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277.

AUGUSTUS STEERE, son of Robert (93), grandson of Samuel (30), was born December 26, 1800. He married, 1827, Phebe Ann Medbury, who was born November 3, 1806, and died December 5, 1847. His residence was Laurens, Otsego County, N. Y.

Children:

He died November 10, 1884, in his 84th year.

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Swarthout; d. July 10, 1860.

648

III. ELIZABETH LOUISA ; b. September 10, 1833; d. June 20, 1885.

649

IV. DANIEL MEDBURY, b. July 8, 1835; d. March 5, 1851.

650

V. HERBERT NELSON, b. June 14, 1837; d. July 14, 1841.

651

VI. AUGUSTUS, b. January 14, 1840. He was a member of Company H, 152d N. Y. Volunteers. He was wounded at Mine Run in November, 1863. He d. May 6, 1864, while on the march through the Wilderness. His death was attributed to sunstroke. He was one of the brightest and best of young men.

652 VII. MARY ADELAIDE, b. August 6, 1842.

653 VIII. HELEN AMELIA, b. November 7, 1845. 654 IX. PHEBE ANN, b. October 1, 1847.

278.

JOHN CLARK STEERE, son of Robert (93), grandson of Samuel (30), was born in 1818. He married, first, Lydia E. Bowen, daughter of Stephen Bowen; second, April 10, 1861, Cornelia Gardiner of Watkins, N. Y. They removed to Providence.

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CHAPTER IX.

SIXTH GENERATION.

Short would be the fame of any, after death, if their history did not endure by being written in the book of the clerk.

287.

WACE'S Norman Chronicles.

M

AJOR ENOCH STEERE, son of Zebedee (98), grandson of Enoch (32), was born in Glocester October 4, 1794. He removed to Providence in March, 1812. Business interests soon after led him to the State of Georgia, where he remained a few years. Returning to Providence, he married, March 28, 1816, Rhoda Peck, and established himself in the shoe trade, and by his industry, energy, and integrity built up a solid and lucrative business. His dwelling-house, now occupied by his daughters, was built about 1826. He was not an aspirant for the favors of public life, choosing the serener circles of home and of common industry, though he was once an efficient officer of the militia, and always a generous supporter of the fire department and the various benevolent institutions of the city. In him the poor and needy had an unfailing friend. He made a profession of religion in connection with the old First Baptist Church, and although for a time he was a member of the Third Baptist Church, that he might help the new organization, he returned to his first church home, and was ever respected for his sterling character, his active piety, and his genial ways. He died June 21, 1878. His wife died in 1870, having by her will of August 7, 1866, given her husband the use of all her real estate during his life, and and making provision for his son and daughters. This will was presented for probate, October 4, 1870.

Children:

666 I. WILLIAM H. PECK, b. May 5, 1817.

* The following sketch is from Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island.

"Gen. William H. P. Steere, son of Enoch and Rhoda (Peck) Steere, and grandson of Zebedee, was born in Providence, May 5, 1817. His early education was obtained in the private schools of his native place. For fifteen years previous to the breaking out of the Civil War he was in the employ of the Boston and

Providence Railroad Company. He discharged the duties of his office with fidelity, and to the satisfaction of the company. When the rebellion broke out Mr. Steere offered his services to the government. Soon after General, then Colonel, Burnside left for the seat of war in command of the First Rhode Island Regiment, it was proposed to raise a second regiment. In this regiment Mr. Steere received a com

667 II. ISAAC PECK, d. young.

668 III. JOHN HARADON, d. young.

669 IV. MARY ANNA, living in Providence, 1887.

670 V. ALMIRA GREENE, m., January 15, 1847, Edwin W. Taylor. 671 VI. PHEBE PECK, d. young.

288.

JONAH STEERE, son of Zebedee (98), grandson of Enoch (32), was born in Glocester in 1795. He married Mary Young, born in Smithfield, 1799. She was a daughter of Othniel Young. They lived in Burrillville.

mission of captain over the company that had been raised by him. From the day of the opening of the armory of the National Cadets he was constantly busy in drilling from five hundred to a thousand men, among whom were not a few well-known citizens of Providence, including several clergymen, who were ready to serve their country in such ways as they might make themselves useful. The Second Rhode Island Regiment, in which Captain Steere was an officer, was mustered into the United States service June 5, 1861, Colonel Slocum being its commanding officer, and left Providence for Washington on the 19th of June. On arriving at the capital, it pitched its camp near that of the First Regiment. A few weeks passed and then came the first Bull Run battle with its disastrous defeat. For his bravery on that memorable occasion Captain Steere was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In September, while in camp on the old camping-ground, Colonel Steere was prostrated by what proved to be chronic diarrhoea, and was so reduced that he was not expected to live. He rallied, however, sufficiently to be able to return to Rhode Island, and in a few months had so far recovered that he returned to his post of duty. During the early months of 1862 he saw very hard military service. The hardships of one of its marches,' says one of its officers, 'were among the most severe the regiment had ever experienced; for days and nights neither men nor horses had rest; they were often without food, and the constant skirmishing with the enemy told severely on them.' Colonel Steere, on the 12th of June, 1862, was promoted to the colonelcy of the Fourth Rhode Island Regiment of Volunteers. During this year he took part in several important engagements, especially the fa. mous battle of Antietam, where he showed the most undaunted bravery, receiving a severe wound, which so disabled him that he was removed to Philadelphia,

