Joseph Bechtel

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0676
• Land: 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Notes:

Joseph Bechtel "youngest son of Rev. Joseph Bechtel, was born November 5th, 1805, and died September 13th, 1858. He was married to Mary Köler who was born March 14th, 1804, and died February 10th, 1892. they resided on the "Rev. Joseph Bechtel Farm" at Preston. They had a family of five children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

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A-2-6 Joseph Bechtel Last Will and Testament of Joseph Bechtel, late of the village of Preston, who died on or about the 14^th September 1858 at the Village of Preston, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at the Village of Preston. Administration of all and singular, the personal estate granted by Abram A. Erb of the Village of Preston, Merchant, and Henry Hagey of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman, the Executors named in said Will….

This is the last Will and Testament of Joseph Bechtel of Preston, Yeoman. I will and desire that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be paid by my Executors…I give and devise unto my beloved wife Magdalena during the term of her natural life the homestead wherein I now dwell, being part of the broken front Lot number four in what is commonly called Richard Beasly's Lower Block of the Township of Waterloo, and which said lot is now within the boundaries of the Corporation of Preston. And I also give and devise unto my beloved wife all my farming stock, implements, as also my furniture or so much thereof as she may choose to keep, to hold to her during the term of her natural life, which said devices I give to her in lieu of Dower. And my will is further that upon the decease of my said wife, my Executors do sell my said homestead as also all the remainder of my other estate, both real and personal of what nature or kind so ever and to dispose thereof to the best advantage as they may think proper and divide the proceeds thereof unto and among my four children viz: Christian, Elizabeth, Samuel and Joseph in manner following, that is to say: the said Christian and Elizabeth shall receive one sixth of such proceeds each, and the said Samuel and Joseph shall receive one third of such proceeds each, provided always that if any of my sons shall not then have arrived at the age of maturity, his share shall be placed on interest until he has attained the age of maturity. And I give and bequeath all other my real and personal estate note herein before divided or bequeathed or not chosen, to be kept by my said wife as aforesaid, unto my Executors in trust to dispose therof to the best advantage and after paying all my jut debts, funeral and testamentary expenses in trust pay unto my said wife one third of the remainder and to divide the other two thirds of such remainder unto and among my said four children in the same manner and under the same proviso as heretofore mentioned for the division of that part of my estate. And in the event of such last mentioned other real and personal estate shall prove insufficient to pay my said just debts, funeral, and testamentary expenses my will then is that my Executors do sell and dispose of so much of my said homestead as will be ample and sufficient to make up the deficiency. And in the event of my said wife not desiring to remain on the said homestead or not desiring to farm the same or the whole of the same, that then in any or either of such cases my will is, that my Executors do dispose of the said homestead or so much thereof as my said wife does not desire to farm and the proceeds thereof, shall be placed and put on interest for the benefit and use of my said wife during the time of her natural life, and upon her decease be divided by my
Executors unto and among my said four children in the same manner and under the same proviso as heretofore mentioned for the division of my estate. And I hereby give and grant unto my Executors full power and authority to sell and dispose of any of my estate in manner aforesaid and to grant a Deed of Deeds of Conveyance for the same in as ample a manner as I myself could do were I living. And I also do allow my Executors to pay and reimburse themselves for any expenses, loss of time, or other disbursements, which they may be subject to in executing this my Last Will and Testament. And I nominate and appoint my friends Abram A. Erb of Preston, aforesaid Merchant, and Henry Hagey of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman, to be the Executors of this my Last Will and Testament….

Witnessed by Otto Klotz, Notary Public and Joseph Staller [possibly should be Stauffer]
Will dated 9^th April 1858
Proved 18^th Decedmber 1858
Died 14^th September 1858
Inventory $470.00¢

Surrogate Court Records Copybook Register A 1853-1871 transcript to 1863. Frances Hoffman transcriber.

