Ralph W. Behrens

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00127-7776.5
• Occupation: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bank Clerk
• Residence: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Notes:

"(Elmira) - Ralph W.Behrens of Elmira died early today at the KW Hospital. The body is resting at the Dreisinger Funeral Parlor, Elmira, pending funeral arrangements."

KW Record obit. of Fri., March 6, 1953

Other Events:

• Organization: Elmira Public Library, Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario
• Name: W. M. Behrens
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7776.1
• Immigration: 1873, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Store Clerk
• Occupation: 1891, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clerk General Store
• Residence: 1891, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Immigration: 1893, , Canada
• Occupation: 1901, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clerk General Store
• Residence: 1903, 18 Centre St., Elmira, Ontario
• Occupation: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1951, 2 William Street, Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario

Notes:

Mr. Wm. M. Behrens was born in Hannover, Germany, 1854. He emigrated to New York in 1871 and 3 years later to Elmira. Some years later he went to Detroit where he was in business a short time, and returned to Elmira in 1885. He is salesman in the general store of Messrs Weber & Erb. He has been many years treasurer of the Elmira Musical Society and the I.O.O.F. [Independent Order of Foresters] and has been an officer of the Elmira Public Library almost ever since its organization.

Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, published by George Klinck, 1903.

_____________________

WILLIAM BEHRENS

William Behrens, 96, who died Thursday, March 29, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Oscar Vogt, 2 William street, was Elmira's oldest citizen. Born in Hanover, Germany, on April 30, 1954, he came to Elmira in 1871.

Mr. Behrens was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for almost 73 years, joining on October 8, 1879. He was a member of Gale Presbyterian Church.

His wife predeceased him eight years ago. Surviving are two sons, Betram L., Chicago, and Ralph W., Elmira; two daughters, Mrs. Oscar (Edith) Vogt, Elmira, and Mrs. R. O. (Beatrice) Winn, Kitchener; three grand-children and one great-grandchild. Funeral service was held Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Dreisinger Funeral Chapel with Rev. C. L. Mitchell officiating. Burial was in Elmira Cemetery.

Organization:
On January 24, 1888, a meeting was held to organize a Mechanics' Institute in Elmira. Membership cost $1 a year. The first board members were: David Bean, George Klinck, A. Werner, John Ratz, A. H. Erb, A. Blatz, Wm. Behrens, Sol Laschinger, Dr. Ullyot, and M. Weber. The librarian/caretaker, C. K. Jansen was paid $30 a year.

William married Susannah Weber 14 May 1884, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Susannah (daughter of Solomon L. Weber and Emma Elizabeth Gray) was born 23 Dec 1861, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 19 Apr 1943, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Susannah Behrens
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7776
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1943, 2 William Street, Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario

Notes:

Susannah Weber," was born December 23rd, 1861. She is married to William Behrens who is clerk in Weber & Erb's store. They reside in Elmira and have a family of five 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.].

____________________

MRS. WILLIAM BEHRENS

- A life-long resident of this district, Mrs. William Behrens died suddenly Thursday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. O.H. Vogt. She was 81 years old. Formerly Susanna Weber, she was a member of Gale Presbyterian congregation.

Surviving are her husband, two sons, B.L. Behrens of Chicago and R.W. Behrens of Elmira, two daughters, Mrs. Vogt and Mrs. R.O. Winn of Kitchener, three sisters, Mrs. William H. Baetz of Cleveland, Mrs. A.E. Devitt of Waterloo and Mrs. C.T. Walmsley of Oak Park, Ill. There are three grandchildren. One daughter, a sister, Mrs. J. Winder of Elmira, and a brother, M.L. Weber of Elmira, predeceased her.

