.. Price
of. the South Methodist church. In
his funeral sermon Dr.. Price said
'The beloved physician, friend of
man, and pioneer Of the Treasure
State, has crossed the divide into
that Ind from which no traveller re-
turns, and w" are left behind in this
same journey to pause and estimate
his worth, lay a flower upon his
grave, and with the added wealth of
his life hasten on toward the end of
our journey. He came OF a distin-
guished family, was well educated
and generously laid his natural and
acquired gifts on the altar of his
country and served his day and gen
GRAFTON in many relations. His ma
tural endowments fitted him for al
most any position of trust and re-
sponsibility. His chosen profession
was that OF a physician, and in this
he won his highest honors and per-
manency in the hearts of the public"
Part of Resolutions of City Council.
To all the people of Helena, of
every walk in life, the death of for
mer Mayor Steele came as a personal
loss. This for the reason that his
long and useful life had been largely
spent in doing good to his neighbors,
in improving the civic life Of the COM
munity and upbuilding the institu-
tions Of good government in the
State.
No day was too cold, no night too
dark, no storm too forbiddins, to pre-
vent him from going on long errands
of healing and mercy. Wherever
there was sickness and suffering he
went with eager step and helping
hand. 1t was not unusual for this
benevolent man to not only render
his professional services gratis, but
to pay for medicine and proper food
for his patient. He never expected
and seldom received adequate COM
pensation in money ior his work and
often gave back part Of what had
been voluntarily offered him. Dr.
Steele was typical pioneer--stal-
wart, generous, strong and brave.
Wherever tried he was never found
wanting. We mourn his loss and
honor his memory.
The Montana Pioneers.
President A. j. Fisk, of the So
ciety OF Montana Pioneers. issued
the following notice:
"There died in this city at an early
hour Sunday morning past presi-
dent of this society, DR.. William l..
Steele. a race composed Of fearless,
law abiding pioneers, OF which he
was conspicuous member, is rapidly
disappearing. Arriving in Alder