USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 99
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Peter Steckel, second son of John, was born June 12, 1792, and died Aug. 21, 1849. He was a blacksmith and carried on that business at Hartman's Ferry along the Lehigh and at the Irish settlement, near Bath, until 1828, when he purchased from Walter C. Livingston a tract of 100 acres, along the Jordan creek, adjoining Allentown, which is still owned by his descend- ants. He married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hartman, and had one daughter, Mary Salome, born Jan. 16, 1817; and second, Esther, daughter of Henry and Bar- bara (Biery) Burkhalter, born Aug. 31, 1801, died March 2, 1891, and had four children : Robert; Amanda, married Peter Mohr; Reuben P., and Anna B.
Hon. Robert Steckel, son of Peter Steckel, was born in Allen township, Northampton county, Sept. 13, 1823. He attended the public schools in his youth, and concluded his education in the Allentown Academy. He then entered the wholesale grocery house of his uncle, in New York City, remaining there several years, when he returned home, and assisted his father in the operation of his farms, later taking entire charge. On his father's death, he became the owner of two of the finest farms in the Lehigh Valley, and operated them successfully for twenty-five years. He then removed to Allentown and became a
member of the hardware firm of M. S. Young & Co., retaining his interest therein until his death. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Reformed Church. He was twice elected to the State Legislature, in 1872 and 1873. He was a public-spirited citizen, having a kindly spirit, which prompted his gener- ous assistance to the poor and needy. He died Aug. 30, 1886.
Robert Steckel married Miss Hannah Frede- rick, daughter of George and Hannah (Haas) Frederick. They had but one child, Robert Peter. Mrs. Steckel, since her husband's death, has continued to occupy her home in Allentown, and she and her son were members of the Re- formed Church.
ROBERT PETER STECKEL, son of Robert and Hannah (Frederick) Steckel, their only child, was born in Catasauqua, Pa., Sept. 15, 1849. He received a good education and was trained to habits of industry and enterprise. With the family he came to Allentown, and upon his father's death, succeeded to his interest in the hardware business, as a member of the firm of M. S. Young & Co. June 1, 1893, he sold his interest in the store, and devoted his attention chiefly to his banking and agricultural interests, having an excellent farm of 161 acres. He made a specialty of breeding high grade cattle and mules, and his place was equipped with all modern improvements. He was for several years a di- rector in the Allentown National Bank, and also a director and treasurer of the Allentown Glass Works.
In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a Lutheran. He was a man of sterling qualities and devoted to his home and family. He built a fine mansion in Allentown in 1888, in which his widow now lives. He died Sept. 23, 1906.
Robert Peter Steckel married, March 28, 1874, Rebecca A. Henninger, daughter of Charles and Adaline E. (Roth) Henninger, of Whitehall township. Their only child, Esther Adaline Steckel, early entered the Allentown College for Women, graduating at the age of seventeen years, with the degree of A. B. She then took a post graduate course in art, in which she be- came very proficient. She was married, June 20, 1896, to George E. D. Guth, daughter of Albert J. D. and Sarah (Kressley) Guth. Their children are: Alice Steckel Guth, born Aug. 10, 1907, and Sarah Rebecca Guth, born June 3, 1911. Mr. Guth and his brother are proprietors of the Lafayette Hotel, in Allentown, operating under the name of Guth Brothers. Mrs. Guth is a devoted wife and mother. Her mother, Mrs. Rebecca Steckel, is a member of St. John's Luth-
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eran church and also a member of the Board of Foreign and Home Missions.
REUBEN P. STECKEL.
The late Reuben Peter Steckel, who was a widely known business man of Allentown, a mem- ber of the firm of M. S. Young & Company, was born in South Whitehall township, Lehigh coun- ty, son of Peter and Esther ( Burkhalter ) Steckel, and grandson on the paternal side of John Steckel and on the maternal side of Henry Burkhalter. He was the youngest of a family of four chil- dren, the others being as follows: Robert, mar- ried Hannah Frederick; Amanda, wife of Peter Moore; Anna B.
