Oconto County WIGenWeb Project
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OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
FAMILIES and BIOGRAPHIES

 

 

.STEER - STEERE Family.

(also found: Steers, Stiers)

of  Spruce and Lena
The Steer/Steere Family has a very long, well researched history in North America dating directly back to the 1660 arrival of John Steere to the colony of Providence, Rhode Island from Ockley, Surrey, England. His arrival and years of settling activity have been found in numerous carefully archived documents of that community. From Rhode Island, Nicholas Steere of the direct line of family moved to Hartwick, New York. Harris Steere, son of Nicholas, moved to Calumet, Wisconsin in 1851.

Noted Genealogist James Pierce Root was hired to research and write the family history. After years of work in both England and the US carefully tracing and listing sources for his information, Mr. Root published his findings on this branch of the Steere family in 1890 entited "Steere Genealogy: A Record of John Steere Who Settled in Providence, Rhode Island, about 1660." This fascinating publication also contains detailed written histories, photos of ancestors, ancestral homes and a vast variety document images from many generations. This branch of the Steer/Steere family truly represents the history of settlement in North America. A lineage outline of the Oconto County Steere Family, summarized from this book, appears later in this posting.


Guy C. Steere married May Nelson in Spruce in 1895 and owned a general store in Lena, Oconto County. His infant Son, also Guy Steere, was born and died in Oconto County (Oct. 9, 1903 - death Oct. 9, 1903) and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. 

Frank Steere, brother of Guy C. Steere and Clyde, lived nearby in Spruce, where he farmed. He died in the county and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oconto Falls.

Brother Clyde Steere and wife Hattie Camp Steere also lived in Oconto County, where he farmed in Spruce. Between 1900 and 1905, they adopted a daughter, Neida, who was born in South Dakota in 1894. Family history tells us that she had a sister Zelda who died about age 12 and a brother Lynton, according to a direct descendant. Neida Steere taught school at Lena District No. 3 in 1914.

Father of Guy, Frank and Clyde, Silas Steere, resided with son Clyde in Lena during the last years of his widowed life. He died at their home in October 1912 and is buied with his wife in Calumet County, Wisconsin.
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Oconto County Reporter
 1914

Hickory - C.H. Steers spent Sunday at Chilton.
Mrs. C.H. Steers and Miss Mae Coy attended the school picnic given by Miss Neita Steers in the town of Lena District No. 3.
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Steere left Monday for Green Bay. From there they will go to California where they intend to spend the next few months. (June)
Estate of Frank A. Steere, hearing on final account of C.H. Steere and petition of final settlement. (June)
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 Marriage:

Spruce - July 1895
Steers-Nelson

 Married, July 3, at the home of the bride’s parents in Spruce, Mr. Guy Steers to Miss May Nelson, Rev. Upson performing the ceremony.  Their many friends wish them joy.

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Three townships were set off in 1892, which were Brazeau, Spruce and Maple Valley. They divided because they had some trouble over roads and taxes. The town had no name when it was set off so the people met and  elected the name Spruce because there were a lot of Spruce trees here. They held their first election in the spring of 1853. The officers which were elected at the first election were: Chairman, Mr Schweiberg; supervisors, Mr. St Mary and Mr. McLean; Clerk, Mr. Tracey; Assessor, Mr. McDoug and; treasurer, Mr. Prausa; justice, Mr. Glynn, Mr. Millard; constable, Mr. Kadlec. Soon after the town was set off, they organized the school district. It was organized by Mr. Tourtelott, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Millard, Mr. Rode, Mr. Steere, Mr McLean, and Mr. Schweiberg.
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Obituary:

