Obit: Steele, Thomas J. (1829 - 1909)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: STEELE DOBBINS HOMMEL SMITH HOLMES SEELEY RUSCH RICHELEU AUCUTT

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner 11/4/1909

DEATH OF THOMAS J. STEELE

Last week Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1909, Clark County lost another one of its oldest and most respected farmer residents, and the village of Thorp one of its best citizens, in the death of Thomas J. Steele, who died of pneumonia at the home of his daughter in that place.
Of the deceased, the Thorp Courier says:

Thomas J. Steele was born in New York on Jan. 3, 1829. After reaching manhood he emigrated west and for a number of years made his home in Sheboygan County, Wis., where on Feb. 2, 1853, he was united in marriage with Jane E. Dobbins, who died in this village on May 29, 1901.

When the war broke out he enlisted in Co. C 4th Wisconsin Regiment, and endured the hardships of a soldier valiantly, until honorably discharged from service. After the war was over he moved to Clark County with his family, settling on a farm four miles west of Greenwood, where he resided until he removed to this village twenty years ago. He was a man of excellent habits and sturdy constitution, and he was not disposed to worry about matters that could be bettered in other ways. This cheerful spirit remained with him to the last, and he retained his clearness of intellect up to his closing days. There was a daily beauty about his life, which won every heart. In temperament he was mild, conciliatory and candid, and yet remarkable for an uncompromising firmness.

He was the father of twelve children, three of whom, Mrs. J. W. Hommel, Mrs. I. A. Smith, and Myrtle, who died at the age of four years, have preceded him into the great beyond. The others are Mrs. Catherine Holmes, Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Geo. Smith, Cox, Wis. Thomas S. Steele, Thorp Mrs. Lissian Seeley, Rib Lake, Wis. Mrs. Elizabeth Rusch, Glendive, Mont. Mrs. Ida Richeleu, Greenwood, Wis., Wm. Steele, Mrs. Harry Aucutt, Arthur Steele, Thorp."

The funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Friday at the M. E. Church, J. B. Bachman officiating, with burial in Thorp Cemetery.