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Keweenaw County Michigan

MIGenWeb Project     USGenWeb Project

Jacob Steffes

Page 303-304 BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD HOUGHTON, BARAGA AND MARQUETTE COUNTIES

JACOB STEFFES, a prominent citizen of Lake Linden, Houghton County Michigan, and a valued town official, was born in 1866 in Keweenaw County. Michigan, and is a son of Adam and Barbara (Loubs) Steffes.

Adam Steffes was born in Germany, but died in Houghton County, Michigan, in 1887, aged 47 years. He came to the United States in the "fifties" and followed his profession of engineer in Keweenaw County until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he entered the service of his adopted country in 1861 as a private in the 16th Reg., Michigan Vol. Inf.; he served through the whole war and received an honorable discharge. He held a number of the local offices in the gift of the Democratic party in his county, and enjoyed the esteem of many friends. The mother of our subject was also born in Germany, and now resides at Lake Linden, Houghton County, aged 55 years. She is a devoted member of the Catholic Church, with which her husband was also connected. The children born to our subject's parents were six in number, as follows: Jacob; Lena, wife of Fred Kappler, of Lake Linden. Michigan; Anna; Margaret, wife of William Stutte, of Lake Linden, Michigan; Alydia; and Mary.

Jacob Steffes, after completing his public school course in Keweenaw County at the age of 15 years, began work in the Calumet & Hecla mills, where he continued eight years, and then engaged in clerking for some considerable time. In 1892 he was first elected village clerk, re-election followed in 1900, and he is still capably filling the duties of this office. Continuously since 1897 he has held the office of justice of the peace, and since 1896 has been continued by his appreciative fellow citizens as chief of the fire department of Lake Linden. Mr. Steffes is also secretary of the water works board and collector of water taxes. All these offices are managed with efficiency and with an eye single to the public's good. Mr. Steffes enjoys the confidence and esteem of the whole community. In 1895 Mr. Steffes married Cecelia Paulin, daughter of Henry and Anna Paulin, and a native of Keweenaw County, Michigan. Both our subject and wife belong to the Catholic Church. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Knights of Columbus. In politics he is a Democrat.