William Hagey

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-146015
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• Name: Abram Hagey
• Eby ID Number: 00047-3459
• Residence: 1858, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Retired: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Abram Hagey, "is married to Barbara Snyder. They reside one mile north of Preston, opposite the Hagey Mennonite Meeting House, where he owns a beautiful farm. To them were born four 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

Abraham married Barbara Schneider 31 Oct 1858, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Barbara (daughter of Deacon Joseph E. Schneider and Sarah "Sallie" Shantz) was born 26 Feb 1837, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 11 Feb 1923, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Barbara Hagey
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6387
• Residence: 1858, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• Land: Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 24, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Residence: 216 Kitchener Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00047-3456
• Historic Building: 1837, 216 Kitchener Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; clapboard house with stone addition
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jacob Hagey, "the eldest son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bergey) Hagey, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, January 13th, 1808. In 1822, he, in company with his parents and others, came to Canada and settled at Preston, Ontario. He was married to Leah, daughter of Christian and Sophia (Ruth) Schwartz. She was born November 15th, 1811, and died May 28th, 1882. They resided at Preston, on the farm now possessed by their youngest son, Levi. He died April 9th, 1893. When a young man he was ordained deacon of the Mennonite Church for the Hagey field of labor. He was a man that was held in high esteem in the community for his many excellent social and religious qualities. It is doubtful whether he had a single enemy. His family consisted of eight 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.].

_______________________________


HAGEY - On the 19th of April, 1893, near Preston, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Co., Ont., of infirmities of old age, Deacon Jacob Hagey. Buried on the 22d at Hagey's meeting-house where relatives and friends met to pay the last tribute of respect. His age was 85 years, 2 months and 26 days. Funeral services by J.B.. Gingrich at the house and Moses Bowman at the meeting-house, from 2 Cor. 4: 17, 18 and 5: 1. Bro. Hagey was ordained to the office of deacon on the 2d of December, 1832


Herald of Truth, Vol. XXX, No. 10, May 15, 1893 - Page 166, 167

___________________

In and Around Town

Jacob Hagey, one of Preston's oldest and most respected citizens is dead, at age of 85.

The Daily Record 26 Apr 1893

Historic Building:
Clapboard house with stone wing, built in 1837 by Jacob Hagey. Stone now (2010) covered with siding

Jacob — Leah Schwartz. Leah (daughter of Christian Schwartz and Sophia Ruth) was born 15 Nov 1811, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 28 May 1882, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Leah Hagey
• Residence: 216 Kitchener Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00108-6476
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Leah Schwartz, "was born November 15th, 1811. She was married to Deacon Jacob Hagey who was born January 13th, 1808, and died April 9th, 1893. They resided at Preston, Ontario, where she died May 28th, 1882. To them were born eight 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.].

Other Events:

• Historic Building: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Possesions: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Betty Lamp
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6385
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Joseph E. Schneider, "was born at Berlin, Ontario, November 23rd, 1810. On January 28th, 1834, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Isaac and Esther (Bechtel) Shantz. She was born January 21st, 1816, and died October 18th, 1881. Soon after their marriage they moved on his father's old homestead, now in possession of Samuel B. Schneider. When Mr. Schneider was a young man he joined the church of his choice, the Mennonite, of which body he was ordained deacon, a position he held for many years. His old days were much beclouded with troubles in the church, and owing to the different views held by the two parties in regard to the teaching of the Bible a division was made and the one party organized themselves into a distinct body, now known as the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. Mr. Schneider joined himself with the new body. He died happy in the Lord, February 16th, 1880"

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.].

_______________________


Feb. 16th, in Berlin, Ont., of dropsy, JOSEPH E. SCHNEIDER. For several months he was obliged to sit in a chair. He bore his sufferings with christian fortitude