Reuben P. Steckel obtained a practical educa- tion in the schools of his neighborhood, and in the Allentown Academy. In early life he as- sisted his father in the work of the farm, and afterward entered the hardware store of Barber & Young for whom he continued to act as sales- man until 1860, when he was given an interest in the business. Subsequently he became a partner in the firm of M. S. Young & Company, one of the leading houses in that line of trade, their store being one of the most extensive in the Le- high Valley, stocked with full lines of merchan- dise. Mr. Steckel managed this business for many years, his wise judgment, conservatism and rare foresight proving of great value in his con- duct of affairs. For a number of years prior to his decease he led a retired life, although he re- tained a financial interest in the business. For two years he served on the directorship of the Lehigh Valley Trust Company, his advice and counsel on all matters being considered safe and prudent. Since attaining his majority he was an active Republican, but never sought or held public office. He was a member of the Reformed Church, in the work of which he took a deep interest. He displayed his patriotism by enlisting in the Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, in 1862, in answer to an emergency call, and ac- companied his regiment to Hagerstown, Mary- land, where the command was stationed at the time of the battle of Antietam in order to assist if necessary, and after the close of the engagement the regiment was returned to Pennsylvania, hav- ing been absent for only twelve days.
Mr. Steckel married A. Maria, daughter of Owen and Pauline (Frederick) Diefenderfer. One child, Anna Esther, who graduated from Allentown College for Women, 1905, Albert Academy, 1906, Vassar College, 1910; and since her father's death, 1913, has assumed entire busi- ness management of the estate.
Joseph Steckel, third son of John, was born March 27, 1802, and died July 31, 1880. He
was a carpenter for some years and later a farmer and also a hotelkeeper for two years. His father's farm is now owned by the Giant Ce- ment Company and upon it stands a very old weather boarded loghouse. Joseph Steckel be- came captain and major of the Lighthouse Militia and was popular in the township. He was elected as a Democrat to the first board of school direc- tors and served several years, and was also dea- con, elder and trustee of the Egypt Reformed congregation. He married, first, Maria Magda- lena Troxell, born Feb. 11, 1805, died Feb. I, 1838, daughter of John Nicholas and Maria Troxell. They had eight children: Thomas; Josiah; Ephraim; Amelia, born March 11, 1829; Maria, born Aug. 14, 1830; Edward; Lydia, born March 16, 1835, and Angelina, born Dec. 15, 1836. He married, second, Sarah Woodring, born March 3, 1814, died June 21, 1890. They had eight children: John, born July 30, 1840, died July 8, 1887; Aaron, born April 7, 1843; Salome; Owen, born April 22, 1848; Tilghman ; Hiram; Oliver and Joseph.
Ephraim Steckel, third son of Joseph, was born April 12, 1827, and farmed in Whitehall until 1876, when he moved to Clinton county, Iowa, where he purchased an eighty-acre farm. He died April 5, 1901, and is buried near Amber, Jones county, Ia. He married Sallie A., daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Biery) Steckel, who was born Oct. 23, 1833, and died Sept. 6, 1904. They had eleven children: Frank, of Anamosa, Ia .; Nathan, of Amber, Ia .; Milton; Ellen ; Emmanuel; Sarah, wife of Charles Strauss, of Amber; Mary, wife of Wm. Strawman, of Amber ; David, also in Iowa; Mrs. Annie Bailey, of Amber ; Walter and Abbie.
MILTON STECKEL, son of Ephraim, was born at Egypt, March 5, 1856. He was reared upon the farm and in 1878 moved to Jefferson town- ship, Berks county, where he farmed for five years and in 1883 moved to Whitehall, where he has successfully operated a truck farm for twenty-two years, the first eighteen years of which he regularly attended the Allentown markets. Since 1906 he has been a cement contractor, em- ploying from three to five men in making curbs, gutters and pavements of cement. In 1909 he was elected a member of the township school board as a Democrat and in 191I was re-elected, under the new code laws and is the first treasurer of the new board. He is an active member of the Egypt Reformed congregation and served five years as deacon, two years as elder and two years as trustee, and since 1906 has been superintendent of the Union Sunday school. He married, first, Sept. 29, 1877, Isabella Troxell, born June 8, 1857, died Aug. 29, 1903. They had seven chil-
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dren: Margaret, wife of Morris Lazarus; Thomas, of Allentown; Phoebe, died aged eleven years ; Florence, wife of Harvey Kratzer; Frank, married Emily Dreisbach; Charles, died aged two years, and Alfred. He married, second, May 20, 1905, Jane R. Scheirer, widow of Joseph Bertsch.
