BETHESDA

Christian Steckley, Sr., died in 1831, aged thirty-six years. His wife, Fanny Hoover, died in 1859, aged sixty-three years. He had six sons, Daniel, Samuel, Christian, John, Abraham and Jacob. He took up one thousand acres of land northeast of Bethesda and was killed by a falling tree. They are both buried on the farm where Clarence Bollinder now lives. Daniel Steckley, a son of the above, married Nancy Doner. He was a deacon in the Tunker church. His son, Samuel, married Susanna Baker. She was Bishop Samuel Baker's sister. John Steckley, son of the above, was one of the founders of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. Christian Steckley, Sr., was one of the pioneer members of the Old Mennonite Church who attended meeting at their place. These are some of Daniel Steckley's descendants in the Markham Church and most of the other descendants were members of the M. B. C. Church. The other three brothers belonged to the M. B. C. Church.

Daniel Steckley, son of Daniel Steckley, Sr., was ordained to the ministry in 1882 and later moved to Kansas. He married Bishop Abram Winger's daughter of Bertie. Peter Steckley was born August 7, 1857, and was ordained to the ministry in 1888 and was later chosen as bishop in 1911 and died in September, 1924. Mary Ann married Daniel Climenhaga, a deacon of Bertie. Peter Steckley was married November 1, 1881, to Sarah Heise by Bishop Samuel Snider of Edgeley. He had two sons in the ministry. His oldest son, Lewis, was a missionary in South Africa for thirty years. He married Elizabeth Engle and is now living in Kansas. Jesse Steckley was ordained to the ministry by his father, Peter Steckley, in March, 1924. Alice married Elder Jesse Sider of Wainfleet December 28, 1910, and died February 29, 1920. Ella married Jesse Lehman May 1, 1912. He was a deacon in Carlisle, Pa. Landon Steckley was born November 2, 1891, and is a deacon in Markham district. Mary was born April 2, 1893, and married Abraham Lehman of Carlisle, Pa., who was a deacon. Maggie was born March 6, 1895 and married Ernie Swalm January 21, 1920. He is now bishop of Nottawa district. Rhoda was born June 22, 1906, and married Harvey Sheffer June 8, 1929. He is now deacon of Nottawa district. After they were all married her mother said "My precious baby girl was married last of all and now I am left without any children". They drove over fifteen hundred miles yearly, mostly with a three-seated carriage. He was the father of fourteen children. Twelve are living at present. Eleven recorded in church. He was a very sociable man and did a lot of visiting. All of these qualities were an asset to the church he belonged to.

One of Peter Steckley's hymns out of the old hymn book:

There is a path that leads to God, all others go astray,
Narrow but pleasant is the road, but Christians love the way.

It leads straight through this world of sin and dangers must be past,
But those that boldly walk therein, will get to heaven at last.

How shall an infant pilgrim dare this dangerous road to tread,
For on the road is many a snare for youthful travelers spread.

Where the broad road where thousands go lies near and opens fair,
And many turn aside I know, To walk with sinners there.

But lest my feeble steps should slide or wander from the way,
Lord condescend to be my guide, and I shall never stray.

Then I may go without alarm, and trust his word of old
The lambs he'll gather with his arm and lead them to the fold.

Then I shall safely venture through beneath my Shepherd's care,
And keep the gate of heaven in view till I shall enter there.

Joseph Steckley was born December 25, 1860. He married Leah Heise February 15, 1887. Bishop Samuel Baker married them, witnesses were Levi Heise and Sarah Catherine Steckley. Louisa Steckley, a daughter, married Alvin Winger of Bertie. He was ordained a minister there and moved to Markham and became bishop of Markham district. Annie Steckley was born in 1891. She was ordained a missionary in 1918. She was ordained by Bishop Charles Baker, Bishop Peter Steckley and Bishop Bert Sherk. She went to India the same year and served there thirty-three years during which time she had three furloughs. Elmer Steckley was born October 4, 1896. He married Esther Lexow in 1926 and was later ordained to the ministry serving in the Bible school at Fort Erie as a teacher and a minister. Levi Steckley was born June 11, 1900. He married Mable Cober in 1926 and was ordained a deacon of Markham district. Luella Steckley was born February 10, 1910, and married George Sheffer in 1931 by Bishop Swalm. He was later ordained to the ministry of Nottawa district. Joseph was a very hard working man. He drawed logs for Ratcliffs for a number of years. He used to start from home with his own team at five o'clock in the morning and get home at dark. Joseph Steckley, like his brother Peter, went to church with the whole family both morning and evening. This necessitated allowing his horses to rest on Saturday afternoon. He also was a regular attendant of the weekly prayer meeting making an average of twelve hundred miles yearly for these three weekly services. He had ten children, eight of whom are members of this church. This proves that their faithfulness has had a great influence on their children. He was ordained a deacon of Markham district in 1917 and died in 1927.

I well remember of visiting at Bishop Peter Steckley's home when their large family were all small. We took my wife's uncle, Joseph Moyer, from Vineland and had supper there. They just thought it was wonderful the order and control they had with their family as there was hardly any noise which is a credit to any parents. I also had the privilege of going with her brother, Joseph, visiting one day with the brethren around the seventh and eighth of Markham before our district meeting which I appreciated very much. These are pleasant things to look back to. I have always enjoyed Elder H. R. Heise's visits. He was a man deeply concerned about the welfare of the church and did a lot of visiting and admonishing and warning his brethren to keep plain and humble and not depart from the old simplicity that was so near and dear to our fathers. I also remember Abraham Winger of Vaughan where Samuel Winger now lives. I remember going out the lane with him to get the cows and seeing the good crops and the fine fields of wheat he had and the sweet fellowship we had together was very encouraging.