Birth:     May, 1823
Death:     Oct., 1912
Chilton Times October 24, 1912

Silas Steere 


Another of the pioneer settlers of this vicinity has passed to the world beyond the grave at the advanced age of 89 years. On Saturday last Silas Steere died at the home of his son, Clyde, at Lena, Oconto County, after a short illness. The deceased was born May 17, 1823, at Cooperstown, Otsego County, N. Y., and remained in his native state, where he followed the occupation of farming, until 1855 when he came to Wisconsin and purchased the farm three miles north of this city now owned by Henry Westfahl. In 1856 he was married to Mary Coy and they continued to reside here until some eighteen years ago when they disposed of their farm and located at Plymouth where Mrs. Steere died in July 1906. After the death of his wife, Mr. Steere went to Appleton where he made his home with his son-in-law, G. M. Schumaker, until a year ago when he went to Lena to live with his son, Clyde. Mr. Steere was an active, progressive farmer and a man who kept posted on current events. He was held in high esteem by his neighbors and all regret to hear of his death. His body was brought to this city Monday morning and conveyed to the Portland cemetery at Brant for interment in the family lot.
He is survived by three sons, Clyde of Lena, Glenn and Kirt of Montana, and three daughters, Mr. G. M. Schumaker of Appleton, Mmes. H. Schumaker and H. Fields of Milwaukee. 
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Steere - Steer Family Tree
in Ascending Order

Silas Steere    
    Born: May 1823 in Hartwick, New York, USA  
    Died:  Oct 1912 in Oconto County, Wisconsin  
    Burial: Calumet County, Wisconsin, USA, Wisconsin, USA
    Notes: 1900  Living in Plymouth, Sheboygan County, WI; occupation: Capitalist (2 youngest sons in residence)
Mary A Coy - Wife of Silas 
    Born: July 1836    
    Died: July 1906    
    Burial: Calumet County, Wisconsin, USA, Wisconsin, USA
    Notes: Wife of Silas; 10 births, 8 living in 1900
Children
    Frank Steere    
        Birth: 1857 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin
        Died: 1912 in Oconto County, WI;
        Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oconto Falls
    Clyde H. Steere   
        Born: March 1860 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin
        Married: Harriet Camp whose parents were Fred and Mary Camp
    Nelly M. Steere
        Born: 1863 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin
    Jenny Marie  Steere
        Born: 1865 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin  
        Married:  Dec 25, 1890 in Calumet 
    Minnie A.  Steere  
        Born April 1867 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin   
        Married: Aug 21, 1889 in Calumet
        Notes: Husband was Henry W. Fields; jewelry store owner in Plymouth, Sheboygan County, WI in 1900
    Guy C. (Willie)  Steere   
        Born: June 1870 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin
        Married:  May Nelson;
        Notes:1910 Lived in Lena Wisconsin - General Store; 1920 lived in Hamilton, Montana, agent for medical lab; 1930 & 1940 Salesman in Anaconda, Montana with married daughter, widowed by 1930
    Effie O. Steere  
        Born: May 1872 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin   
        Died: Aug 1897  
        Burial: Calumet County, Wisconsin, USA, Wisconsin, USA
    Fred K. Steere  
        Born: Jan 1874 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin   
         Died: Mar 1885  
        Burial: Calumet County, Wisconsin, USA, Wisconsin, USA   
    Glenn S. Steere   
        Born: Jan 1878 in Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin    
        Died: Oct 1909  
        Burial: Calumet County, Wisconsin, USA, Wisconsin, USA
    Kirt Steere 
        Born: Oct. 1881 Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin
        Married: Martha Cone 
        Died: 30 Jan 1926 County of Death: HENNEPIN, Minnesota;
        Notes: lived in Montana in 1910, Lived in Minnesota in 1920 with in laws; no children; Occupation: Drygoods Salesman
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Harris Steere
    Born: 21 Jan 1799 Hartwick, New York, USA     
    Died:   March  1891,  Wisconsin USA; buried in Calumet County, WI 
    Note: Moved to Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin in 1851.
Betsy Bliss
    Born: 6 Apr 1801 in Rennselaerville, New York, USA
    Marriage: 1820 in Otsego, New York
    Died: 24 Jun 1869 in Chilton, Calumet, Wisconsin, USA; buried in Calumet County, WI 
   Children - Notes: Four children of Harris and Betsy, besides those listed below, died as infants         
        Octavia Steere           born:  1821 in Hartwick, New York, USA;  died: 1855 in Pavillion
     * Silas S Steere         born: 1823 in Hartwick, New York, USA;      
        Elizur Steere               born:  1827 in Otsego, New York, USA ; to California in 1850, lived in Calaveras County, CA in 1880; died: 1909; buried in Calumet County, WI   
        Maria Betsy Steere    born:  1830 in Otsego, New York, USA; Married  Watson Halsted Sept. 2, 1852 in Calumet County,  Wisconsin    
        Joseph H Steere        born:  1838 in Allegany Cty, New York, USA;  died: Oct. 1872 in Wisconsin; buried in Calumet County, WI 