Edward Steckel, fourth son of Joseph, was born Aug. 30, 1832. He was a millwright and lived at Coplay about forty years. He was a member of Mickley's Reformed congregation, where he is buried. He married Wilhelmina Gilbert and had eight children: Charles; Rosa, wife of Chester Laubach, of West Catasauqua ; William ; Francis; Lucy, wife of Henry Wassam, of West Coplay ; Harvey ; Preston J. and Irwin. Charles, William, Francis, Harvey and Irwin are deceased.
PRESTON J. STECKEL, retail coal dealer at West Coplay, was born in Whitehall township, Nov. 28, 1868. He was first employed on the farm and at the age of eighteen years learned the car- penter trade and followed it ten years. He then became foreman of the Giant Mill for the Amer- ican Cement Company, a position he filled until the winter of 1911. On Jan. 20, 1911, he en- gaged in the coal business at West Coplay, leasing the Simon Myer's coal yard, which he purchased in July, 1911. He has the only yard at West Coplay. He is a member of the United White- hall Beneficial Society ; the Minsi Tribe, Order of Red Men, and of the Reformed church at Mickleys.
He married, in 1893, Laura Roth, daughter of David and Rebecca (Heintzelman) Roth, and their children are: Edward D., a stenographer, and Harold P.
Oliver Steckel, son of Joseph and Sarah (Woodring) Steckel, was born near West Cop- lay, Pa., Aug. 18, 1852. His schooling he re- ceived in the public schools, and for twenty-one years he was engaged in farming on the Frank Guth farm, east of Saegersville. After retiring therefrom, he went to assist his son at Penns- burg. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is a member of K. G. E., as well as of the Reformed Church, which he served as deacon. He was married to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Caro- line (Mohr) Gagenbach, in 1875 their issue being: (1) Victor H .; (2) Marcus J., married to Anna Fried, deceased, of Pennsburg, and (3) William O., of Allentown, Pa. He resides at Pennsburg.
VICTOR H. STECKEL, son of Oliver and Mary Steckel, was born at Orefield, Pa., April 26, 1876. Attending the public schools until eight- een years of age, he attended thereupon the New York Trade School for one term, learning the
plumbing and heating business. On Aug. 10. 1896, he began the plumbing business at 551 North Eighth street, Allentown, where he con- tinued until April 1, 1897, when he removed to Pennsburg, where he continues in the plumbing, heating and lighting business. In 1905, he started the automobile business in connection with the above, having salesrooms at Pennsburg and 145 Hamilton street, Allentown, which lat- ter have been recently removed to Sixth and Union streets. He is distributor for the K-R-I-T and Peterson pleasure cars, and the Lincoln and B. O. E. trucks. In 1903, he was elected on the Democratic ticket as councilman at Penns- burg. He is a director of the Pennsburg National Bank since 1911; belongs socially to the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. G E., K. P., K. F. and I. O. U. M., and also is a member of the Re- formed Church. He was married to Katie, daughter of Harry B. and Sarah Hartzell, Oct. 29, 1899, and resides at 227 North Main street, Pennsburg.
JOSEPH STECKEL, of West Coplay, eleventh and youngest son of Joseph, twin brother of Oliver, was born Aug. 18, 1852. He spent his boyhood on the farm and was employed on his father's farm until the age of twenty-three, when he learned the carpenter trade, at which he was. employed for nine years in the Stemton car shops. He was then employed in the cement mill at Egypt for sixteen years, after which he was master mechanic at the Whitehall Cement Com- pany for five years, from which position he re- tired on account of ill health. At his retirement his associates presented to him, as a token of their esteem, a gold watch, with this inscription : "Pre- sented to Joseph Steckel by employees of the Whitehall Portland Cement Company, Feb. 28, 1907." Mr. Steckel owns a thirty-five-acre farm three children : Lottie, who died in infancy ; Mar- in North Whitehall, near Levans. He resides at West Coplay since April 2, 1881. He is a Demo- crat and served six years as school director and was president of the board for three years. He is a member of the Egypt Reformed congregation and of the Whitehall Beneficial Society.
