There is a conflict between and as to the name of the progenitor of this family. Was it Peter or Christian? I have names him Peter Christian Steckel. See below for details.

This family probably originated from Switzerland as the name occurs in the archives at Basel in 1615. The ancestor of this family was Peter Steckel, who arrived at Philadelphia in the ship Bilander Thistle. Oct. 28, 1738, at the age of nineteen years.

In 1742 he was already located in Whitehall Township. as appears from the Egypt church records, his name (spelled Stoeckel) appearing as a sponsor at a baptism on Nov. 21. 1742. He located on a tract of land in what is now North Whitehall Township, adjoining land of Christopher Bear, and in 1755 resided on a tact of 356 acres. His name appears in 1758 as the owner of two draught horses. He was assessed in Whitehall Township, in the year 1762-63-64. On May 20, 1768, he purchased from Peter Troxell, of Gtynedd Township, Philadelphia County, his plantation at Egypt, containing 410 acres and thirty-three perches. On this tract was a large stone house, built by Troxell in 1756, which still stands, and a stone bum built in 1758, 85 by 37 feet, which was torn down in 1874 when parts of the clay threshing floor were found to be still in good condition..

In this year, 1768, Peter Steckel was the 3rd highest taxpayer in Whitehall township. having been assessed for his land. Of his 410 acres 150 acres were cultivated. He owned four houses, four cows and nine sheep and paid one half penny sterling per acre, quit rent for his land. He was a member of the Egypt Reformed congregation, and in 1767 contributed toward the purchase of a parsonage, being one of the most liberal contributors. He was one of the most progressive farmers of the vicinity and went to considerable expense in constructing an Archimedes screw to water the higher ground on his farm. In 1772 he was assessed as the second highest in the township. Peter Steckel died in the year 1784, aged 65 years. As the members of the Egypt congregation desired to erect a new church building, Christian Saeger expressed a willingness to deed the church one half an acre of ground, but as he had no land adjoining the church he deeded one half an acre to Peter Steckel, whose land adjoined the church property, who promised to deed an acre to the congregation. He died before he could fulfill his promise and in 1786 his sons, Henry and Jacob, carried out the wish of their father.

Peter Steckel matted Mary Elizabeth Bear, a sister of Christopher Bear, who survived him, and whom, with his son. Henry, he appointed executrix of his estate by his will dated 6/30/1781. His land he bequeathed to his sons, Henry and John. He bequeathed to his sons Daniel, Peter. and his four daughters money. He had nine children who suvived him, a son, Peter, Jr., having died in l77l or 1772, after which he named his youngest child, born 11/8/1772, Peter.

The family history gives an account of Christian Steckel, the first representative of the name in Egypt. He settled there September 1,1736, and obtained a patent for two hundred and sixty acres of land. In year 1758 he built a stone house upon the tract which served the dual purpose of a dwelling and a fort as a mean of defense against the attacks of the Indians. The dimensions of this building are thirty-five by forty feet, and the walls are two feet and a quarter in thickness. It is standing at the present day, and is in a good state of preservation, and is now the property of Josiah Steckel, a descendant of the original owner. Christian Steckel was married to Maria Bear, and they had ten children, five sons and five daughters.