CHRISTIAN STECKLEY

Christian Steckley came to Canada in the early part of 1800 and took up two hundred acres of land on Lot 31 concession 4, Markham, one mile and a quarter south of Gormley. He was ordained a minister in Pennsylvania and was the first bishop of Markham district when it was organized by Jacob Engle in 1808. His son, Christian, was one of the first ministers around that time. His sister, Mary, married Jacob Heise of Victoria Square who was a deacon. Another sister, Susanna, married Christian Baker on March 30, 1836. Witnesses were John Baker and Eva Steckley, a sister of Bishop Samuel Baker of Gormley. John Steckley was a son of Christian Steckley. He married Nancy Baker who was a sister of Bishop Samuel Baker who lived on the old homestead and built the brick house in 1850. It was one of the homes where their meetings and conferences were held. He also had Love feast in his barn in 1848. John Eyer married his daughter, Catharine, and was chosen to the ministry around 1860 for Markham district. He ran the flour mill at Headford and around 1880 he went to Brown County, Kansas, and got a farm there. Susan Steckley married John Doner who was chosen deacon of Markham. His son, Thomas, was a minister. He was the last of the descendants and sold the farm to John Empringham. His son now works the farm.

I received a lot of this information from Mrs. Katie Hoover who was a sister to the above. Her son, Charles, is clerk of Markham township.

Christian Steckley, Sr., married Betsy Hilts, daughter of Godfrey Hilts who married Mary Milller. Names of some of the children were Fred, John, George, Jacob, Margaret and Betsy. Godfrey Hilts' wife's mother was the first to be buried in Heise Hill cemetery. Godfrey Hilts died at the age of 98: He was born in 1739 and died in 1835. He was the oldest pioneer that came to Markham.

Christian Steckley's family: Joseph lived on the seventh of Markham. Susan married Christian Baker of Gormley and later moved to Nottawa. Eva married Jacob Fisher. John married Nancy Baker, sister of Samuel Baker.

John Eyer, minister, who later went to Kansas, favorite hymn was 813 in the old hymn book.

Ye careless professors who rest on your lees
Amidst your vain pleasures, your profit and ease,
Now God says, "Arise and escape for your life,
And look not behind you. Remember Lot's wife.

Awake from your slumber, the warning receive;
'Tis Jesus that warns you, the message believe;
While dangers are pending, escape for your life,
And look not behind you. Remember Lot's wife.

The first bold apostate will tempt you to stray,
And tell you no dangers are found on the way;
He means to deceive you, escape for your life,
And look not behind you. Remember Lot's wife.

How many poor souls has the serpent beguiled,
With spacious temptations how many defiled;
Then be not deluded, escape for your life,
And look not behind you. Remember Lot's wife.

The ways of religion true pleasures afford,
No pleasures can equal the joys of the Lord;
Forsake then the world and escape for your life,
And look not behind you. Remember Lot's wife.

But if you determine the call to refuse,
And venture the way of destruction to choose;
For hell you must part with the blessings of life,
And then, if not now, you'll Remember Lot's wife.