Bernhard Steevens was a school teacher by profession.  He was born in the village of Mehr, Niederrhein Germany (Prussia) in 1826 and immigrated to the US in 1854, the year of his father's death.  He eventually retired from teaching and bought a farm in River Aux Vases, MO, where he lived until his death in 1893.

For more, please read his obituary: