Alton E. Steere Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1534-1535 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ALTON E. STEERE, one of the prominent business men and honored 
citizens of Goodwin, Deuel county, was born in Orland, Steuben county, 
Indiana, on the 19th of April, 1857, and is a son of Dr. Warren B. and 
Ellen (Emens) Steere, the former of whom was born in Hartwick, New York, 
and the latter in Lockport, that state, whence they removed to Indiana 
in an early day, the father having been an able physician and surgeon, 
while for a time he was professor of materia medica in a college at Des 
Moines, Iowa, he having died in the state of Iowa, March 1, 1900. When 
the subject was about five years of age his parents removed to Iowa and 
located in Dewitt, Clinton county, where he attended the public schools 
until within a year of his completing a course in the high school, when 
he withdrew and began clerking in a local grocery store, in order to 
provide for his own maintenance. He was a great reader and invested his 
surplus earnings largely in good books, while he was fond of out-of-door 
sports and never had any predilection for such vices as gambling or the 
use of intoxicating liquors, his ambitions and ideals being too high to 
permit him to drift into such indulgences. In the spring of 1876 he left 
Dewitt and went to Dodge Center, Minnesota, where he remained two years, 
clerking for a portion of the time and also spending several months in 
the study of dentistry in a local office. In the spring of 1878 he came 
to South Dakota, where he has since maintained his home, having located 
in Goodwin, where he has remained. His health was much impaired for a 
number of years, owing to the results of a sunstroke which he received 
in June, 1878, and to a severe hemorrhage of the lungs in the winter of 
1880, caused by a strain which ruptured an artery. He has been fortunate 
in recovering completely from both of these disorders. In December, 
1889, Mr. Steere entered into partnership with H. B. Veerhusen and 
engaged in the general merchandise business in Goodwin. their cash 
capital being represented in the sum of three hundred dollars, so that 
they were compelled to borrow money to initiate the enterprise. Eleven 
months after the business had been established the father of our subject 
furnished him with the capital to purchase his partner's interest, and 
he has since continued the enterprise individually, after having repaid 
his father, built up an excellent trade and carries a comprehensive 
stock, while he retains the unqualified esteem and confidence of all who 
know him. For the past twelve vears he has served as postmaster of the 
town, save for an interval of about eighteen months under the 
administration of President Cleveland, when he was retired. He has also 
served as justice of the peace and town clerk, and as treasurer of the 
Republican central co1nmittee of the county, having no desire for 
further official preferment, as he prefers to give his time and 
attention to his private affairs. He is an uncompromising Republican and 
is well fortified in his convictions as to matters of public policy, 
believing that the principles of the grand and well-tried old Republican 
party are best adapted to securing the greatest good to the greatest 
number in governmental affairs, while the prosperity of his country lies 
very close to his heart. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America 
and the Independent Order of Good Templars, haying been the first deputy 
or chief templar in the latter in Goodwin, while he was district 
secretary of the order for several terms. He and his wife are prominent 
and valued members of the Baptist church, and he is a member of the 
board of trustees of the local organization of the same. He has much 
musical taste and ability, playing a number of instruments and being a 
member of the choir of his church, while his wife is organist of the 
same. 

	On the 8th of September, 1882, Mr. Steere was united in marriage 
to Miss Nellie Smith, the marriage being solemnized at Oakwood, 
Brookings county, by Rev. Walter Ross. Mrs. Steere was born at St. 
Charles, Minnesota, her father having been one of the first settlers in 
that locality, about a half century ago, while she and her husband own 
nearly the entire interest in the old homestead which her father took up 
as a pre-emption claim in those early days of hardship and privation. 
Mr. and Mrs. Steere have two daughters: Fanny Estella, who was born 
October 7, 1883, was married, on the 4th of November, 1903, to Perry C. 
Green, son of Hon. David Green, of this county, who was formerly a 
member of the state senate; and Mabel Ellen, who was born March 22, 
1890, is attending the public schools of Goodwin.