Odo Shantz

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00110-6725.5

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00110-6725
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1863, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1870, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Aaron Shantz, "was born May 27th, 1839. On June 10th, 1863, he was married to Barbara Nahrgang who was born December 31st, 1841, and died June 21st, 1876. On December 23rd, 1877, he was again married to Mary Biehn who was born November 21st, 1847. He resides in Wilmot Township, where he is engaged in farming..."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

______________

Shantz. - Aaron Shantz was born near Haysville, Ont., May 27, 1839; died May 27, 1917; aged 78 y. He was twice married. On June 10, 1863, he was united in marriage with Barbara Nahrgang, which union was blessed with 5 daughters. After the decease of his first wife he was again married to Mary Biehn on Dec. 23, 1877. To this union were born 2 daughters. He is survived by a sorrowing widow, 7 daughters, 30 grandchildren, 3 brothers, 4 sisters and a host of relatives and friends. He was a member of the Mennonite Church for many years. Funeral services were conducted by Bros. Osias Cressman and Manasseh Hallman at the Geiger Church, Waterloo, Ont. By a daughter.


Gospel Herald - Volume X, Number 19 - August 9, 1917, page 367

Aaron married Barbara Nahrgang 10 Jun 1863, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Barbara (daughter of Christopher Nahrgang, daughter of Christopher Nahrgang and Mary Schneider) was born 31 Dec 1841, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 21 Jun 1876, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Barbara Shantz
• Eby ID Number: 00085-5036
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1863, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Barbara Nahrgang, "was born December 31st, 1841. On June 10th, 1863, she was married to Aaron Shantz who was born May 27th, 1839. They resided near Wilmot Township where she died June 21st, 1876. 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.].

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35218222
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6724
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone of Joseph Y. Shantz
• Residence: 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer & Saw
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Joseph Y. Shantz, "was born July 10th, 1815. On May 15th, 1838, he was married to Elizabeth Stauffer who was born January 5th, 1820. They reside in Wilmot Township where he followed farming many years but now lives retired. To them were born the following 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.].

________________________

SHANTZ - Joseph Y. Shantz, son of Jacob and Mary (Yost) Shantz, was born July 10, 1815, in Waterloo Co., Ont. He was married to Elizabeth Stauffer on the 15th of May, 1838. To them were born twelve children, of whom four sons and five daughters survive, all living in Wilmot Twp., near the paternal home. Bro. Shantz passed away on the 8th of May at the ripe old age of 84 ys., 9 ms., and 28 ds. A large circle of relatives and friends followed the remains to their last resting place at Geiger's M. H. on the 11th. Deceased united with the Mennonite Church in his youth and was a consistent member until death. Funeral services were held by E.S. Hallman from Psa. 39: 4, and Amos Cressman from Rev. 14: 13. Sister Shantz preceded her husband several years ago. May the Lord comfort the family and friends.

HERALD OF TRUTH, Vol. XXXVII, No. 11, June 1, 1900, pages 174, 175

_____________

Joseph Y. Shantz.

Under the hospitable roof of this pioneer citizen I spent a few pleasant hours. He is one of the specimens of noble manhood, through whose instrumentality vast sections of the wilds of Western Canada have been made to blossom as the rose. He was born July 10th, 1815. His wife, nee Elizabeth Stauffer, was born near Doon, in Waterloo township, January 10th, 1820. They were married on May 15th, 1838, and now live a quiet and retired life on the old homestead, which through years of hard toil and privations they accumulated that in after years they and their offspring might enjoy. That they have faithfully responded to the Divine injunction to replenish and multiply the earth, is proved by the fact that they are the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, and have fifty grand children to their credit. They have lived here for about sixty years Besides securing sufficient of this world's goods to enable them to live in ease and comfort during their declining years, their nine children now living have been amply provided for, their sons all having good farms and in well- to-do circumstances. The old saw-mill, some distance below the old homestead, was built about fifty years ago. In this pioneer industry Mr. Shantz expended countless drops of perspiration, and when sawing logs not entirely beyond his strength to handle he would operate it single-handed and alone. At that time there was a large amount of custom sawing and he did not waste time in taking advantage of it. Mr. Shantz was evidently a young man of extraordinary physical endurance and of strong mental capacity, for now in the eighty-third year of his age we find him still vigorous in mind and not what may be called infirm physically. Mrs. Shantz is yet hail and hearty in the seventy-eighth year of her age. They are both devout adherents of the Mennonite faith.

Waterloo County Chronicle, 21 Apr 1898, p. 8

Joseph married Elizabeth Stauffer 15 May 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of Daniel Stauffer and Susannah Kinzie) was born 5 Jan 1820, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 10 Aug 1898, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wilmot Mennonite (formerly Geiger) Cemetery, Wilmot, Waterloo Region, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35218269/elizabeth-shantz
• Name: Elizabeth Shantz
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7374
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone of Elizabeth Stauffer
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Stauffer, "was born January 5th, 1820. She is married to Joseph Y. Shantz, a farmer. They reside in Wilmot Township and have had a family of twelve 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.].

_________________________________


SHANTZ.- In Wilmot, Waterloo Co., Ont., of paralysis, beloved wife of Joseph Y. Shantz. She lived to be over79 years of age. She lived in matrimony over 60 years, and leaves a loving husband, nine children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sister Shantz was a member of the Mennonite Church for many years. In her last sickness she bore her affliction with Christian fortitude. May her life long be remembered. Funeral services were held by Bro. E. S. Hallman, in English, from Rev.14: 13, and Bro. Amos Cressman, in German, from Phil. 1: 21, at Geiger's M. H., where her remains were laid to rest.