The funeral service was held on Saturday at 2:30 pm from the Dreisinger funeral Chapel. Rev. H.L. Bennie officiated. Burial was made in the Elmira Cemetery.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-79629

Augustus — Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina was born Abt 1824, Of, Hanover, Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Wilhelmina Behrens
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-79630

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00127-7773
• Residence: 1855, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist

Notes:

Solomon Weber," was born at Strasburg, Ontario, December 31st, 1831. He resided in the township of Woolwich, north of Elmira, on the farm lately owned by Henry Groff. He died October 10th, 1871. He was married to Emma Elizabeth Grey. 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.].

Solomon married Emma Elizabeth Gray 20 Feb 1855, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Emma (daughter of James Gray and Anna) was born 6 Dec 1834, , Yorkshire, England; died 19 Aug 1917, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Elmira Mennonite Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth
• Name: Elizabeth Emma Gray
• Name: Emma Elizabeth Mickus
• Name: Emma Elizabeth Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7773.1
• Immigration: 1844, , Canada
• Immigration: 1854, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1855, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Residence: 1874, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• Interesting: story, building, religion
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7766
• Historic Building: Abt 1820, 69 Biehn Dr., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

David R. Weber," was born November 2nd, 1800, and emigrated to Canada when quite a young man while the others of the family remained in Pennsylvania. Here he was married to Mary Lyons who was born May 19th, 1803, and died July 10th, 1871. They resided on a farm near Strasburg, now in possession of their son Noah. Their family consisted of fifteen 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.].

________________________

Pioneer Park (Weber/Strasburg) Christian Fellowship Mennonite Church

Early services were held in the homes of the first settlers, perhaps as early as 1833. Services often were held at the home of David Weber who lived across from where the church would be located. David Sherk was ordained deacon to serve the group in 1837, and in the next year, 1838, he was ordained minister. He was followed in 1840 by John Steckle (Stoeckle).

In 1842, David Weber donated one acre of land for a meeting house and burial ground. The deed was dated March 23, 1854, although the meeting house had been built in 1843. A new yellow brick church was built in 1894 on the same site. Noah Stauffer, who had been ordained in 1876 to assist John Steckle, was minister at the time. A Sunday School was organized in the 1890s; Sunday School records date from 1898. In 1899 the first Bible Conference to be held in an Ontario Mennonite church was held in the Weber church.

In 1971-1972 the church was enlarged and completely renovated. During that time - from October 17, 1971 to January 23, 1972 - the congregation met in the Herbert Feick home on Doon Village Road. On September 24, 1872 the congregation celebrated the 130th Anniversary of the building of the first meeting house. The name of the church was changed to Pioneer Park Christian Fellowship Mennonite Church in 1972.

In 1951 the congregation had purchased from Clifford Snider an additional acre of land located behind the church. In 1976, for the sum of $1, the congregation acquired a sixty-five foot strip of land along the south edge of the church property from Major Holdings & Development Co. A new church was built within several feet of the old yellow brick one which was removed; the date on the cornerstone is 1980. The 150th Anniversary of the construction of the first meeting house is to be celebrated in 1993.

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

Historic Building:
Built about 1840, it has stone walls and a stencilled ceiling in the home's main room. The stencilled ceiling has been identified as the work of John Moser and 1860's era painter who died similar work in a house restories in the 1970's in Cobourg.<sup>1a

1a</sup>The Kitchener-Waterloo Record 11 May 1981

David married Mary "Polly" "Pauline" Lyons , Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Abraham Lyons and Mary Biehn) was born CALC 17 May 1803; died 8 Jul 1871; was buried , Pioneer Park Mennonite Cemetery, [formerly Weber Mennonite Biehn Drive Cemetery] Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Lyons
• Name: Mary "Polly" "Pauline" Weber
• Name: Pauline Lyons
• Name: Polly Lyonett
• Name: Polly Lyons
• Eby ID Number: 00008-971.2
• Birth: 19 May 1803, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Death: 10 Jul 1871, Strasburg (Kitchener) Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-134590

James — Anna. Anna was born Abt 1803, Of, Yorkshire, England; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Gray
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-134591