Rev. Joseph Bechtel^{[1, 2, 3]}

1761 - 1838  (76 years)

• Name	Joseph Bechtel
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	9 May 1761	, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania   [4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546720
  Land	Bef 1831	Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario   [7]
  Residence	168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Location of his log house.
  	The current building contains some original logs from the home.
  Eby ID Number	00007-0645
  Died	11 Apr 1838	Near Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4, 5, 6]
  Buried	Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Person ID	I10355	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2024

  
  

  Father	Martin Bechtel,   b. 26 Jan 1710, , Germany ,   d. 24 Aug 1785, New Hanover, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States  (Age 75 years)
  Family ID	F2977	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Magdalena Allebach,   b. 21 Sep 1765, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 21 Sep 1837, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 72 years)
  Married	5 Mar 1786  [4]
  Children	1. Elizabeth Bechtel,   b. 5 Mar 1787, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 15 Jan 1844  (Age 56 years)   2. Maria "Mary" Bechtel,   b. 15 Nov 1788, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 6 Jun 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 61 years)   3. Samuel Bechtel,   b. 24 Jan 1791, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 21 Feb 1861  (Age 70 years)   4. Veronica "Fanny" Bechtel,   b. 17 Feb 1794, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 19 Dec 1879, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 85 years)   5. Susannah Bechtel,   b. 16 Jun 1797, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 19 Dec 1870, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 73 years)   6. Daniel Bechtel,   b. 17 Jun 1800, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 10 May 1859  (Age 58 years)   7. Joseph Bechtel,   b. 5 Nov 1805, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 13 Sep 1858, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 52 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F2980	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• 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.]. ________________________ 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

  
  

• Sources

  [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 395. [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 77. [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 150. [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 195. [S9] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Canada Museum und Allgemeine Zeitung (1835-1840), 19 Apr 1838:18. In the vicinity of Preston, Waterloo Twp, Joseph Bechtel died at the age of 76y 11m 2d. He was one of the oldest residents of this area, and served as a teacher to the Mennonite Church for about 34 years. (Funeral details follow) 11 Apr 1838 [S146] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Hagey Mennonite CC#5431 Cemetery Internet Link . Hier Ruhen / die / Gebeine von / Joseph Bechtel / er wurde Geboren den 9 ten / Marz 1761, und lebte im Ehe / stand 52 Jahre Er diente als / Lehrer in der Mennonisten Ge- / meine 34 Jahre; und ist ent- / schlafen in dem Herrin den 11- / ten April 1838, und wurde Alt. / 76 Jahre, 11 Monate und 2 Tage [S1322] Land - Founding Families of Waterloo Township 1800-1830, 11.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 9 May 1761 - , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania Land - Bef 1831 - Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario Residence - Location of his log house. - - 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 11 Apr 1838 - Near Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth