Eliza Broceus Steiner
February 27, 1841-January 3, 1929
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 8, 1929, page 1, col. 2, cont. page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
The death this morning at 4:45 of Mrs. Eliza Steiner, widow of J.H. Steiner, brought to a close a long and interesting life at the age of 88 years.
Mrs. Steiner was quite active until about two weeks ago when she was stricken with a heavy cold and form of influenza, but although she seemed to recover from the cold she was not aagin[sic] able to leave her bed and complications arising from her advanced years caused her death. Her death occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs.George White, at 1029 N. Front street, where Mrs. Steiner had for a number of years practically made her home.
Mrs. Steiner's maiden name was Eliza Broceus. She was born on Feb. 27, 1841, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Broceus, who had come to the district of Glendora, Berrien County from Ohio. Mr. Broceus cut green logs for a cabin for his family and completed it about Christmas time. Six weeks later the daughter, Eliza, was born. She went through woods where wolves and Indians were not infrequent sights to the Hills Corners school. One of her teachers, Jacob Ullery, still resides in Berrien county on the old Ullery homestead north of Niles. He will be 91 years old on January 21.
In 1860 she was married to Justus (continued on Page 4) H. Steiner and moved to a farm on Portage Prairie, south of Buchanan. Thirteen years later they moved to the Steiner farm four miles north of Niles and the farm still remained in the possession of Mrs. Steiner at the time of her death and she had spent part of the summers there for several years, although her husband died in 1911. Among her cherished possessions was the old spinning wheel which which Abram Broceus had bought for her mother in 1845.
Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Steiner, five survive their mother. They are Mrs. William Wells, Dowagiac, Mrs. H. Elmer, Winona, Minn., William Steiner, Niles, Frank Steiner, South Bend, and Mrs. George White, of Niles. Among the surviving grandchildren is Miss Stella Hammond, a supervisor of music the public schools. Besides her children and grandchildren, Mrs. Steiner is survived by four sisters who are Mrs. Mary Ann Quint, [illegible], Iowa, Mrs. George [illegible] Fowler, all of Buchanan. Mrs. Steiner enjoyed a wide acquaintance in Berrien county and many mourn the passing of the prominent and highly respected pioneer.
The funeral plans are not completed pending word from Mrs. Elmer but the services will probably be held on Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. White. Mrs. White is confined to her bed by influenza but a slight improvement is noted in her condition today.
Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 4, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
The services for Mrs. Eliza Steiner, 88, who died on Thursday will be held on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George White, 1209 N. Front Street. Rev. W.H. Campfield, pastor of the Evangelical church in Buchanan, will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.