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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 






			WILLIAM M. AND ELIZABETH C. (BEAL) STEERE.

	David Steere, father of the above, was born near Winchester, Va., about the year 1784.  
He moved with his parents subsequently to Jefferson Co., Ohio.  He married Phebe Midhouse, a 
native of Chester Co., Pa., whose parents also removed early to Jefferson Co., Ohio.  In 1833, 
David Steere, who was a farmer by occupation, came with his wife and nine children to Michigan, 
and settled in Lenawee County, where he died at the age of about ninety-three years.  His wife 
lived to the age of eighty-seven years.
	William M. Steere was born Dec. 25, 1812, in Jefferson Co., Ohio, and was the third child
in the family.  He passed his early years at home, and enjoyed the advantages afforded by a very
good school, perhaps better than the average.  He taught school several winters while yet living 
at home.  On the 15th of October, 1837, he married Miss Elizabeth C. Beal, daughter of Joseph and
Elizabeth Beal.  She was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., April 6, 1815.  Her parents were natives of 
Massachusetts.  Mrs. Steere was the fifth in a family of nine children, and came with her parents
to Michigan as early as 1831, locating near Adrian, Lenawee Co., where her father and mother 
both died, the latter in February, 1832, and the former Jan. 22, 1877, at the age of nearly 
ninety-five years.  Mrs. Steere's grandfather, Seth Beal, and his oldest son fought side by side 
at Bunker Hill, and her father was a soldier of 1812.  Mr. Steere's ancestors were Quakers.  To 
Mr. and Mrs. Steere were born nine children,--six sons and three daughters,--of whom five sons 
and two daughters are now living.  The sons are all married.  Two are living on farms in Montcalm
County, two near home, and one, Joseph B. Steere, is a professor of zoology at Ann Arbor.  He 
was graduated from the literary department of the university in 1868 and from the law department 
three years later, and subsequently spent five years abroad, during which time he journeyed 
around the world and collected many rare and interesting specimens for the university museum.
	Mr. Steere has always been engaged in the business of farming.  He located where he now 
lives about 1855.  In politics he is a Republican, and has represented his township nine years as
treasurer, two terms as supervisor, etc.  Mr. and Mrs. Steere have been members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church about forty years.  They were schoolteachers in their younger days, and Mrs. 
Steere still takes an active interest in educational matters.  Their daughter is in charge of the
telegraph-office at Saginaw City.  Two sons, David and William, served one year in the army
 during the Rebellion, the latter being with Sherman on his "march to the sea."



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881. Page 347.  Ronald.