Herald of Truth - Volume XVII, Number 4 - April, 1880, page 76, 77, 78

_____________________

Church of the Good Shepherd

The congregation began meeting in various locations as early as 1833, with Christian Enslin as leader. A small frame church was built on Frederick Street in 1842, and was called The Free Church; the congregations of four denominations held services in it. The seating space in the Free Church became insufficient for the growing Swedenborgian congregation with the result that land on the northwest corner of Church and Benton Streets was purchased in 1847 from Joseph E. Schneider. A frame church with a seating capacity of 150 was built in the same year; the church was called the New Church (Uttley 1937: 64). Several decades later a larger church was again needed. Land was purchased on the northeast corner of King and Water Streets where a new stone church was built and completed in 1870. The old church was sold to the congregation of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Serious differences resulted in a formal split in the Berlin Swedenborgian congregation on September 18, 1891. One group, the predecessor of this congregation, whose pastor was Rev. F.W. Tuerk (June 1857-July 3, 1901), continued to worship in the stone church. The other group, eventually to be known as the Carmel Church of the New Jerusalem, built their church in 1892 at 820 King Street West; their pastor was Rev. F.E. Waelchli. In 1935 the congregation purchased land on the corner of Queen Street North and Margaret Avenue as the site for a new church. The Church of the Good Shepherd is a Convention Church of the New Jerusalem.

Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

Historic Building:
Joseph Schneider's house is the oldest surviving in Kitchener dating from 1820 and has been made into the Schneider Haus Muesum.

Joseph married Sarah "Sallie" Shantz 28 Jan 1834. Sarah (daughter of Isaac Shantz and Esther Bechtel) was born 21 Jan 1816, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 18 Oct 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 20 Oct 1881, First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Sally Shantz
• Name: Sarah "Sallie" Schneider
• Residence: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6829
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Sarah Shantz (Sallie), "was born January 21st, 1816, and died October 18, 1881. On January 28th, 1834, she was married to Joseph E. Schneider."


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.].

____________________________________


SCHNEIDER. - Oct. 17th in Berlin, Ont., widow of Joseph E Schneider, of a tumor in the body, aged 65 years, 8 months and 6 days. Buried at Christian Ebys burying-ground.


Herald of Truth - Volume XIX, Number 2 - January 15, 1882 - page 29,30

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00047-3455
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 24E, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Daniel Hagey, "the second son of Jacob and Susannah (Schwartz) Hagey, was born July 12th, 1784, and died November 14th, 1859. He was married, in 1806, to Elizabeth Bergey (Bergey then spelled Birgi), who was born February 26th, 1784. They resided in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, until 1822 when they, with their four children, moved to Canada. With them came Henry Clemmer, father to John Clemmer, Joseph Bergey, and Abraham Becker. It took them 21 days to make the journey, arriving at Preston about the 20th of October. They settled on a farm, a little north of Preston, where they both died. She died September 16th, 1854. Their family consisted of six 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.].

*Bergey then spelled Birgi.

_____________________________

One who will soon be classed among the old settlers of Preston is Christopher Kress, who by his energy and pluck has accumulated considerable property and who has greatly aided in giving Preston a good name as a desirable place of resort for the cure of rheumatism and kindred diseases, through its mineral baths.

The mineral springs were struck by one Peter Erb while boring for salt in 1838, which he never obtained. He placed no value in the sulphur water he had so struck. After abandoning boring, the water of the spring was employed for driving an overshot wheel of a wagon making shop, occupied by one Daniel Hagey, until Mr. Samuel Cornell obtained from Mr. Joseph Erb sufficient land near the spring to erect an hotel. Mr. Cornell with great energy built suitable premises and a bath house with boiler to enable him to furnish hot and cold baths.. His undertaking proved successful but death terminated his career. The property was sold and Christopher Kress became its owner. He greatly enlarged, improved and ornamented it and the invalids who have sought and obtained relief at the Preston mineral baths count by the hundreds.

Fifth Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society, 1917 pg 32

Daniel married Elizabeth Bergey 1806. Elizabeth (daughter of Isaac Bergey and Veronica Hunsberger) was born 26 Feb 1784, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 16 Sep 1854, Near Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Hagey
• Eby ID Number: 00004-850

Notes:

Elizabeth Bergey," was married to Daniel Hagey. Her descendants are all in Canada."


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.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00108-6468
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 01N, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Christian Schwartz, "was born in Tonamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, August 20th, 1784. He was married to Sophia Ruth who was born August 23rd, 1787, and died February 23rd 1880. During the early part of the present century they moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, near Preston, where they both died. He died May 12th, 1848. To them was born a family of eight 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.].