He was married, Oct. 24, 1875, to Ellemanda Silfies, daughter of Levi and Julia ( Hess) Silfies. They had four children: Jennie, who married Campbell Newhard; Joseph L., who married Lillie K. Roth; Robert J., who married Mamie Roth, a sister of Lillie K., and Tilghman T., at home.
IV. Jacob Steckel, second son of Peter, the emigrant, was born Nov. 1, 1753, and died June 15, 1836. He built a stone building at Egypt in 1796, where he kept store until 1821 and also kept a hotel until 1815. He was treasurer
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of the English school in 1808. He married, Jan. 16, 1780, Eva Catharine Saeger, who was born July 6, 1757, and died Jan. 17, 1815. They had two sons and three daughters: Maria Su- sanna, born Oct. 11, 1780, died July 10, 1832, married John Deichman; Eva Catharine, born Dec. 12, 1782; Abraham, born Jan. 12, 1785, married a Miss Rabert ; John Jacob, born March 21, 1789, died Sept. 30, 1827, in Allentown, who married, first, Mary Ludwig, born March 6, 1792, died Feb. 6, 1817, and had four children, and second, Susanna Gauff, and had one child ; Regina, born Feb. 6, 1803.
V. Henry Steckel, third son of Peter, the emi- grant, was born in 1756, and died May 30, 1826. He owned the old homestead built by Peter Troxell in 1756, and bequeathed his land to his two sons, Peter and Solomon. He married Maria Schneider, sister of Michael Schneider. His son, Peter, was born Aug. 27, 1785, and died April 4, 1866. He married, first, Eliza- beth Biery, born April 8, 1791, died Aug. 25, 1835, and had thirteen children: John Peter, born March 28, 1808, died in Ohio; Esther, born Sept. 17, 1810, married Thos. Gangawere, of Indiana; Deborah, born Nov. 3, 1814, died Sept. 17, 1889, married Enoch Newhard; Cath- arine, born March 24, 1816, married a Mr. Glick; Elizabeth, born Dec. 14, 1817, died Aug. 9, 1900, married Tilghman Hartman, of Amber, Ia., and had sons, Wm. H., of Waterloo, Ia., Henry C., and Peter J .; Thomas, born June 25, 1820, died March 16, 1906, a prominent citizen of Allentown, who married Jemima Kaull, born March 31, 1819, died Feb. 26, 1898, and had a son, Thomas, died in 1871, and a son, Albert, married to Caroline Engelman, and had a daugh- ter, Grace, widow of Samuel S. Moyer ; Charles, born March 6, 1822; Joseph, born Jan. 21, 1824, died in Nov. 1904, in Mulberry, Ind., leaving a son, Martin, and four other children ; Clarissa, born Jan. 4, 1826, married Jacob Weiss, of Am- ber, Ia .; Mrs. Rebecca Guinther, born March 20, 1828; David, born Aug. 6, 1830, died in California, and Sally A., born Oct. 23, 1833, died Sept. 6, 1904, who married Ephraim Steckel. Peter Steckel married, second, Mrs. Catharine Mickley, nee Miller, born Jan. 20, 1803, died Feb. 25, 1888, and had four children: Ephraim, born 1836; Maria Anna and William, died young, and Mrs. Matilda McKee.
Solomon Steckel, son of Henry, was born Dec. 13, 1788. He received one-half of his father's land, on which he built a large stone house. He married Anna Maria Geiger. Their children were: Solomon, Jr .; William, born June 4, 1813, married Caroline Leisenring and moved to In- diana and had children, Louisa, married Solo-
mon Fries, Elias, John, Celinda, Caroline, Char- lotte, Frances, Ellen and William; Eli, born Nov. 21, 1820, married Levina Newhard; Maria, born Nov. 16, 1822, married (1) a Mr. Frack, and (2) John Lawall; Colletta, born June 24, 1827, married Simon Meyers.
