Mabel Bear

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-204694
• Residence: 1911, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00106-5910.3
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1925, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer

Aaron married Anna Catharine "Katie" Sohrt 20 May 1891, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Anna (daughter of Henry Short and Caroline, daughter of Heinrich Claus "Henry" Sohrt and Caroline Magdelene Thams) was born 30 May 1872, Kossuth, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 27 May 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Catharine "Katie" Baer
• Name: Katie Short
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5910.66
• Residence: 1911, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182431171
• Name: Benjamin Baer
• Eby ID Number: 00003-609
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1868, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1869, West Montrose, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; sawmiller
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Sawyer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; NC Methodist
• Occupation: 1873, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; carpenter
• Residence: 1873, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Bridge: 1881, Kissing Bridge, West Montose, Ontario
• Historic Building: 1881, 1245 Covered Bridge Dr., West Montrose, Ontario; Construction of the West Montrose covered bridge by John and Benjamin Bear
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; carpenter
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Historic Building: 1889, 1151 Doon Village Road, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bridge Builder
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bridge Builder

Notes:

Benjamin Bear, "was born March 2nd, 1847. He is a builder and contractor, and resides near Doon, Ontario. He was first married to Lydia Snyder, with whom he had two sons, Byron and Aaron. After his wife's decease he married Jemima Hallman, with whom he had nine children, After the decease of his second wife he was married to Lena Ham, with whom he has one son named Hamey."


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.].

Historic Building:
The West Montrose covered bridge was constructed in 1881 by John and Benjamin Bear and is best known for being the last remaining historical covered bridge in Ontario. Known as the Kissing Bridge. Wikipedia Entry

Bridge:
Benjamin Baer constructed in 1881 Ontario's last remaining covered bridge at West Montrose, Ontario.

Historic Building:
Polychrome brickwork, rare in Upper Doon, is a feature of this small residence. The original structure, built in 1889 by engineer Benjamin Baer, is a side-gabled, three bay cottage with original doorcase of transom and sidelights still present. The building is situated on a large lot at the corner of Oregon Drive...many changes and a large rear addition..<sup>1a

1a</sup>Upper Doon, a a heritage conservation district plan, prepared by Nicholas Hill (architect planner - London) 1987 pg 32

Benjamin married Lydia Snyder 27 Dec 1868, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lydia (daughter of Levi Snyder, daughter of Levi Snyder and Elizabeth Clemens) was born 8 Feb 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 4 Dec 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182431558
• Name: Lydia Bear
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5910
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1868, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; NC Methodist

Notes:

Lydia Snyder, "was born February 8th, 1846. On December 27th, 1868, she was married to Benjamin Bear (No. 609). They resided near Doon where she died December 4th, 1871, leaving a family of two 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 3rd of December, in Waterloo county, Ont., of consumption, Lydia, wife of Benjamin Baer, aged 25 years, 9 months and 24 days. We have the hopes that she left this troublesome world in peace with God and now rests in that happy world above, where grief and sorrow can never come. A funeral discourse by D. Wismer from the words, "Where art thou?" Gen. 3: 9.

Herald of Truth - Volume IX, Number 2 - February 1872, page 29, 30

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00106-5910.67

Henry — Caroline. Caroline was born Abt 1840; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Caroline Short
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5910.68

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39053199
• Name: John Baer
• Eby ID Number: 00003-597
• 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
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

John Bear, "was born near Preston, Ontario, May 15th, 1804. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. When eighteen years of age he commenced life as a builder and contractor. Many a house and barn still standing in this and adjoining counties. were erected by him between the years 1823 and 1835. He was also the possessor of a beautiful farm lying between Preston and Hespeler, now owned by Anson Groh. Here he resided until the death of his wife in 1875. Then he had his home with his youngest son, Joseph, for five years. In 1880 he went to live with his son John, who resides a little west of Doon, where he died happy in the Lord, December 24th, 1894. He was converted unto the Lord when a young man, and in 1833 he joined the Mennonite Church. On December 2nd, 1838, he was ordained as Minister of the Gospel by the late Bishop Benjamin Eby. His field of labor was to be at 'Wanners', for which locality he was ordained. In 1870-71 when the first glimmerings of dissatisfaction were observable among the Mennonites, Mr. Bear was an active worker to keep up the union (The writer heard him advocate strongly in favor of union in 1870-71-72) but the spirit of disunion was carried so far (1873-4), which ultimately caused a division into the old and new communions. Mr. Bear joined himself with the new party and was one of their first ministers. We might add in conclusion that his educational attainments were very limited. Besides the acquisition of the simple elementary branches of reading, writing, and arithmetic, he in his youth was not favored, as the country was new and the schools in their primeval state. Being possessed of a very retentive memory, he exhibited a great taste for reading and was remarkably fond of investigation. He seldom accepted anything without first giving it due consideration and careful study. What little spare time he was able to snatch from the labors of the farm, he studiously devoted to the reading of such works as came within his reach. His library was composed of books pertaining to religious and devotional works. He was well versed in the Bible and works of a religious character. On February 11th, 1827, he was married to Anna, daughter of Cornelius and Anna (Detweiler) Pannabecker. She was born near Hespeler, Waterloo County, Ontario, April 23rd, 1812, and died February 16th, 1875. They had a family of thirteen 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.].

_________________________________


"Bear, John (1804-1894)

John Bear: minister and building contractor; born 15 May 1804 near Preston, Upper Canada to Martin and Catharine (Gingrich) Bear. He was the oldest child in a family of six sons and seven daughters. On 11 February 1827 he married Anna Pannabecker (23 April 1812-16 February 1875); they had ten sons and three daughters. John died 24 December 1894.