Christian — Sophia Ruth. Sophia was born 23 Aug 1787, , USA; died 23 Feb 1880, Near Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Sophia Schwartz
• Eby ID Number: 00108-6468.1
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27232276
• Historic Building: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Interesting: religion, pioneer, story
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6346
• Historic Building: 1807, 393 Queen Street South, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Site of first log cabin
• Historic Business: 1816, 113 David Street, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Sawmill
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 017W, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 023W, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Historical Event: 29 Aug 1839, Evangelical Association Church, Waterloo, Ontario; church founding

Notes:

Joseph Schneider, "was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 24th, 1772. On February 21st, 1798, he was married to Barbara, daughter of Christian and Catharine (Bricker) Eby. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, April 29th, 1774, and died in Berlin, Ontario, March 13th, 1843. On May 8th, 1807, Mr. Schneider with wife and family and a large company of others (See Vol. 1 pages 39, 40 and 41 for particulars) moved to Canada and settled where now is the town of Berlin, Ontario. Here he was engaged in farming. His first buildings were erected where now his grandson, Samuel B. Schneider, lives, a little west of the Walper Block, Berlin. Here he died October 27th, 1843, leaving 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.].

__________________________

Zion United Church

A Sunday School was established in Berlin in 1837, meeting in Jacob Hailer's carpenter shop which was located at the southeast corner of what is now King and Scott Streets. A mission was begun by Rev. Christian Holl shortly after his arrival in Berlin on May 9, 1839, and a class (or congregation) was organized several months later on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert of the Evangelical Association during a camp meeting held at David Erb's farm near Lexington. John Hoffman was the Berlin class leader; his brother, Jacob, was class leader for the Waterloo-Lexington congregation. The Berlin congregation met in the old Town Hall until their first church was built in 1841 on Queen Street South across from Church Street on land purchased as of August 24, 1841 from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schneider. The church was dedicated on September 25th of that year, with Rev. Christian Hummel of Buffalo, New York, officiating. Rev. Joseph Harlacher was pastor from 1840-1842. In 1842 the Waterloo Mission became a Circuit of the East Pennsylvania Conference. Two years later it was part of the New York Conference.

The second church building was built of brick on the same site in 1866, and dedicated in 1867; Rev. C.A. Spies was pastor at the time. The old frame church was sold and moved to Elgin Street where it was used as a dwelling. In the same year Berlin became a station.

The present church building was built in 1893 on Weber Street; dedication services were held on June 15, 16 and 17, 1894. This building was heavily damaged by fires in 1942 and 1965 but was renovated and restored each time.

The union of the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren in Christ Church on November 16, 1946 created the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The name of the church was to change again, to Zion United Church when the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined the United Church of Canada on January 1, 1968. Of interest: some maps of early Berlin show this church as a German Methodist church.


Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

___________________________

SCHNEIDER, JOSEPH, settler and sawmill owner; b. 24 May 1772 in Lancaster County, Pa, son of Jacob B. Schneider and Maria Herschi; m. 21 Feb. 1798 Barbara Eby, sister of Benjamin Eby*, and they had seven children; d. 27 Oct. 1843 in Berlin (Kitchener), Upper Canada.

Joseph Schneider's father immigrated with his parents to Pennsylvania from the Palatinate (Federal Republic of Germany) in 1736. In 1806, three years after Jacob's death, two of his sons, Christian and Jacob, settled in block 2 (Waterloo Township), in the vicinity of present-day Kitchener. Joseph and a group of other Mennonites followed them, making the month-long journey in horse-drawn wagons. Schneider purchased and settled on lot 17 of the German Company Tract of block 2. It was the attraction of inexpensive land, as well as the desire to remain under British rule in the years after the American revolution, that brought many Mennonites to the area, among them Benjamin Eby and Samuel D. Betzner*. Geographical isolation allowed them to practise their religion and language freely, although at first it forced them to travel to such centres as Dundas for supplies and services.

Schneider was an active figure among the Mennonite settlers and, with Eby, is often regarded as a founder of Kitchener. He helped open the first local road, which ran from his farmstead to the Dundas road and was known as Schneider's road until the 1870s. In 1808-9 he and four other heads of families hired a teacher to open the first school in the area. He was involved four years later in the building of the first Mennonite meeting-house, headed by Eby; in 1834 Schneider participated in the construction of a new church. Perhaps as early as 1816 he had built a sawmill on what is still known as Schneider's Creek, and in the 1820s a blacksmith shop and tavern were erected by Phineas Varnum on land leased from Schneider. Together these enterprises formed the commercial nucleus of the developing village, known variously as Sand Hills, Ebytown, and, later, Berlin. In 1835 Schneider strongly supported the establishment of its first newspaper, Heinrich Wilhelm Peterson*'s Canada Museum, und Allgemeine Zeitung, of which he was a stockholder.