Solomon Steckel, Jr., was born Aug. 17, 1810. He was a farmer and also a veterinarian and a butcher. He was a member of Egypt Reformed congregation and a Republican. He married Sabina Kern and had fourteen children: James ; Henry, of Tiffin, O .; Jacob E .; Lewis, died in Libby prison ; Wm. H .; Joseph, of Indiana; Eli; John, of Tiffin, O .; Sylvester; Charlotte, wife of Robert Rockel ; Colletta ; Louisa, wife of Rich- ard Blank; Catharine, wife of Edw. Miller and Josephine, wife of Wm. David.
Jacob E. Steckel, third son of Solomon, Jr., was born March 16, 1836, at Egypt, and died in August, 1909. He was a blacksmith in early life and later farmed a tract he owned near Laury's. In his later years he lived retired at Egypt, where he was a member of the Re- formed church. He married Eliza, daughter of Abraham Frantz and had eight children: Asaba ; Theodore, who died at Cementon; Francis, of Egypt; Robert, of Cementon; Lillie, wife of Valentine Burger, of Quinter, Kan .; Victoria, wife of Joel Yohe, of Allentown; Rosa, wife of Owen Ebert and Catharine, wife of Chas. Diehl.
ASABA J. STECKEL was born Sept. 1, 1855, and received a common school education. He was a shoemaker at Cementon for twelve years, after which he was an engineer at a cement plant for fourteen years. In 1901 he began farming in Whitehall on a tract of fifteen acres. He is a member of the Whitehall Beneficial Society and of the Egypt Reformed congregation, of which he was some years an elder and four years a trus- tee. He is a Republican in politics. He mar- ried, June 2, 1879, Louisa, daughter of Reuben and Salome (Peter) Sensinger. They have no children.
Capt. Wm. H. Steckel, fifth son of Solomon, Jr., was born at Egypt, June 16, 1841. He worked upon the home farm, alternated with at- tendance at the public schools, until twenty years of age, when, at the beginning of the Civil War, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Forty- seventh Pennsylvania Regiment, on Sept. 18, 1861, and served in campaigns in Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and the Shenandoah Valley. He was promoted to sergeant on Nov. 1, 1864, and to first lieutenant on Jan. 1, 1865, after Captain Goebel's death from wounds received at Cedar Creek, when Thos. B. Leisenring became captain. He was brevetted captain in action and
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mustered out Dec. 25, 1865. After the war he was for some years a farmer, but later was a slater, until compelled to retire by various in- firmities. He was a member of the G. A. R. and the Union Veteran Legion. He died at Al- lentown, where he had removed in 1890, on Nov. 14, 1901. He married, in 1866, Elizabeth Green, of Charleston, S. C., still living in Allentown, and had six children: Eva, wife of Preston Frickett, of Pottsville; John H .; Martha J., wife of Oliver Krause, of Allentown; Louisa, wife of Robert Stahler; William and Lewis, of Seipel's Station.
John H. Steckel, son of Capt. William H. and Elizabeth (Green) Steckel, was born at Egypt, Aug. 27, 1869. He spent his youth upon his father's farm, and acquired his education in the public schools. He then took a course in me- chanical draughting with the International Cor- respondence School of Scranton, Pa., in 1890, after which he was employed at the Whitehall Cement Mills as general foreman for ten con- secutive years, having charge of upward of fifty men. On March 6, 1912, he resigned his position. He then became proprietor of a hotel at Werley's Corner, which he carries on in connection with farming. In politics he is a Republican and active in promoting its welfare. He was a deacon and elder in St. John's Reformed church, at Cemen- ton, where he resided for ten years. He was previously a member of the Reformed church at Coplay.
John H. Steckel married July 4, 1891, Katie Priscilla Briegel, daughter of Daniel and Pri- scilla (Louck) Briegel, of Robesonia, Pa. They had five children : Harvey W., married Anna M. Fritzinger, and resides at Cementon; Katie G .; John H., Jr .; Clifford Jr., and Miriam E., twins, the latter named, deceased.
VI. Margaret Steckel, sixth child of Peter, the emigrant, was born Nov. 12, 1759, and died Sept. 4, 1820. She married Martin Meyer.
VII. Dorothea Steckel, seventh child of Peter, was born in March, 1764, and died May 3, 1798. She married Peter Burkhalter, Jr.