By vocation John Bear became a carpenter and builder. One of his projects was the Union Mennonite/Tunker school and meetinghouse of 1829 that predated the Wanner building of 1837. This building was used as a school until 1848. He did much of his construction work between 1823-1835. He also farmed between Preston and Hespeler (both now part of the city of Cambridge).

John Bear was baptized as a member of the Mennonite Church in 1833; on 2 December 1838 he was ordained as a minister by Benjamin Eby particularly for service in the Wanner/Hagey area of the conference. He was widely read, but had only the basic primary education of the day. He was a second generation minister in the conference; his father had been one of the first persons ordained as a minister in the Waterloo region.

When a doctrinal conflict arose in the Ontario Conference beginning in 1869, John Bear led an party of three ministers to investigate revival activities in Solomon Eby's congregation at Port Elgin, ON. Bear's group brought back a positive report in early 1870, but a division ultimately could not be averted. Bear then joined the new "Reformed Mennonites"; a group that ultimately became part of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ denomination (later known as the Evangelical Missionary Church). He served as a minister in that denomination until his death. He was ordained as an elder in that denomination on 4 March 1888 by Menno Bowman.

Bear's departure from the Ontario Mennonite conference was very significant because of his longstanding leadership role in the conference. As leader of the investigation committee to Port Elgin he carried the respect of his fellow ministers, and his loss to the movement was keenly felt."

Mennonite Historical Society of Canada https://www.mhsc.ca/

_______________________________

Wanner Mennonite Church
Begun: 1829

A small wooden meeting house was built in 1829 on a corner of the farm belonging to Samuel Bechtel which was located in the vicinity of the present-day regional headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources near the intersection of Highways 24 and 401. The site for this community meeting house, as well as a school and a burial ground, had been chosen on August 8, 1829. The land was donated by Samuel Bechtel and his wife Barbara (Baumann) on March 15, 1830. A new meeting house, of white brick, was built in 1837 on the east side of Henry Wanner's farm, somewhat north of the first meeting house. Meetings at first were held every eight weeks. The deed of land for the meeting house known as Wanner's was dated October 15, 1837. Early preachers were David Sherk, who had been ordained by Benjamin Eby in July 1837, Jacob Bretz, Jr., and Joseph Hagey.

Joseph Hagey was ordained bishop in 1851. During his time divisions occurred in the church by a surge of enthusiasm for a Methodist form of revivalism. Solomon Eby of Port Elgin, who announced his own conversion in December 1869, was leader of a group which believed that members could be converted through participation in revival meetings. John Baer of Wanner's became associated with Solomon Eby, and was compelled to leave the church in the spring of 1874, as were Eby and his other followers. The new church movement resulted in organization conferences which culminated in the conference on March 23, 1875 at Bloomingdale where New Mennonites and Reforming (or Reformed) Mennonites joined together as United Mennonites. The United Mennonites favored revival meetings, Sunday Schools and prayer meetings, and were opposed to the use of alcohol and tobacco.

The date of construction of the meeting house which replaced the one built in 1837 is somewhat in doubt. It is possible that a new building was erected in the early 1870s; it is also possible that the 1837 building only underwent extensive renovations at that time. There is no doubt, however, that a new brown brick church was built in 1938. An education wing was added in 1969.

The earliest Mennonite Sunday School in North America was begun in 1842 and was held jointly by the Wanner and Hagey Meeting Houses. It was discontinued after a short time because of a division of opinion within the congregations. An attempt was made later, in the mid-1860s, to begin another Sunday School, but this, too, did not last long. Many years later, on June 10, 1896, a meeting was held to organize a Sunday School. Anson Groh was appointed superintendent..

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

John married Anna "Nancy" Pannabecker 11 Feb 1827. Anna (daughter of Cornelius Pannebecker and Anna Detweiler) was born 23 Apr 1812, Near Hespeler, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 16 Feb 1875, Near Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39053031
• Name: Anna "Nancy" Bear
• Name: Nancy Panabaker
• Name: Nancy Pannebecker
• Eby ID Number: 00087-5121
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Anna Pannebecker, "was born April 23rd, 1812, and died near Preston, Ontario, February 16th, 1875. She was married to Rev. John Bear."

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:

• Residence: 1130 Maple Grove Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5906
• 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

Notes:

Levi Snyder, "was born August 16th, 1815. On March 17th, 1838, he was married to Elizabeth Clemens (No. 1636). They resided near Zion Chapel where he was engaged in farming. his death took place May 26th, 1890. Their family consisted of nine 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.].

____________________________


SNYDER.-On the 26th of May, in Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Co. Ontario, Levi Snyder, aged 74 years, 9 months and 9 days. He was buried on the 28th at Wanner's M. H., followed to the grave by a large number of relatives and friends. Appropriate remarks were made by Bish. Elias Weber from Matt. 6: 19-21 and Noah Stauffer from 2 Cor. 5: 1.


Herald of Truth, Vol. XXVII, Number 13, July 1, 1890, pages 205 and 206

Residence:
Levi Snyder is reported to have lived at this site. There is no house and barn (2014) dates from 1890.

Levi married Elizabeth Clemens 17 Mar 1838. Elizabeth (daughter of Jesse M. Clemens and Margaret Miller) was born 6 Jul 1816, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 25 May 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Snyder
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1636
• 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: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Clemens, "was born July 6th, 1816. She was married to Levi, son of John C. and Catharine (Shantz) Schneider. They resided near Kossuth where he owned a large farm. She died May 25th, 1890. To them were born nine 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.].