Schneider died on 27 Oct. 1843. Among the possessions he left to his family were traditional objects valued by Pennsylvania Germans, including a tall case clock, the works for which he had brought with him in 1807. The clock still stands in the house he built about 1820, Kitchener's oldest structure and now a museum. In other local collections are two family bibles: one, in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario, a rare edition published in Zurich in 1560 by Christoph Froschauer and brought to Upper Canada by Schneider; the other, in the possession of a descendant, printed in Lancaster County in 1805 and containing striking examples of fraktur (ornamental writing), executed by teacher-artist Jacob Schumacher in 1821.

Schneider's farming and milling operations were continued by his youngest son, Joseph E., who in 1849 had the family's history printed in Berlin in a small booklet, possibly the earliest published genealogy in Canada. In 1874 he was a charter member of the Reforming/Reformed Mennonites (later the Missionary Church) .
E. Reginald Good and Paul Tiessen

Toronto and York Land Registry Office (Toronto), "Old York County," deeds, 5, no.1839 (mfm. at AO). Waterloo South Land Registry Office (Kitchener, Ont.), Waterloo Township, abstract index to deeds, German Company Tract, lot 17 (mfm. at AO). E. E. Eby and J. B. Snyder, A biographical history of early settlers and their descendants in Waterloo Township, with Supplement, ed. E. D. Weber (Kitchener, 1971), 136. John English and Kenneth McLaughlin, Kitchener: an illustrated history (Waterloo, Ont., 1983). Hannes Schneider and his wife Catharine Haus Schneider, their descendants and times, 1534-1939, ed. J. M. Snyder (Kitchener, [1940]). Herkommen und Geschlechts Register der Schneider Familie (Berlin [Kitchener], 1849). P. G. Klassen, "A history of Mennonite education in Canada, 1786-1960" (d.ed. thesis, Univ. of Toronto, 1970), 73-74. W. V. Uttley, A history of Kitchener, Ontario (Kitchener, 1937; repr. [Waterloo, 1975]), 17. M. [H.] Snyder Sokvitne, "The Joseph Schneider house, 1820," Waterloo Hist. Soc., [Annual report] (Kitchener), 1966: 20-27. W. V. Uttley, "Joseph Schneider: founder of the city," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report (Waterloo), 1929: 111-19. G. K. Waite, "Joseph Schneider sawmill operations, 1848-1859," Waterloo Hist. Soc., [Annual report], 1985: 57-65.

Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online 2000 University of Toronto/Université Laval

____________________

JOSEPH SCHNEIDER
Founder of the City

The first stones in the city's foundation were laid in South Queen Street, in 1807, by Joseph Schneider. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa, in 1798, and married Barbara, sister of the Rev. Benjamin Eby.

On Lot No. 17, Pioneer Schneider built a log cabin. It stood on the east side of Queen Street, where John McKay's former home rests. Next he cut a roadway from the house to the Walper House corner and easterly to No. 57 East King Street, where he built a barn. South Queen Street was the first thoroughfare in the city and until the eighteen-eighties was called Schneider's Road.


A History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937 pg 16

Historic Building:
Joseph Schneider's house is the oldest surviving in Kitchener dating from 1820 and has been made into the Joseph Schneider Haus Muesum.

Historic Building:
Now on this site is Barra Castle a 15 unit apartment building, due to be renovated for other purposes (2009).

Historic Business:
Joseph Schneider's Saw-Mill

The pioneers had then begun to replace their log-houses with frame homes. To meet a demand for lumber Joseph Schneider built a saw-mill in 1816 on Schneider's Creek. It rested on the easterly side of David Street, opposite Victoria Park. The mill dam was above the railway, and the mill-race crossed David Street between Schneider Avenue and Roland Street. The up-and-down or "muley" saw was run by an overshot waterwheel.1a

1aA History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937 pg 17

Historical Event:
A Sunday School was established in Berlin in 1837, meeting in Jacob Hailer's carpenter shop which was located at the southeast corner of what is now King and Scott Streets. A mission was begun by Rev. Christian Holl shortly after his arrival in Berlin on May 9, 1839, and a class (or congregation) was organized several months later on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert of the Evangelical Association during a camp meeting held at David Erb's farm near Lexington. John Hoffman was the Berlin class leader; his brother, Jacob , was class leader for the Waterloo-Lexington congregation. The Berlin congregation met in the old Town Hall until their first church was built in 1841 on Queen Street South across from Church Street on land purchased as of August 24, 1841 from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schneider.<sup>1a