VIII. Daniel Steckel, fourth son of Peter, the emigrant, was born Sept. 1, 1767, in Whitehall township. He settled at Bath, Northampton county, where he was a tanner and farmer and where he died Sept. 18, 1768, aged 101 years and seventeen days. He married Rebecca, daughter of Jesse Jones and had six children : Sarah ; Han- nah; Daniel ; Elizabeth ; Joseph and Peter, who was in the War of 1812 and sheriff of North- ampton county from 1841 to 1844. Joseph Steckel, born March 29, 1806, died in 1872, married Elizabeth Scholl and had three children : Henry F., Susan A. and Elizabeth; Henry F.
Steckel, Esq., born Feb. 25, 1829, married Annie M. Whitesell and had two children: Jennie M. and Daniel E.
IX. Peter Steckel, youngest son of Peter, the emigrant, was born Nov. 3, 1772, and died Feb. 22, 1866, aged ninety-three years. He was a farmer and tanner, near Klecknersville, where he lived and died and was buried at Moore town- ship church. He married Anna Maria Schott, who was born Dec. 4, 1777, and died Dec. 17, 1855. They had 12 children: (1) Aaron; (2) Charles; (3) Gideon; (4) Solomon; (5) Mrs. Jacob Bower; (6) Catharine; (Mrs. Jacob Schall) ; (7) Elizabeth, (Mrs. George Young) ; (8) Hannah, (Mrs. Daniel Hagenbach) ; (9) Mary, Mrs. Daniel Schall; (10) Mrs. Christian Young; (II) Mrs. Abraham Young, and (12) Leah, (Mrs. Jacob Lawfer). George, Christian and Abraham Young, were brothers.
Aaron Steckel, son of Peter and Maria (Schott) Steckel, was born June 19, 1811. He was a farmer and tanner near Klecknersville, Northampton county. He owned two farms containing about 100 acres. He was a deacon and elder in the Reformed Church. He died in Sept. 1898, and was buried at Moore town- ship church. Aaron Steckel married Leah Bach- man, daughter of Adam Bachman, and had five children: (1) Theodore; (2) Sarah, (Mrs. George Kromer) ; (3) and (4) Mary and Eliza- beth, died young; (5) Aaron F., unmarried and a resident of Allentown.
Theodore Steckel, son of Aaron and Leah (Bachman) Steckel, was born Sept. 10, 1844, in Moore township. He was educated in the public schools of his time and in his leisure hours assisted his father on the farm. At an early age, he learned the carpenter trade and has since then followed this vocation, at Bethlehem and Allen- town. He was for some years a contractor, and employed a large force of men. He was secre- tary of Moore township school board, of which he was a member, for eight years. In politics a Republican ; and served as a delegate to county conventions. In religion, a member of the Baptist Church.
Theodore Steckel married in 1865, Lucy A. Fehnel, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Miller) Fehnel. They had eight children: (1) Mary; (2) Thomas, died young; (3) Ellen, (Mrs. John Grube) ; (4) Lewis P .; (5) Clara N. (Mrs. Edmond E. Knoll) ; (6) Amy, (Mrs. Edwin A. Miller; (7) and (8) Clyde E. and Claude U. Steckel.
CLYDE E. STECKEL, son of Theodore and Lucy A. (Fehnel) Steckel, was born Dec. 9, 1884, at Pen Argyl, Northampton county. He was edu- cated in the public schools and putting aside his
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books at the age of sixteen years, learned the carpenter trade with his father, at Allentown, and followed this vocation as a journeyman until he engaged in contracting and building, in 1907, in partnership with his brother, Claude U., un- der the firm name of Steckel Brothers, with office at IIIO Chew street. They make a spe- cialty of residential houses. In 1907 they built four houses, in 1908 six houses, in 1909 one house, 1910 ten houses, in 1911 twenty-eight houses, and in 1912 twenty-three houses. Clyde E. Steckel married, Sept. 8, 1904, Mamie A. Seip, daughter of Tilghman and Mary (Wisser) Seip. They have five children: (1) Evelyn; (2) Theodore; (3) Kenneth; (4) Kermit; (5) Marjorie. He and his family are members of the Trinity United Evangelical church.
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