Jacob Eby

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52669055
• Interesting: story, pioneer
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2372
• Residence: 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Other Methodist

Notes:

Jacob Eby, "the second son of David Eby, was born October 18th, 1815. On April 7th, 1840, he was married to Maria Bingeman who was born June 9th, 1820. Some time after their marriage they moved to St. Joseph County, Indiana, where they are still residing. Their 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

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EBY. In Elkhart Co., Ind., on the 20th of August, of the infirmities of old age, Bro. Jacob Eby, aged 80 years, 10 months and 2 days. He was born in Waterloo Co., Ontario, in 1815. Was married to Mary Bingeman in 1840. Came to Indiana at an early day, and resided here until the time of his death. He was the father of eight children, seven of whom, with the aged mother, survive him. He was buried at the Olive M. H. on Sunday, Aug. 23, where services were conducted by Bish. C. Shaum and -- Shwalm, from Isa. 38: 1. The services were largely attended.


Herald of Truth, Vol. XXXIII, No. 17, September 1, 1896, page 270, 271

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Jacob Eby. The farming class of America and especially of the northern tier of States, is noted for the degree of intelligence that is possessed among its representatives. Mr. Eby belongs to one of the most progressive of families and as a tiller of the soil, as well as in other respects, he has endeavoured to keep out of old grooves and has always favored the adoption of new and improved methods in conducting his operations. The family originated in Switzerland and were Catholics. A well-defined tradition in the family relates that at one time there were five brothers of the name living in Switzerland and all were Catholics, but one who was a Mennonite, which sect was greatly persecuted in Switzerland, and many of its followers found homes in the wilderness of Pennsylvania, and among them was the founder of the Eby family in America.

The family resided in Pennsylvania for generations and there John Eby, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, followed the calling of a blacksmith and was married to a Miss Lehmy, their children, Peter and David, being the only ones of their family that are remembered. David Eby, son of John, was born in Pennsylvania and was but twelve years of age when he started out to make his own way in the world, and in 1807 went to Canada with a party of eleven other men, five of which company are remembered: Benjamin and Samuel Eby, distant relatives of David; Joseph Snyder; Peter and Daniel Erb, three of whom were married men and the rest single.

They were all Mennonites and settled in Waterloo township, Waterloo Co., Ontario, and the city of Berlin now stands on the ground which was taken by Benjamin Eby. David Eby was married there to Elizabeth Bechtel, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Allabaugh) Bechtel, and after his marriage settled on and cleared up a good farm from the dense timber with which it was covered. It consisted of 330 acres, and besides this he owned 200 acres in the township of Woolwich. Mr. and Mrs. Eby became the parents of eleven children: Joseph, Mary, Mattie, Jacob, Annie, Elizabeth, Fronica, Susan, David, Elias and Enoch. Joseph Bechtel, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a Mennonite preacher; Benjamin Eby was a bishop in the church and Samuel Eby was an elder, and together they established a church in their settlement which flourished, and at the death of Benjamin Eby, about 1850, there were 1,100 members, nearly all of whom were converted through the instrumentality of these humble followers of Christ. David Eby died at the age of seventy-five years in March, 1855, leaving a goodly property and an unsullied name as a heritage to his children, before whom he always set a good example, and to whom he was a kind and faithful father. His farm is now very valuable, as it is close to the city of Berlin, and is owned by David Eby and his sons and is valued at about $100,000.

Jacob Eby was born on the old homestead in Canada, October 18, 1815, and, owing to the primitive condition of the country during his youth, he received a very limited education, his studies being mainly pursued of evenings by the old-fashioned fireplace. Like many of the early pioneers he was handy with tools and worked at carpentering, blacksmithing and the mason's trade. When he was a young man wild game was very plentiful, and as he was skillful in the use of the rifle, and very fond of the sport, much of his leisure was spent in the chase. He kept an account of the game killed and brought down 46 deer, 7 wolves, 2 bear and shot and trapped 100 foxes. Coon, mink, martin, fish, otter and wildcat also fell victims to his skill. Two of the wildcats that he killed were as large as a common dog. When a young man he and his dog were one day in a field near some heavy timber in Canada, where several men were chopping wood, when a half-grown black bear came through the trees, but becoming frightened by the shouts of the men, turned and came through the field. Mr. Eby waited for it and at the right moment attacked it with knife and club and with the help of the dog, which was large and strong, killed it.

On another occasion, when he was going into the woods to split posts he saw a full-grown wolf asleep in a fallen tree top, whereupon he threw his axe, struck it fairly and killed it. April 7, 1840, he was married to Polly Bingaman, a daughter of John and Hannah (Berkey) Bingaman, her father being of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. He cleared a good farm of 100 acres and was accidentally killed by the falling of a large limb from a burning tree when about seventy years of age.

