STEER, ELISHA B. -- a well-known representative farmer of Belmont County, Ohio, residing on his fine farm of 94 acres, located on section 7, range 3, Colerain township, was born on a farm which adjoins his own on the south on June 2, 1850.

His parents were Israel and Rebecca (Bracken) Steer, more extended mention of whom will be found in another part of this volume.
Our subject was educated in the local public schools and at Mount Pleasant, Ohio, assisting his father in the latter's farming operations much of the time.
When about 25 years of age he began his own agricultural career and has been very successful, raising the usual products of this locality, making wheat a specialty.
In growing this grain Mr. Steer has demonstrated that proper knowledge of soil, seed and fertilizer has much to do with its yield in Ohio, his own being very satisfactory.
He has raised over 50 bushels of wheat to the acre, and as this is an unusual yield for Belmont County, much credit must be given for his intelligent methods of cultivation.
On May 22, 1876, Mr. Steer was married to Ellen C. Gilbert, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of George and Hannah (Cope) Gilbert, both of whom are deceased, the former dying in 1872.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steer, as follows: Louisa, wife of Wallace J. Bundy; Alfred G., a graduate of Westtown Friends' Boarding School, who has been for four years with a Philadelphia firm engaged in the sale of dairy machinery; Wilmer I., a graduate of Bliss Business College in 1902, is employed as head bookkeeper for the Belmont Telephone Company of Bridgeport, Ohio, and Alice R. and Florence H., at home.
Mr. Steer has been a prominent factor in educational enterprises to the best of his ability.
His interesting family is one to do credit to the county and all are most highly esteemed and all are birthright members of the Society of Friends, of which Mr. Steer is a recognized minister.
Mr. Steer is not only one of the best farmers of Belmont County, Ohio but he is highly respected in business and social relationships, ranking with the leading and reliable men of this section.

Centennial History of Belmont County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, edited by A.T. McKelvey, 1903