Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Steen, Hon William H 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 5, 2007, 2:06 pm

Author: Biographical Publishing Company

HON. WILLIAM H. STEEN. Scotland has contributed to Illinois many of the 
state's best citizens, and she has contributed none more worthy of respect 
than Mr. Steen, the postmaster of Braidwood and one of the pioneers of the 
town. When he came here in 1870 the place was much smaller than at present, 
although its bituminous coal interests were then, as now, of recognized 
importance. In 1872 he was one of the incorporators of the town, and he has 
since been a factor in its advancement, holding numerous important positions 
of a public nature, besides taking an active part in the buying and selling of 
real estate.

The father of our subject, James Steen, was a native of Johnstone, 
Renfrewshire, Scotland. In the spring of 1865 he settled in Schuylkill County, 
Pa., and for a few years he engaged in mining at Pottsville. The year 1868 
found him in the then new mining camp of Braidwood, Ill. Here, as a practical 
coal miner, he worked for some time, and in this city he died in 1889, aged 
sixty-eight years.

At the time he came to America our subject was fifteen years of age. He spent 
five years in Pennsylvania, engaged in mining. Beginning in the humble 
position of slate picker, he gradually worked his way up through all the 
grades until he became a practical miner. For eighteen months he worked a mine 
in Stark County, Ohio. In 1870 he came to Braidwood, where he was employed in 
all of the best mines at different times. Retiring from the work of a miner, 
in 1882 he bought out the insurance and real estate business of John James, 
and this he continued until he was appointed postmaster in 1898.  The 
Republican party has always received his stanch allegiance ever since he was 
of age. From 1873 to 1877 he served as a member of the board of aldermen; in 
1877-78 he was city clerk, and from 1885 to 1889 he was mayor of Braidwood. 
After retiring from the mayoralty he was elected city attorney. A few years 
later a higher honor was conferred upon him by his election, in 1895, as a 
member of the state legislature. At the expiration of his term he was re 
elected to the office. During his service in the house he was active in the 
interests of labor and served as chairman of the committee on mines and 
mining. Having himself risen from poverty to influence, he was well qualified 
to assist in legislation for the benefit of the workingmen, and they had in 
him a stanch friend. During his second term he was chairman of the committee 
on labor and industrial affairs and presented to the house what is now 
commonly known as the child labor bill. Many other reforms were also 
championed by him and received the impetus of his encouragement.

A number of fraternities have enlisted the co-operation of Mr. Steen. He has 
been an executive officer and royal chief of the order of Scottish Clans, 
embracing the United States and Canada, and has recently been elected for a 
third term of two years. He is a member of Banner Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which 
he has been past grand and which he represented in the grand lodge for four 
years; he also served as district deputy. In St. Andrew's Lodge, K. of P., he 
is past chancellor, and its representative in the grand lodge of the state; 
for two years he was district deputy grand chancellor. He is connected with 
Braidwood Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in which he is past warden. For several years 
he served as district secretary of the Miners' Union, in which he has been 
very active. By his marriage, in 1869, to Mary Robertson, he had four 
children, viz.: Agnes H., now the wife of John Kilpatrick; Elizabeth; 
Isabella; and Mary A., who died, aged sixteen years.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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