My Genealogy Hound

Rev. Conerd Steffen, of the German Baptist Church, a prominent farmer, was born in Germany in 1846, the son of Casper A. and Martha E. Steffen, who are mentioned in the sketch of H. Steffen. Our subject was reared at home, and June 21, 1852, married Mary L., a daughter of John and Catherine Fox, natives of Germany. His wife was born August 3, 1841, in Pennsylvania. Their children were John C.. Katie E. (the wife of J. Abbett), Martha M., George C., William F. (deceased), Conerd (deceased), Frank E., Lula F. and Anna M. Our subject left Adams County in 1867, and has since been a resident of the vicinity of Steffenville. He owns a fine estate of 245 acres, and also eighty acres in Illinois. He is a successful and wealthy farmer and stock raiser. He served fourteen months in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, as teamster. He has had but a few days of school advantages, and could neither read nor write until the last six years. His teacher has been his wife, an intelligent lady. His studies of the Bible have been so thorough that he can quote and locate almost any passage in the New Testament. He is so able an expounder that the German Baptists authorized him to preach soon after joining them. He has since been preaching in four different counties and five regular appointments, so that he travels about 250 miles a month. In addition to this he manages his farm. He is rather independent in politics, and first voted for Lincoln. His wife is also a German Baptist.