He and his wife were Mennonites and the parents of the following family: Judith, Esther, Susanna, Hannah, Eunice, Catherine, Mary, Magdaline, John, Sallie and Isaac. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eby: Enoch; Simon, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Seth; Cyrus; Jacob; John; Joseph and Noah. After his marriage Mr. Eby settled seven miles north of his father's home- stead on a 200-acre tract of wild land for which he paid $750, and here he lived and worked hard until 1860, when he came to St. Joseph county, Ind., and bought 280 acres of land, 80 of which were cleared.

He has improved the remainder by thrift and perseverance and added to his original purchase until he at one time owned 700 acres, all of which he has given to his children, except 280 acres. He and his wife have been life-long members of the Mennonite church, but have liberally assisted other churches with their means. He contributed money toward building two Mennonite Churches in his vicinity, as well as for the Catholic and Baptist Churches of Mishawaka. He is generous and high minded, broad in his views and well posted on all topics.

His sons are all settled near him and are in good circumstances: Enoch, who is farming near Tippecanoe Lake, Ind., married Keziah Wendy and has three children: Seth farms near Bangor, Mich., married Hannah Herrington and has two children; Cyrus is a farmer near the old home, is married to Annie Wenger and has seven children; Jacob also farms near home, is married to Elizabeth Wenger and has eight children; John is a farmer, is married to Harriet Weaver and has two children; Noah farms, is married to Laura Moon, by whom he has two children; Joseph is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Eby have two great-grand-children. Their granddaughter, Hannah Eby, daughter of Enoch, married Emmet Gordey and has one son, Alva Allen. John Eby, a grandson, married Mary Eby and has a son, Walter. Mr. Eby is a stanch Republican.

"Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana Together with Biographies of Many Prominent Men of Northern Indiana and the Whole State, Both Living and Dead", Goodspeed Brothers Publishers, Chicago, 1893, John Morris Co. Printers and Binders

Jacob married Maria "Mary" "Polly" Bingeman 7 Apr 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Maria (daughter of Johannes "John" Bingeman and Hannah S. Bergey) was born 9 Dec 1820, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 17 Nov 1915, Elkhart, Elkhart, Indiana, United States; was buried , Olive Cemetery, Wakarusa, Elkhart, Indiana, United States. [Group Sheet]

1. Enoch Eby was born 3 Dec 1841, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1921; was buried , Olive Cemetery, Wakarusa, Elkhart, Indiana, United States.
2. Simon Eby was born 16 Nov 1843, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 12 Oct 1866.
3. Seth Eby was born 17 Nov 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 16 May 1914; was buried , Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren, Michigan, United States.
4. Cyrus "Saruch" Eby was born 28 Jan 1849, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 26 Oct 1923, , Elkhart, Indiana, USA; was buried , Olive Cemetery, Wakarusa, Elkhart, Indiana, United States.
5. Jacob B. Eby was born 16 Oct 1851, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 14 Sep 1918; was buried , Olive Cemetery, Olive Township, Elkhart Co., Indiana.
6. John B. Eby was born 7 Mar 1854, , Ontario, Canada; died 26 Oct 1897; was buried , Olive Cemetery, Wakarusa, Elkhart, Indiana, United States.
7. Joseph Eby was born 5 Feb 1857, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
8. Noah Eby was born 4 Mar 1863; died Yes, date unknown.

Other Events:

• Residence: Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2360
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 032, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Historical Event: 29 Aug 1839, Evangelical Association Church, Waterloo, Ontario; church founding
• Historic Building: 1842, 15 Fischer-Hallman Rd. N., Waterloo, Ontario
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

David Eby, "was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 23rd, 1785. The house in which he and the Rev. Benjamin Eby made arrangements in regard to the moving to Canada is still standing and occupied by a son of Henry E. Brubacher. On June 21st, 1807, David Eby, in company with Benjamin Eby and wife, Joseph Schneider and wife, Peter Erb and wife, Daniel Eby, Samuel Eby, Daniel Erb, and others arrived at George Eby's who resided on the farm now owned and occupied by Jacob B. Shantz, one-half mile south-east of Berlin. He made his home for a few months with Peter Erb for whom he cleared ten acres of forest. Peter Erb had settled on the west side of the Grand River, one mile north of Bridgeport. David Eby was always happy and merry, even while at his work clearing away the large trees of the dense forest he was either singing or whistling most of the time. On May 8th, 1810, he married Elizabeth Bechtel who was born March 5th, 1787, and died January 15th, 1844. They resided on lot No. 32, German Company's Tract, where he died April 1st, 1860. They raised a family 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.].

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Erb Street (David Eby) Mennonite Church

Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929).

Due to a difference of opinion in the David Eby congregation, Sunday School classes were held at first in a private home, that of Levi Groff, beginning in 1887. The dissension which resulted culminated in a division in the church in 1889; the minister, Elias Schneider, and the deacon, Menno S. Shantz, left the church and joined with the Old Order Mennonites of Woolwich Township. The following year, 1890, saw the commencement of "Edification Meetings", which were held in the homes of members of the David Eby congregation. These meetings later became the Young People's Bible Meetings.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, it was recognized that the church building was either in need of repair or in need of complete replacement. Consideration was given to building a new church on the same site or on a site on King Street North. A decision was made to accept from Samuel S. Snider the donation of a parcel of land which was also on Erb Street, but nearer town. Excavation of the foundation for the new church began in the Spring of 1902. A dedication service was held on August 17, 1902. A parsonage was built in 1929 on land donated by Herbert Snider, the son of Samuel Snider. The church building was renovated and enlarged in 1949-1950; a dedication service was held on April 9, 1950. Further renovations were made in 1974..


