Person:Joseph Steger (1)

In Book 1 of Naturalization Declarations, 1832-1856, page 1239, on file at the Dubuque County Historical Society there appears an entry for Joseph, with his last name spelled Steiger, listing Bavaria as the place he renounced and from where he arrived in America on 25 Dec 1846, with a signing date of 1 Jan 1855. In the 1856 state of Iowa census, with the last name spelled Staggers, Joseph, Mary and their two children, Catherine and Michael Sr. were living in Concord township of Dubuque county. Joseph had been a resident of Iowa for nine years and Mary for five. Joseph was listed as a naturalized voter and a land owner. He had three acres of meadow and six tons of hay; six acres of spring wheat with 74 bushels harvested; two acres of winter wheat with 16 bushels harvested; one-half acre of oats and 32 bushels harvested; three acres of corn with 140 bushels harvested and he had sold two hogs for $18.00. (Source: Ancestry.com: Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925; Family Number: 64; Line: 14; Roll: IA_54.)

         In the U.S. census of 20 Jul 1860 Joseph and his family lived in Concord Township, Dubuque county, with a post office address of Cottage Hill, Iowa. At that time him and Mary were the parents of four children. The value of real estate owned by them was listed at $800 and personal property of $385.   (Source: Ancestry.com:  Year: 1860; Census Place: Concord, Dubuque, Iowa; Roll: M653_320; Page: 82; Image: 221.)
         On the 18 Jul 1870 US census with their last name spelled Steiger, they were still living in Concord Township and now had a post office address of Dubuque, Iowa.  The parents of seven children they had now accumulated real estate valued at $3,500 and had a personal estate valued at $1,000.  (Source: Ancestry.com: Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Concord, Dubuque, Iowa; Roll: M593_389; Page: 44; Image: 90.)
         By 1 Jun 1880 of the US census, with the last name spelled Stager, Joseph and Mary had seven children still living at home.  Catherine and Michael had married and left home and Elizabeth had died before the census was taken.  (Source: Ancestry.com: Year: 1880; Census Place: Concord, Dubuque, Iowa; Roll T9_337; Family History Film: 1254337; Page: 66.1000; Enumeration District: 168; Image: 0855.)
         In the 2 Jun 1900 US census it stated that Joseph, who immigrated to the US in 1846, became a naturalized citizen on 1 Jan 1855 and Mary, who immigrated to the US in 1848, retired from farming and after 48 years of marriage were living alone in a mortgage-free home which they owned in Dyersville, Iowa.  Of the fifteen children to whom Mary gave birth, seven were still living.  (Source: Ancestry.com:  Year: 1900; Census Place: New Wine, Dubuque, Iowa; Roll: T623 431; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 123.)
         Joseph's obituary, which appeared in the Dyersville Iowa Commercial weekly newspaper reads: Mr. Jos. Steger (son of the late Johann Georg and Catherine Dirmayr Steger) aged 79 years passed away at East Dyersville Thursday evening (6 Jun 1907). The cause of his death was old age.
         Deceased was born in Bavaria (Wuerttemberg), Germany, October 20, 1828 and came to America in 1839 and went direct to Holy Cross, this county, where he resided on a farm continuously until several years ago when he quit farming and moved to Dyersville to live in retirement. He was married to Miss Mary Bausch at Sherrills in 1852 who still survives him with seven children. Four daughters: Kate  (Catherine) (Mrs. John Ungs) of Dubuque; Rose (Mrs. George Meyer) of Rickardsville; Susan (Mrs. Peter Even) of near Earlville, Delaware County; Mary (Mrs. John Stoeffel) of Rickardsville. Three sons: Michael of Balltown, Adam of Dubuque and Nicholas of Holy Cross. Also, two brothers: Mike of Dyersville and Andrew of Holy Cross. The funeral was held Saturday (June 8) morning at 9:30 A.M. to St. Francis church, thence to the Catholic cemetery where burial took place. Rev. Father Aubrey officiating at the services. The pallbearers were all nephews of the deceased: Messrs John, George, Frank, George, Paul and John Steger.
         Besides all the children, other relatives who attended the funeral were Misses Anna and Kate Steger and Mr. Geo. Steger of Dubuque. Deceased by his long residence in the county has become widely known. His was an unassuming life and only those nearest to him appreciated the genial kind-hearted qualities that made him the truest of friends and best of fathers. He was very successful at farming. His friends throughout the county as well as in this city deeply regretted to hear of his demise.

1.   GEDCOM file submitted by norbert steger, dianor@mybluelight.com. Created on 28 JUL 2006. Imported on 1 Aug 2006..