Daniel Barkey

Daniel Hoover Barkey (2 April 1824 - 18 February 1913) was a Mennonite Farmer and Preacher in Altona, Ontario.
Barkey Home
Daniel Barkey was born April 2, 1824 on the old Barkey homestead, 7th con in Markham Ontario. Daniel married Barbara Pike, daughter of Francis Pike, on March 241846 at their home just east of Dickson's Hill, and moved the same spring to lot 28, 9th con. of Pickering, into a small log house, where they lived until the summer of 1857. About 10 to 15 acres of the 100 acre farm had been cleared, when they arrived in the spring of 1846. Their entire possessions consisted of about $300, a team of oxen, saddle, horses, a few farm implements and a couple of cows. During the next 15 years 60 to 70 acres of this land was cleared of the wood, mostly maple, beech and elm, and completely tile drained, making one of the most splendid grain and stock farms in the township. When they first arrived here the side road between the townline and 9th concession was a terrible mud hole and under water in the spring. This farm was covered with cobble and huge big boulder flint stones, which they dug up and blasted. Fences were made from the stone and roadbeds, and often times were piled in large heaps in the fields, which have remained until quite recent times. The main house was finally finsihed in 1857 of all the cut flint stone from the farm and bears the inscription "D.B. — 1857"
Family
The Barkey family originally came from Pennsylvania, U.S.A. In the early 1800s they settled in Whitchurch Township. Daniel Barkey, son of Jacob, and his wife Barbara Pike moved to the present farm Lot 28, Conc. 9, Pickering, in 1837, and built a log cabin. Howard Barkey has the original deed from the Crown for this land.
Daniel and Barbara raised a family of six: Peter, was a doctor in Pennsylvania; Lydia, Francis and Victor operated shoe stores in Chicago and Levi went to Duluth, West Superior.
Wilmot remained on the home farm and married Martha Stouffer. Their family consisted of Mildred of Stouffville; Ella; Mary (Mrs. Clarence Hoover) of Markham; William; and Charles who remained on the farm and married Bessie Mowder. Of his family of five, Clifford married Mary Graham, of Markham; Barbara married Arthur Adams of Markham; Wilmot; Walter married Laima Kivedaras, of West Hill; and Frank, who remained on the home farm. Frank married Donna Johnson and they have six children: Sharyn, Elaine, Glenn, Eric, Carolyn and Kathryn. They are the sixth generation of Barkeys to live on this farm.
In 1970, Dr. D. O'Connor purchased the farm and Charles retired to Markham. Frank has a fine herd of Registered Holstein cattle, winning many prizes at fairs throughout this part of the province.
Daniel Barkey - The Mennonite Preacher
Daniel Barkey was the first "Mennonite Brethren In Christ" minister. His son Wilmot also was a local preacher at Altona. Daniel Barkey played a major role in the building of the Altona Mennonite Church. This is an outtake from a book of the history of the Hamelt of Altona.
"UNION CHURCH
Another church was built in 1875 just east of the four corners. This church served two distinct congregations—the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (an offshoot of the old Mennonite order) and the Christian Church (organized in 1872). Abraham Reesor, Jr. provided the land, Daniel Barkey promoted the project and served as the superintendent of the union Sunday school, and Noah Detwiler served as the first pastor of the church. Services continued in this church until 1980. It now houses a Christian Day School"
Death
Sadly Daniel Barkey died February 88 1913 at the age of 88 from Aortic Regurgitation. Daniel Barkey is buried at the Altona Mennonite Church. His head stone is the largest in the cemetery. The head stone is also belonging to his wife Barbara Pike(1827-1905), his son Wilmot(1868-1906), Wilmot's wife Martha Stouffer (1868-1947) and Wilmot's Daughter Ella Barkey (1899-1920)

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