Steck, Michael John

Steck, Michael John, a Lutheran clergyman, son of the preceding, was born at Greensburg, Pa., May 1, 1793, and studied at the Greensburg Academy. Soon after leaving the academy he began to study theology under his father, continuing it with Rev. Jacob Schnee, of Pittsburgh. He was licensed to preach by the Synod of Pennsylvania in 1816, and began his labors as temporary assistant to his father. He received a call from Lancaster, O., and entered upon his duties Dec. 15, 1816. Here he labored with great acceptance in his own and other churches, besides making, by appointment of the synod, extensive missionary tours. In 1829 Mr. Steck removed to Greensburg as his father's assistant; and on the death of his father, in 1830, succeeded to the sole pastorate, where he labored until his death, Sept. 1, 1848. An idea may be formed of the amount of his labors from the fact that he ministered regularly to eleven churches, besides preaching at three or four stations, some of which were distant thirty miles from his residence. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 9, 148.