John Benjamin Steen

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John Benjamin Steen

Birth
Knox County, Missouri, USA
Death
7 Sep 1945 (aged 84)
Bellflower, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Santa Fe Springs, Los Angeles County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
Block L, Lot 4 1/2, Grave 3
Memorial ID
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From The Times-Advocate (Escondido, California) Monday, September 10, 1945, Page 1:

John Steen, Former Citizen, Passes Away

John Steen, former Escondidan, grandfather of Mrs. W. F. White, passed away at Bellflower Friday. He was 84 years old and had been in failing health for the past two years. Mrs. White and family returned Monday morning from Bellflower where they visited the bereaved family.

From the History of the State of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties by James Miller Guinn, Volume 1, Page 672 and 673:

JOHN BENJAMIN STEEN. Since 1894 Mr. Steen has been known as one of the most enthusiastic citizens of Long Beach, coming here in that year as a contractor and builder, a line of endeavor for which he has every qualification, if his success during the past twelve years can be taken as a basis for this conclusion. On the paternal side he is of English descent, his father, John J. Steen, having been born in Nottingham, England, whence he immigrated to the United States, locating first in Brooklyn, NY, then in Baltimore, MD, and still later in Brookfield, VA. It was in the latter city that his marriage occurred, uniting him with Martha Brooks, who was a native of the Old Dominion. From Virginia Mr. Steen and his wife removed to Missouri, from there to Rushville, Ohio and finally to Iowa, the death of Mrs. Steen occurring in the latter state. For a number of years Mr. Steen was a merchant in that state, but is now in Alberta, Canada, where he has accumulated large property holdings.

John B. Steen was born in Paulville, Adair County, MO, November 14, 1860, and was well educated in the common schools of the various localities in which his parents settled during his boyhood years. As a trade upon which to depend for future years, he chose that of carpenter, although for some time he was well known as a farmer and stock raiser in Chambers, Holt County, Neb. Relinquishing his interests in Nebraska in 1894, he that year came to Long Beach and gave his attention to his trade, the city at that time being in great need of competent workmen. At first he made a specialty of shingling contracts, and he has the credit of completing more houses with shingle roofs than any other one person in Long Beach. Later he built houses on his own responsibility and sold them, in addition to executing contracts for complete buildings for others. He still owns six residences, besides valuable property on Second street and elsewhere in the city.

In Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, John B. Steen was united in marriage with Bertha F. Van Ornam, June 19, 1889. She is the daughter of Edward C.D. and Ann M. (Doolittle) Van Ornam, an account of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Three children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Steen, as follows: Victor V., Verna D.M. and Vera F. Mrs. Steen is a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Long Beach.
From The Times-Advocate (Escondido, California) Monday, September 10, 1945, Page 1:

John Steen, Former Citizen, Passes Away

John Steen, former Escondidan, grandfather of Mrs. W. F. White, passed away at Bellflower Friday. He was 84 years old and had been in failing health for the past two years. Mrs. White and family returned Monday morning from Bellflower where they visited the bereaved family.

From the History of the State of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties by James Miller Guinn, Volume 1, Page 672 and 673:

JOHN BENJAMIN STEEN. Since 1894 Mr. Steen has been known as one of the most enthusiastic citizens of Long Beach, coming here in that year as a contractor and builder, a line of endeavor for which he has every qualification, if his success during the past twelve years can be taken as a basis for this conclusion. On the paternal side he is of English descent, his father, John J. Steen, having been born in Nottingham, England, whence he immigrated to the United States, locating first in Brooklyn, NY, then in Baltimore, MD, and still later in Brookfield, VA. It was in the latter city that his marriage occurred, uniting him with Martha Brooks, who was a native of the Old Dominion. From Virginia Mr. Steen and his wife removed to Missouri, from there to Rushville, Ohio and finally to Iowa, the death of Mrs. Steen occurring in the latter state. For a number of years Mr. Steen was a merchant in that state, but is now in Alberta, Canada, where he has accumulated large property holdings.

John B. Steen was born in Paulville, Adair County, MO, November 14, 1860, and was well educated in the common schools of the various localities in which his parents settled during his boyhood years. As a trade upon which to depend for future years, he chose that of carpenter, although for some time he was well known as a farmer and stock raiser in Chambers, Holt County, Neb. Relinquishing his interests in Nebraska in 1894, he that year came to Long Beach and gave his attention to his trade, the city at that time being in great need of competent workmen. At first he made a specialty of shingling contracts, and he has the credit of completing more houses with shingle roofs than any other one person in Long Beach. Later he built houses on his own responsibility and sold them, in addition to executing contracts for complete buildings for others. He still owns six residences, besides valuable property on Second street and elsewhere in the city.

In Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, John B. Steen was united in marriage with Bertha F. Van Ornam, June 19, 1889. She is the daughter of Edward C.D. and Ann M. (Doolittle) Van Ornam, an account of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Three children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Steen, as follows: Victor V., Verna D.M. and Vera F. Mrs. Steen is a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Long Beach.