My Genealogy Hound

DR. J. A. STEEN, dentist, Ripley. Alexander Steen, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Hagerstown, Md. He came with his family to Ohio in 1820, and located at a settlement called Mount Leigh, Scott Township, Adams County, Ohio. He had a family of eight children, five boys and three girls. One of his sons, Alexander B. Steen, is the father of Dr. Steen. He still resides on the old homestead in Adams County, where he came with his parents when but seven years of age, having been born in 1813. He, with his wife, formerly Miss Nancy J. McClure, have had a family of eight children, seven boys and one girl (Dr. J. A. Steen being the second child). The Steens were originally from Ireland, and the McClures of Scotch descent. Alex. B. Steen is a man highly respected in his community, of an extensive acquaintance, and influential in his section. Dr. J. A. Steen was born in 1841, and reared on his father’s farm. In 1862, he, enlisted in the Ninety-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and served until the close of the war, participating in a number of battles, among which are those of Buffalo, W. Va., Cloyd Mountain, Va., Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek; also in the Hunter raid, starting from Cowpasture, Va., marching 417 miles to Lynchburg — being some days without food; at the battle of Winchester, June 19, 1864, he was wounded, after which he was transferred to the hospital at Philadelphia. He subsequently returned to the field of Winchester to look after the remains of his brother, J. F. Stein, and half-uncle, Ira T. Hays, who were killed in action. He identified their remains and affectionately saw their honored bodies laid at rest in the Winchester Cemetery. At the close of the war, he, with his regiment, was mustered out of the service at Cumberland, Md., and returned to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where they were paid off. On return to peaceful pursuits, he entered the dental office of J. A. McClure, at Cincinnati, with whom he studied eighteen months. At the expiration of this time, he formed a partnership with his preceptor, which was maintained for two years. In the spring of 1869, he removed to Manchester, Adams Co., Ohio, where he opened an office and practiced his profession. December 30, 1869, he was married at Eckmansville, Adams County, to Miss Jane H. Reighley, a native of Locke’s Mills, Mifflin Co., Penn., a daughter of Henry and Nancy Reighley, whose family settled in Adams County. In 1870, he removed to North Liberty, and to Ripley in 1875, where he still resides and enjoys a lucrative practice in his profession. The Doctor is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and also of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. Dr. and Mrs. Steen have a family of four children — Minnie L., Lula E., Harry W. and Merta.