and found a home in the residence of Col. Peter Fritz. Here he remained until his wound was so far healed as to render it possible for him to return, in April, 1863, to his regiment, although against the advice of his physician. From July, 1863, to March, 1864, his headquarters were near Portsmouth, Virginia. The brigade with which he was connected saw much hard service during this period. From the time of his return to the front, until his final return home, he was in command of either a brigade, division, or post. He relieved General Smith at Yorktown, in March, 1864, and was placed in command of that post, consisting of Yorktown, Gloucester Point, and Williamsburg. This was a position of grave responsibility, and his appointment to which was an indication of the place which he held in the esteem of his superior officers. Subsequently he took part in the battles in front of Petersburg, Virginia. While thus engaged he was attacked by his old complaint, and once more so completely prostrated that the only hope of saving his life was to remove him to his home in Providence. While confined by his sickness, his term of service expired, and he was mustered out of the service October 15, 1864. Of no officer,' says Hon. J. R. Bartlett, sent by Rhode Island to the field, has she reason to be more proud than of Colonel Steere. Through the entire three years of service, during which he filled the various positions of captain, lieutenant-colonel, colonel, brigadier-general, and department commander, he made the record of a brave and efficient officer.' Colonel Steere removed to Johnston in 1868, where he was appointed postmaster, holding the office till his death."

He married, first, Lucy Stoddard. Their daughter, Lucy P., born 1838, married, October 7, 1856, Arnold L. Potter, and died December 25, 1869. He married, second, 1862, Amanda Butts; and third, Emily C. Jackson.

672

Children:

I. ESTHER, b. in Burrillville January, 1825; m. Philip T. Harris, b. in Cranston 1824. They
resided in Smithfield and Centerdale, R. I.

Children: Ellen A., b. 1848 ; d. 1869. Thomas N., b. 1848, d. November 25, 1849.
Abner C., b. 1851; m. Emma Elliott.

673 II. BENONI, b. in Burrillville; m. Mary McIntyre. He was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg, a. 28 years.

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675 IV. SARAH, b. 1837; d. March 30, 1864, a. 26 years and 8 months.

676 V. LYDIA, b. in Burrillville; m. David Dines; d. in Whitinsville, Mass.

677 VI. ALMIRA, b. 1844; m. Robert Kennedy, s. p.; d. in Johnston in 1881, a. 37 years.

289.

WILLARD STEERE, son of Zebedee (98), grandson of Enoch (32), was born in Logee. They lived in Providence, also at Burrillville,

1796. He married

where he died.

Children:

678 I. EMELINE. 679 II. CHARLES. 680 III. WILLARD.

681 IV. MARY.

291.

MAJOR ASA STEERE, son of Zebedee (98), grandson of Enoch (32), was born April 19, 1802. He married Susan Burlingame, who was born September 26, 1804. He lived in North Providence, at Centerdale, for over fifty years. In the years 1827, 1829, and 1832, he bought several lots of land in that neighborhood from James Angell and Nathaniel Angell.* He died May 6, 1852; she died June 11, 1879.

Children:

682 I. MARY, b. April 29, 1825; m., May 26, 1844, Darwin L. Mowry, b. January 13, 1820, and resides in Providence.

Children: Mary J., d. young ; Isabella, d. young; Florine H. 683 II. CATHERINE, m., 1st, Thomas Davis; 2d, B. F. Whipple. 684 III. ELIZABETH, m. William Cunliff, and lives in Providence. Child Truman A.

*North Providence Records, vol. 5, pp. 356, 552, 653.

301.

HON. ALANSON STEERE, Son of Hosea (102), grandson of Noah (33), was born in Glocester September 2, 1810. He attended the common schools in his native town, and at the age of sixteen began to serve as apprentice to his father, as a millwright, with whom he worked till about 1834, when he engaged in the same business on his own account. In 1838, in company with his brother, Otis Steere, he began the manufacture of cotton yarn at Kent's Corner, in the town of Scituate, where they continued in business until 1848, when they leased for ten years the Brown Mill in Johnston for the purpose of manufacturing cotton sheetings. In 1852 they cancelled the lease of this mill, and removed to Chepachet, where they were engaged in the weaving of print-cloths until 1857. Afterward they went to Rockland, where they carried on the manufacture of the same line of goods as at Chepachet. In 1863 the firm of A. & O. Steere dissolved, the senior partner continuing the business with the assistance of his two sons Hiram and Byron L. In 1865 he bought the Rockland Mill and also leased the Red Mill near by, both of which he carried on in his own name until 1876. At that date he took his son Byron L. into the business, and the firm name has since been A. Steere & Son. In 1881 he built an addition to his Rockland mill. Over eight thousand spindles are operated in these mills. Since 1860 Mr. Steere has had one sixth interest in the Ponagansett Mill, which runs six thousand spindles.

Mr. Steere was for several years president of the Town Council of Scituate, and was state senator from 1865 to 1869. He is an advocate of total abstinence, and is connected with the Sons of Temperance. He is also a member of the Masonic order and treasurer of Hamilton Lodge.

Mr. Steere married, February 14, 1836, Julia Westcott, daughter of Jeremiah and Olive (Burlingame) Westcott of Coventry, R. I., who was born December 14, 1812. She died April 8, 1887.

Children:

685 I. SARAH FRANCES.

686 II. HIRAM, b. 1843 ; m., May 23, 1863, Elizabeth A. Bishop, dau. of Richard and Mahala (Round) Bishop. He was a member of the General Assembly in 1870 and 1871. He d. June 20, 1872.

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ABEL STEERE, Son of Elisha (109), grandson of John (34), was born in Glocester April 29, 1791. He married, September 11, 1817, Almira Booth, who was

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