Eugene A. Steere
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu

Hon. Eugene A. Steere, Superintendent of Public Instruction 
for the state of Montana, was born in Cooperstown, Otesgo 
County, New York, March 25, 1857. He is of English descent. 
His father, Joseph L. Steere, also a native of Otsego County 
was born in 1823; his mother whose maiden name was Roxana 
Cole, was likewise a native of the Empire State. Both are 
worthy members of the Christian Church and their lives have 
been characterized by useful activity.Six of their eight 
children are still living, Eugene A. being the next to the 
youngest in the family.Professor Steere, the subject of our 
sketch, spent the first eleven years of his life on his 
father's farm in New York, attending the public schools 
and doing chores. In 1868 his parents moved with their 
family to Sparta Wisconsin where his father purchased a 
farm and where he still continues to reside. At Sparta 
young Steere completed a high school course and from 
there went to the State University of Wisconsin, where 
he graduated with honors in June 1881.From that time 
until 1887 he came he was employed as the principal of 
the Kilbourn City schools, meeting with markedsuccess 
in that position. In 1887 he came to Montana to take 
charge of the high school at Butte City. During the 
three years he was principal of the school there he 
did much toward bringing its standard up to the 
present highstanding. At the expiration of three 
years he accepted the superintendency of the Dillon 
schools, his services there,being characterized by 
great enthusiasm and rendering satisfaction to both 
pupils and patrons. During the whole of his career 
as an educator he has taken deep interest in teachers' 
institutions and associations. He is a member of the 
National Teachers' Association and attended its 
meeting in St. Paul in 1890 where he read a paper 
on "The High School and Mass Education." At that 
meeting he was elected Vice-President of the 
Association. In 1891 he was elected President of 
the Montana State Teachers Association. The deep 
interest he took in these associations and the 
time devoted to them and to the general work of 
education in Montana gave him prominence as one of 
the most capable educators in the state and in1892 
he was chosen by the people for the important 
office of State Superintendent of Instruction. 
In this office he is now serving in a most 
creditable manner. There is no question but that 
the public school system of Montana will be 
greatly benefited by his efforts.August 11, 1885, 
Professor Steere married Susie Couvillion, a native 
of Wisconsin and a daughter of Joseph Couvillion,a 
descendant of one of the French families who were 
among the first settlers of Detroit, Michigan. 
Professor and Mrs. Steere have two children, Metta 
Elizabeth and Joseph Maynard.Professor Steere is 
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church at Dillon, is 
a member of the Masonic fraternity and his 
political affiliations are with the Republican 
party. He has made many warm friends since coming 
to Montana.

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