1a</sup>Ambrose, Rosemary. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide to Churches Established Before 1900. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. [used the kind permission of Rosemary Ambrose 2011]

Joseph married Barbara Eby 21 Feb 1798, , Pennsylvania, USA. Barbara (daughter of Christian Eby and Catharine Bricker) was born 29 Apr 1774, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 13 Mar 1843, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27232187
• Name: Barbara Schneider
• Residence: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2422

Notes:

Barbara Eby, "the third daughter of Christian Eby and his wife, Catharine Bricker, was born April 29th, 1774. On February 21st, 1798, she was married to Joseph Schneider who was born May 24th, 1772, and died October 27th, 1843. She died March 13th, 1843. In 1807 they, in company with some of the Ebys and Erbs, moved to what is now Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario. They settled on lot No. 17, U. B., of the Township of Waterloo, now forming part of the town of Berlin. The old homestead is now owned by a grandson, Samuel B. Schneider. Here they raised 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.].

Other Events:

• Name: Isaak Schantz
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6790
• Residence: 1829, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 001, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 052W, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Isaac Shantz, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, April 23rd, 1783. On October 15th, 1808, he was married to Esther, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Morris) Bechtel. She was born February 2nd, 1786, and died near Berlin, Ontario, July 24th, 1867. In 1808 Mr. Shantz, in company with his mother, his brother, Joseph, and his sister Veronica, moved to Canada and settled on the farm now in possession of Abraham H. Wamboldt. (This farm is a little to the south-east of Berlin). Here he resided until his death which took place December 12th, 1854. To them were born eleven 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.].

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A-1-55 Isaac Shantz: Last Will and Testament of Isaac Shantz of the Township of Waterloo.

…I, Isaac Shantzs of the Township of Waterloo, being of good health and of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament…That is to say first, that all my just debts shall be paid, Second I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Esther, all my Books, four beds and bedsteads, my stove and pipe, my 24-hour clock and case, my case of Drawers, my bureau and cubboard[sic] and all that is in them both, one spinning wheel and real one table and kitchen furniture to the amount of ten dollars; also two cows and six sheep and two hundred dollars in cash out of the first moneys arising out of my Estate, and sixty dollars as Dowry, or the interest at six percent on one thousand dollars, each and every year during her natural life, further I order and devise and it is my will, that my son Isaac B. Shantz shall have my farm at Three thousand dollars in manner and form following, that is to say, the said Isaac is to pay two thousand dollars in ten annual yearly equal installments of two hundred dollars each, and also sixty dollars as the interest on one thousand dollars, each and every year during widowhood of my beloved wife. Should my loving wife depart this natural life, before the two thousand dollars are fully paid, then my son Isaac, or his successors, shall pay two hundred and fifty dollars each and every year, till the full amount of three thousand dollars are fully paid….I give and bequeath to all my sons and daughters, or their heirs and successors share and share alike, except my daughter Mary Herner, she is to have the interest at six per cent on her share each and every year, so long as she is and remains the wife of Samuel Herner, after his death, the said Samuel Herner, she or her heirs shall have her full share and portion as my other children, and I do hereby nominate my son Samuel Shantz and my son-in-law Abraham Mayer, as Executors in full power, as my own person of this my Last Will and Testament.

Witnessed by Jacob S. Shoemaker and William Thoman
Dated 18 September 1850
Will proven 16 January 1855
Inventory £88/0/9
Died 12 December 1854

Surrogate Court Records Copybook Register A 1853-1871 transcript to 1863. Frances Hoffman transcriber.

Isaac married Esther Bechtel 15 Oct 1808. Esther (daughter of George Bechtel and Elizabeth Mary) was born 2 Feb 1786, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 14 Jul 1867, near, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Esther Shantz
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0816
• Birth: CALC 24 Feb 1786
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Death: 24 Jul 1867

Notes:

Esther Bechtel "the third daughter in the family, was born February 2nd, 1786. She was fifteen years of age when she came to Canada. On October 15th, 1808, she was married to Isaac, son of Isaac and Barbara (Reiff) Shantz. He was born April 23rd, 1783, and died December 12th, 1854. They resided near Berlin where she died July 14th, 1867. Their family consisted of eleven 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.].