Mr. M'Steen is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was born July 18, 1840, being the third child in the family of Patrick McSteen and Bridget (McDermott) McSteen. His parents came to this country from Ireland in their youth, and were married on this side of the water. His father was a brass moulder and gas fitter by trade, and in this business was very successful. His mother died when he was very young, and he was taken into the family of her brother, with whom he resided and by whom he was educated.
His youth was spent in obtaining his schooling at the Christian Brothers' School and at a select school taught by John Cavanaugh, both being located in Pittsburgh. Here he remained until he was about seventeen years of age, at which time he learned the trade of stove moulding, with the firm of Graff & Co., and continued at this work until he was twenty-one years of age. It was about this time that his uncle and his aunt with their family concluded to remove to the West. It was their idea that in this section of the world would be found greater opportunities for the accumulation of money than could be found elsewhere. Mr. McDermott desired to leave his trade and take up the occupation of farming, and for that reason when the party came to the vicinity of Davenport they located, not in the city, but in the country - in Winfield Township - where Mr. McDermott purchased a farm.
Mr. McSteen remained with his uncle, engaging in agricultural pursuits and giving up his trade also. They had reached Davenport some time during the spring of 1859, and Mr. Mesteen remained with his uncle for about sixteen years, or until some time in 1876.
He accumulated enough during his career as a farmer to purchase acre of ground, and built for himself a cozy home thereon. Later, as time dealt kindly with him , he got together enough funds to purchase a threshing machine, and during four or five seasons — some time in the '70s — he conducted a very prosperous business throughout the County. His machine was entirely destroyed by fire during the beginning of one season, and Mr. McSteen found himself face to face with a state of affairs which was calculated to discourage and dishearten the strongest of men. He owed several hundred dollars, which had been borrowed on the outfit, and although he was not compelled to do so, owing to the nature of his contract, he gave up his home in the country in the settlement of his debt. Friends and relatives had endorsed his notes, and, had he been so disposed, he could have allowed them to pay the sums necessary to square his accounts, but he chose the more honorable course, and as a result moved into the City of Davenport, where he had just enough money left to pay one month's rent — leaving but fifty cents in his pocket.
He had absolutely no opportunities for making money. He cast about for some time in the effort to find a means of making a living, and finally got work over at Rock Island Arsenal, as a teamster, which occupation he followed for a couple of years with reasonably good success.
This employment enabled him to purchase a lot and build himself a home in the City of Davenport, and in partnership with Joseph Nole he engaged in the implement business, having borrowed six hundred dollars. Misfortune again overtook him. This time, however, not in the same manner as before, although the results were much the same, and he lost everything. He had given promissory notes for the money he had borrowed, and as a result, when the failure of the firm took place, the little property which he had accumulated was seized, and he was left again without a home. This was early in 1879.
He was a candidate during that spring for the city clerkship, and good fortune overtook him when he was elected to the office by a large majority. It was, perhaps, true that his business failure had something to do with his success at the election. However, it would appear that he must undoubtedly have been very successful in the office, for he was ten times reëlected , and his friends insisted upon him running the eleventh time, when he was defeated, but not in a fair competition. It happened that after he had refused to allow the use of his name his friends came to him and urged that he allow himself to be placed in nomination. This he absolutely refused to do at first, but finally con sented to run independently, there having been previously chosen a representative from his party ranks. le consented to run for the election, only upon condition that the Republicans would not place a candidate in nomination . This the Republicans had promised, but they failed to fulfill their promise, and as result there were three candidates in the field, the Republican winning.
Inside of a week after this contest was decided Mr. McSteen went into the life, fire and accident insurance business, representing the following companies: American of Newark, New Jersey; Union of Philadelphia; Security of Davenport; Grand Rapids of Michigan; United States Mutual Accident Company; Firemen's of Newark, New Jersey; Eagle Fire of New York; State of Des Moines; Capital of Des Moines, and Manhattan Life Insurance Company. He has been very diligent in this, and his success has been very good.
Mr. McSteen's political aspirations were not confined entirely to his ten years' service in the city clerk's office. While he was a resident of Winfield Township he was justice of the peace for four years and secretary of the school board for six years, also township clerk for seven or eight years.
Some time in 1890 he purchased a cigar store and has conducted a Successful business in that line in connection with his insurance. He has his insurance office in his cigar and tobacco establishment, but regards the cigar business as of small importance compared with his.
Mr. McSteen is one of the substantial citizens of Scott County. He is possessed of an indomitable will and great energy, coupled with which he has ability and good business judgment. His career has been an interesting one in many respects, and owing to the misfortunes which have befallen him great credit is due him for what he has accomplished . He not only has sustained severe financial losses, but in 1861 met with the loss of his leg as the result of a threshing machine accident. A strange thing about this accident was the fact that Mr. McSteen had arranged all his affairs to enlist in an Iowa regiment for service in the War of the Rebellion. He was to have enlisted on the evening of the accident, and, in fact, had started for the place of enlistment, when he was called by some neighbors to assist in the work which later resulted in the loss of his limb and necessarily in the giving up of his military career.
Through adversity and trial Mr. McSteen has toiled onward, steadily and resolutely, until he has been successful to a degree of which he has a right to feel proud.
He was married, October 21, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Loyd, a native of New York City. The children of this union are: Charles F., residing in Phillipsburgh, Kansas, who is an engineer; Edward, who died at the age of one year; John P., residing in Horton, Kansas, and also an engineer; J. E., connected with the train dispatcher's office on the Rock Island Railroad; Thomas P., residing in Davenport, a timekeeper at the Eagle Manufacturing Company's works, and Florence and Gertrude, residing at home.
BIOGRAPHIES