Herald of Truth, Vol. XXXV, No. 17, September 1, 1898, page 269

Other Events:

• Interesting: story
• Occupation: weaver
• Eby ID Number: 00085-5033.11
• Residence: Bef 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Notes:

Christopher Nahrgang, "The old pioneer settler of this highly respectable family was Christopher, son of George Nahrgang. he was born in Lahrbach, Province of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, December 25th, 1801. When a young man he chose weaving as his trade and followed it for a number of years. In 1825 he emigrated to America and settled in Canada, choosing Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario, as the place where he could most successfully carry on his trade. He had his shop at old Joseph Schneider's until he was married to one of Mr. Schneider's daughters, then they moved to near New Hamburg, Ontario, where he followed farming for many years. He was married, April 28th, 1833, to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Eby) Schneider. She was born April 1st, 1808, and died at New Hamburg, Ontario, March 22nd, 1887. He died June 22nd, 1886. 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.].

Christopher married Mary Schneider 8 Apr 1833. Mary (daughter of Joseph Schneider and Barbara Eby) was born 1 Apr 1808, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Mar 1887, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Schneider
• Name: Mary Nahrgang
• Residence: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6384
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26915942
• Name: Jacob Schantz
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6690
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone of Jacob Shantz
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 001, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 008N, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jacob Shantz, "the third son of Isaac and Barbara (Reiff) Shantz, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, October 11th, 1781. In 1805 he was married to Mary Yost who was born in the same county, March 12th, 1784, and died near Berlin, Ontario, October 22, 1869. In 1810 they left their native home and moved to Canada. They settled a little south-east of Berlin, on the farm now owned by their grandson, Jacob B. Shantz. This place old Mr. Shantz purchased from old George (Yarrick) Eby who had settled thereon in 1804. Here Mr. and Mrs. Shantz resided until their deaths. He died July 1st, 1867, leaving a family of ten 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.].

____________________________________


On the first of July, 1867, in Waterloo Township, C. W., Br. JACOB SHANTZ, aged 85 years, 8 months, and 20 days. He was a native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and removed to Canada with his family in the year 1810. He lived in wedlock sixty-two years, and leaves eight children, eighty-four grand-children, and fifty-six great-grand-children. He took an active part in converting the wilderness of Waterloo Township into fruitful country. He was energetic and courageous in what he did, and is his works were according to the will of God, he is now at rest. DAVID SHERK.


HERALD OF TRUTH - Volume IV, Number 8 - August 1867 pages 115, 116

_________________________

A LARGE FAMILY

The family of the late Jacob Shantz, father of our well-known Mr. Jacob Y. Shantz, was most remarkable for its size and long life. There were eight brothers in this family, named Isaac, John, Joseph, Joshua, David, Jacob, Samuel and Amos - all good scriptural names. They all write Y. as a middle name, after their mother's maiden name, which was Yost. These brothers all lived up to about two weeks ago when Isaac, the eldest, died at the advance age of about 70, the youngest being about 50. They all raised large families, some of them even beyond the orthodox dozen, and we believe all with perhaps one exception rejoice in the possession of numerous grand-children. The family have also been remarkably successful in their business matters, each having not only a comfortable home of his own but a sufficient surplus to start his children on the road to prosperity. These worthy brothers had one sister, wife of the late Abraham D. Clemens, Williamsburg, who is also still living though considerably over sixty years old. It is a very rare thing to find so large a family attaining the ages of these excellent brothers who are most of them yet in the prime of manhood.

BERLIN DAILY NEWS OCTOBER 17th, 1878

Jacob married Mary Yost 1805. Mary was born 12 Mar 1784, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 22 Oct 1869, near, 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/26916095
• Name: Mary Shantz
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6690.1
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

On the 22nd of November, in Waterloo county, Ontario, Mary, widow of Jacob Shantz (who died some two years ago), aged 85 years, 7 months, and 11 days. She leaves a posterity of 159 souls.


Herald of Truth - Volume VI, Number 11 - November 1869 - page 175

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152716327
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7373
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Biehn's Tract Lot 05N, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer

Notes:

Daniel Stauffer, "was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 20th, 1796. When a young man he came to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario. In 1818 he was married to Susannah Kinzey who was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, June 1st, 1798, and came to Canada with her parents in 1800 and died February 11th, 1881. Soon after their marriage they moved on north half of lot No. 5, Biehn's Tract, near Strasburg school house, where he died July 22nd, 1846. 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.].

Daniel married Susannah Kinzie 1818. Susannah (daughter of Dilman Kinzie and Barbara Biehn) was born 1 Jun 1798, , Bucks Co., Pennsylvania; died 12 Jan 1881, Near Strasburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Kinzie-Bean Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region. Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244056199
• Name: Susannah Stauffer
• Eby ID Number: 00065-4049
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tunkand

Notes:

Susannah Kinzie, "was born in Pennsylvania, June 1st, 1798, and died near Strasburg, February 12th, 1881. She was married to Daniel Stauffer who was born February 20th, 1796, and died July 22nd, 1846."

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: 00085-5033.15

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.].