Joseph — Magdalena Köler. Magdalena was born 14 Mar 1804, , Alsace Lorraine, France; died 10 Feb 1892. [Group Sheet]

1. Christian Nicholas Bechtel was born 31 May 1830, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 5 May 1890, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , St. Mary Of The Visitation Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo, Ontario.
2. Mary Bechtel was born 6 Aug 1832, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 27 Jun 1849.
3. Elizabeth Bechtel was born 11 Sep 1834, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 11 Nov 1922; was buried , St. Marys Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
4. Samuel Christian Bechtel was born 2 Apr 1839, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 11 Jul 1869, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Saint Clements Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
5. Joseph K. Bechtel was born 1 Aug 1850, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 13 Nov 1931, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Saint Clements Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546720
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Location of his log house.
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Joseph Bechtel "son of Martin Bechtel, a minister of the Mennonites, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1761. He was married March 5th, 1786, to Magdalena Allebach who was born September 21st, 1761, and died September 21st, 1837. They moved to Canada in 1802 and settled on the farm situated at the mouth of the Speed River where it meets with the Grand River. Here they resided many years. In 1804 he was ordained as a minister of the Mennonite body which position he held until his death which took place April 11th, 1838. They had a family of seven children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

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Preston (Bechtel or Hagey) Mennonite Church

The second meeting house in Waterloo County was built, probably in 1814, by John Erb, a wealthy miller of Preston. This brick meeting house served as a community church and was located "near Jacob Hagey's", which was on the road running from the top of the Kress Hill west and "adjoining the Kitchener Highway" (Witmer 1967: 26). Another meeting house, known as the Union Meeting House, was built in the area around 1824. A meeting was held in the Union church on November 20, 1824 to commence recording the accounts of the congregation in Hagey's Deacon Book. The deed of land for the Union Meeting House and burial ground, which was for one acre of part Lot 22, Beasley's Broken Front, was transacted in 1835.

Hagey Meeting House was buiilt of red brick in 1842 on part Lot 23, just north of Preston on the west side of the Breslau Road, and slightly north of the Union Meeting House site. The deed, dated February 2, 1842, recorded the purchase of the land from John Hilborn and stressed that the property was to be for "the purpose of public worship by the Mennonist Society" (Witmer 1967: 28). Joseph Bechtel was the first minister in the area, from 1804-1837; he was followed by David Sherk (1838-1843). Next came Joseph Hagey (1844-1877), who was ordained bishop in 1851, and then Jacob B. Gingrich from 1878 to 1901. Services were held every four weeks until 1890 when bi-weekly services were begun. A Sunday School was established in 1842 with the congregation of Wanner Meeting House near Hespeler, but it was discontinued because of a difference of opinion regarding the need for Sunday Schools. On April 26, 1891 a Sunday School was organized at Hagey's, with deacon Abraham Oberholtzer as superintendent. Five years later, on June 10, 1896, a Sunday School was organized at the Wanner church.

Major changes were made to the church building in 1927-1928 when the basement was excavated, new windows were installed and the roof was raised two feet. Fire on January 15, 1950 caused extensive damage to the interior and furnishings of the church. The building was completely renovated and also enlarged at the same time; dedication was on July 2, 1950. Another fire, on Feburary 19, 1953, completely destroyed the church. A congregational decision was made to build a new church, on Concession Road in Preston, and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, October 12, 1953. Official dedication services in the new Preston Mennonite Church were held on May 16, 1954. The building was enlarged in the summer of 1989.

Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

Residence:
The current building contains some original logs from the home.

Joseph married Magdalena Allebach 5 Mar 1786. Magdalena was born 21 Sep 1765, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 21 Sep 1837, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546759
• Name: Magdalena Bechtel
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.2

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.8

Hans — Elizabeth Rickert. Elizabeth was born 24 Sep 1684, , Germany; died 1739, Pottstown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried , Sprogel Burial Grounds, Pottstown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Bechtel
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.9