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

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In 1852 David lived with his son David.

Historical Event:
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.<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]

Historic Building:
Two story log house covered with clapboard was built in 1842. The logs were dressed down to 7" and by 1851 was covered in clapboard The date 1842 was carved into one of the second story logs. The house was on land in 1981 to be redeveloped and has probably been demolished.

David married Elizabeth Bechtel 8 May 1810. Elizabeth (daughter of Rev. Joseph Bechtel and Magdalena Allebach) was born 5 Mar 1787, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 15 Jan 1844; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Eby
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0646

Notes:

Elizabeth Bechtel "the eldest in family, was born March 5th, 1787, and died January 15th, 1844. On May 8th, 1810, she was married to David Eby, who was born February 23rd, 1785, and died April 1st, 1860. They resided two miles west of the town of Waterloo where they both died. 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.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00031-2359

Notes:

John Eby, "the eldest son of Peter Eby, was married to Mary Gerber.(From Benjamin Eby's notes). They resided near Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He died while comparatively young, leaving a family of five children. Whether they all arrived at the age of twenty-one is doubtful and as far as can be ascertained there were but two sons, David and Peter who remained in Pennsylvania."


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.].

John — Mary Gerber. Mary was born Abt 1730, Of, Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Eby
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2359.1

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546720
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Location of his log house.
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Joseph Bechtel "son of Martin Bechtel, a minister of the Mennonites, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1761. He was married March 5th, 1786, to Magdalena Allebach who was born September 21st, 1761, and died September 21st, 1837. They moved to Canada in 1802 and settled on the farm situated at the mouth of the Speed River where it meets with the Grand River. Here they resided many years. In 1804 he was ordained as a minister of the Mennonite body which position he held until his death which took place April 11th, 1838. They had 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.].

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Preston (Bechtel or Hagey) Mennonite Church

The second meeting house in Waterloo County was built, probably in 1814, by John Erb, a wealthy miller of Preston. This brick meeting house served as a community church and was located "near Jacob Hagey's", which was on the road running from the top of the Kress Hill west and "adjoining the Kitchener Highway" (Witmer 1967: 26). Another meeting house, known as the Union Meeting House, was built in the area around 1824. A meeting was held in the Union church on November 20, 1824 to commence recording the accounts of the congregation in Hagey's Deacon Book. The deed of land for the Union Meeting House and burial ground, which was for one acre of part Lot 22, Beasley's Broken Front, was transacted in 1835.

Hagey Meeting House was buiilt of red brick in 1842 on part Lot 23, just north of Preston on the west side of the Breslau Road, and slightly north of the Union Meeting House site. The deed, dated February 2, 1842, recorded the purchase of the land from John Hilborn and stressed that the property was to be for "the purpose of public worship by the Mennonist Society" (Witmer 1967: 28). Joseph Bechtel was the first minister in the area, from 1804-1837; he was followed by David Sherk (1838-1843). Next came Joseph Hagey (1844-1877), who was ordained bishop in 1851, and then Jacob B. Gingrich from 1878 to 1901. Services were held every four weeks until 1890 when bi-weekly services were begun. A Sunday School was established in 1842 with the congregation of Wanner Meeting House near Hespeler, but it was discontinued because of a difference of opinion regarding the need for Sunday Schools. On April 26, 1891 a Sunday School was organized at Hagey's, with deacon Abraham Oberholtzer as superintendent. Five years later, on June 10, 1896, a Sunday School was organized at the Wanner church.

Major changes were made to the church building in 1927-1928 when the basement was excavated, new windows were installed and the roof was raised two feet. Fire on January 15, 1950 caused extensive damage to the interior and furnishings of the church. The building was completely renovated and also enlarged at the same time; dedication was on July 2, 1950. Another fire, on Feburary 19, 1953, completely destroyed the church. A congregational decision was made to build a new church, on Concession Road in Preston, and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, October 12, 1953. Official dedication services in the new Preston Mennonite Church were held on May 16, 1954. The building was enlarged in the summer of 1989.

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

Residence:
The current building contains some original logs from the home.

Joseph married Magdalena Allebach 5 Mar 1786. Magdalena was born 21 Sep 1765, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 21 Sep 1837, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546759
• Name: Magdalena Bechtel
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.2

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00031-2358

Notes:

Peter Eby, "eldest son of Theodorus Eby, was married to Annie Mylin and had a family of three sons"


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.].

Peter — Annie Mylin. Annie was born Abt 1696, Of, Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Annie Eby
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2358.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.1