Hon. Russell A. Steere

STEERE, MILHOUS, KING

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/16/2009 at 08:00:27

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 698-699

HON. RUSSELL A. STEERE was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 27, 1821. His father, David Steere, was a miller by trade, and was born in Virginia, of French parentage, in August, 1786. His father was Joseph Steere. The Steere family settled in South Carolina in 1700; six generations have been born in America, the first settlers having been French Huguenots. The mother of Russell A. Steere was Phoebe Milhous, who was born in the city of Philadelphia, where she grew to womanhood. Her father was William Milhous, a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Russell A. Steere passed his early boyhood in Ohio, and in 1833 went out to Michigan, remaining there until he was eighteen years of age; he then entered Mount Pleasant College, a Quaker institution in Jefferson County, Ohio, and was graduated in 1841. He then began his career as a teacher, and taught in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. In 1844 he went to Cincinnati, and was there employed in an importing dry-goods establishment until 1847 when he enlisted in the Mexican war, entering Company B, Second Ohio, Charles Broughf acting as Colonel of the Regiment; he was sent to Matamoras, and then to Vera Cruz, where many of the soldiers took the yellow fever; all of the officers and many soldiers died. Mr. Steere was sent to New Orleans, and was there placed in the hospital under the care of the Sisters of Charity. After being mustered out of the service he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, and resumed his place in the wholesale house, remaining there until 1853, when he went to Minnesota, and settled in Fillmore County. In 1864, when there was a call for more men to defend the flag of this nation, Mr. Steere again shouldered his musket, and enlisted in Company A, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; he was sent south, and joined Sherman's army at Savannah, and took part in the pursuit of General Johnston, who surrendered at Raleigh. He was then ordered to Washington, D. C., took part in the grand review, was mustered out July 11, 1865; was paid at Fort Snelling, and received his final discharge July 20, 1865. Mr. Steere was married in December, 1855, to Miss Alice King, a daughter of John E. King, a native of England. She was born in Illinois. Eight children were born of this marriage-Edmund H., Ernest K., Samuel H. (deceased), Francis V. (deceased), Lincoln, Elinor, Alice M. and David. After returning from the war, Mr. Steere began farming near Spring Valley, Minnesota, and remained there until 1867, when he removed with his family to Michigan and bought a farm in Branch County, and lived upon it until 1872; he then went back to Minnesota, attended to some business, and in October, 1873, he removed his family to Audubon County, residing the first two years at Oakfield. In 1875 he moved to his present farm, which contains 160 acres; since his residence there Mr. Steere has devoted all of his time to directing and improving his farm; he gives special attention to raising live-stock. While living in Minnesota, Mr. Steere was elected a member of the Legislature, and was appointed to the offices of county commissioner and county clerk. He also filled several township offices, acquitting himself in all these positions with much credit. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Union League, and is a staunch temperence man. Politically he is a Republican; he was born and raised a Whig. He voted for General Harrison in 1840, and for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. He is a member of the G. A. R.