Payette County ID Archives Obituaries.....Steerman, William Burton 1924
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The Payette Independent 2-14-1924
The Payette Independent
Payette, Idaho
Thursday, February 14, 1924
 
W. B. STEERMAN TAKES OWN LIFE
 
PAYETTE CONSTABLE KILLED HIMSELF ABOUT NOON SUNDAY - FUNERAL YESTERDAY
 
The citizens of Payette received a severe shock about noon Monday when the 
news spread over the city that W. B. Steerman, precinct constable, and a man 
highly respected by everybody, had taken his own life.
 
Mr. Steerman left home Sunday morning about 11 o'clock, with the expressed 
intention of going to the stock yards.  He took his pocket book out of his 
pocket and took his revolver from the scabbard an unusual thing for him, but 
Mrs. Steerman thought nothing particular of it until the sad news of his 
suicide reached her.  After leaving home he was last seen in the vicinity of 
the alfalfa mill.  When he did not return home Sunday evening Mrs. Steerman 
though he had been detained on official duty, as it so often the case with 
officers.  She retired expecting him to return some time in the night, but 
when she awoke Monday morning and found he had not returned she at once 
notified the sheriff's office and gave the alarm to her friends.  Deputy 
Sheriff Christian in the absence of Sheriff Jefferis took charge of the search 
and called several members of the Odd Fellows' order to his assistances.  They 
were finally rewarded for their efforts and the dead body of Mr. Steerman was 
found on the Henry Solterback ranch, in Washoe bottoms, near the Payette 
river.  He was in a sitting position and the revolver which sent the bullet in 
his right temple was lying on the ground at his feet.  Nearby was his note 
book and a lead pencil with which he had written a short message.  The Deputy 
Sheriff Christian, but the content was not given to the public.  It was, 
however, handed to Mrs. Steerman to read and was also read by County Attorney 
Hayes.
 
County Coroner Flenn Landon summoned a jury Tuesday and held an inquest over 
the remains of the dead man.  The verdict handed in after the evidence had 
been heard was that Mr. Steerman had come to his death by a bullet fired by 
his own hand.
 
W. B. Steerman was born in Upshur county, West Virginia, on October 4, 1864.  
In September 1887 he came west, locating in Pendleton, Oregon.  On November 
25, 1922, he was married to Magnolia Box and they came directly to Payette 
where they have resided ever since.  Mr. Steerman was a member of the Baptist 
church and had been an Odd Fellow for more than 25 years.  He received his 
veteran jewel as a member of that order last summer.  He also belonged to the 
encampment and the Muscovites.  He had served as constable of Payette precinct 
for three years and had made a splendid officer.  He was highly respected by 
all who knew him.  He is survived by his widow, one sister, Mrs. H. T. Lemons 
of Tacoma, Washington, who arrived for the funeral, and a brother, George 
Steerman, who lives in West Virginia.
 
Funeral services were held at the Baptist church at 2 o'clock Wednesday 
afternoon and were in charge of the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs and the Encampment.  
The sermon was preached by Rev. F. E. Hawes, pastor of the Baptist church.
  
To the bereaved wife and sister the Independent extends sympathy.

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