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Nicholas Steere
    Born: 5 May 1764 Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA     
    Died: 17 Jan 1845 Hartwick, New York, USA 
    Note: Moved to New York from Providence in 1795
Martha Harris - Wife #1 
    Born: 9 Apr 1770 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA
     Marriage: 1792
    Died: 11 Apr 1813 in Hartwick, New York, USA
    Children - 
        Besides the children listed below, two infants of Nicholas and Martha are buried in Fields Cemetery in Hartwick. Their given names are not found in records.
        Ira Steere              born:   11 Sep 1793 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1861
      Rufus Steere        born: 1795;  died: young 
      Joseph Steere     born: 1797;  died: young     
     * Harris Steere    born:    21 Jan 1799 in Hartwick, New York, USA   
        Samuel Steere     born:   1800 in Hartwick, New York, USA      
        Mary Steere          born:    4 Apr 1804 in Hartwick, Otsego, New York, USA;  died: 1842  single, beloved educator      
        Elisha Steere       born:   19 Apr 1809 in Hartwick, New York, USA;  died: 1866      
        Rachel Steere      born:   7 Dec 1810 in Hartwick, New York, USA;  died: 1887
Naomi Pettibone - Wife #2 
    Born: 1775
     Marriage: 1819
    Died: 30 Dec 1853 in Bath, New York, USA
    Children - None

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Samuel Steere
    Born: 12 Nov 1731 Glocester, Rhode Island, USA     
    Died:2 Aug 1814 Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Martha Colwell
    Born: 6 May 1734 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA 
    Marriage: 9 Dec 1756 in Glocester, Rhode Island, USA
    Died: 11 Nov 1813 in Glocester, Rhode Island, USA
    Children -      
        Azubah Steere       born:    27 Oct 1757; died: 1783
        Rufus Steere          born:  15 Nov 1759 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1849    
        Joseph Steere       born:   3 Jan 1762;  died: 1829      
     * Nicholas Steere born:  5 May 1764 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1845      
        Lillis Steere            born:  17 Aug 1766 in Glocester, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1854    
        Wanton Steere      born:    13 Feb 1769;  died: 1819      
        Martha Steere        born:   30 Sep 1771 in Glocester, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1813      
        Samuel Steere       born:   24 Jun 1774;  died: 1865      
        Robert Steere        born:   1 Dec 1776 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1852

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Samuel Steere
    Born: 1677 Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA     
    Died: 18 Oct 1745 Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Hannah Field
    Born: 1685 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
    Marriage: 1710 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
    Died: 1746 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA  
    Children -          
        Urania Steere        born:  25 Feb 1710 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1785
        Son/name unknown Steere   born: unknown;  died: 1723 in Providence of "burning ague" epidemic that killed 41 inhabitants
         Anthony Steere   born: 1716;  died:  1802 age 85     
        Jonah Steere        born: Jan 1720 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died: 1798      
        Jeremiah Steere   born: 22 Feb 1722 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died:  1803  age 81      
        John Steere           born: 1729 in Glocester, Providence, Rhode Island, USA;  died:  before 1757      
     * Samuel Steere  born: 12 Nov 1731 in Glocester, Rhode Island, USA

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John Steere
    Born: 1634 Ockley, Surrey, England - baptized St. Margaret's Church, Ockley
    Immigration: 1860 to Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA    
    Died: 27 Aug 1724 Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA 
Hannah Wickenden
    Born: 1638 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, USA
    Marriage: 27 Oct 1660 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
    Died: 1705 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
    Children -          
        John Steere             born: 1661 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA died: 1727
        Sarah Steere           born: 1663 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA 
        Dinah Steere           born: 1665 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA      
        Thomas Steere       born: 1667 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA      
        Jane Steere             born: 1669 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA died: in Smithfield, 1735     
        William Steere         born:  25 Nov 1671 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; died: 1737  
        Ruth Steere             born: 1673 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; died: 1680
        Anne Steere            born: 1675 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
     * Samuel Steere   born: 1677 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA died: 1745

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John Steere
    Born: 1608 Vann, Surrey, England     
    Died: 1634 Surrey, England 
Jane Peter
    Born: 1607 in Surrey, England
    Marriage: 3 Jun 1628 in Enfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
    Died: England
    Children - 
     * John Steere     born: 1634 in Ockley, Surrey, England     

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