George W. Eby

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00031-2677
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; school teacher

Notes:

George W. Eby, "eldest son of John Eby, was born August 7th, 1828. He resides in Locke, Indiana, where he is engaged in the mercantile life. He was married to Lydia Weber who died some years ago. In 1888 he was again married, but to whom we did not learn. He has but one child named Lydia."

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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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

____________________


The Life of George Eby,
The man who named Nappanee, IN.
Written by Ida Belle Walters

George Eby was born in Ohio, the year is unknown. He had two (2) brothers, Samuel and Henry and a sister who married and went to Wisconsin. When George was a young man he came to the small village that was to become Nappanee for a short time, then going to Goshen. From Goshen, he then moved to a small village, which he named after a man who had a small store, "Locke." George stayed in Locke and built a sawmill, with the help of a couple of partners. George's first wife had died by this time and left him with a daughter named Lydia. Lydia married and moved to Wisconsin and had two sons. She and her sons died in Wisconsin

Nappanee at this time was called Locke Station and wanting to change the name, George was asked to give it a name. George was unable to attend the meeting for naming the town, so he sent 4 men to the meeting with the name he had choosen, "Nappanee."

At about this time, he married Catherine Stull, They had one (1) son, George Henry Eby Jr. When George Jr. was about a year old, George Sr. wanted to sell his share of the sawmill to his partners and go west. George was was a speculator and saw a possibilty for making money out west. So George, leaving his wife and son, took his share of the money and went to Dodge City, Iowa, (it was said he named Dodge City also, but there is no proof of this). In Dodge City, he is said to have built a hotel. George had been sending money home to his wife and son on a regular basis, and had intended to send for them. Catherine stayed behind because of their baby. At some point he met a group of missionaries that were supposed to be going to Mexico to build a Church, so he sold his hotel and decided to go with them to Mexico. From here on, George was never heard from again.

When George Jr. grew up, he decided to go in search of his father. He went west and then to Mexico, but found no trace of his father any where, in the US or Mexico. George Jr. has since passed away, but there is a Grandson, George, living in Kalamzoo, MI.

George married Lydia Weber 22 Jan 1850, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lydia (daughter of Joel Weber and Magdalena "Molly" Good) was born 1833, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

1. Eby was born CALC 19 Apr 1854, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 7 Apr 1855, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. Lydia Eby was born CA 1850; died Yes, date unknown.
3. Louisa Eby was born CALC 16 Nov 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 17 Feb 1851.

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191059567
• Name: Johannes W. Eby
• Residence: 362 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2676
• Residence: 1837, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1851, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; druggist
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; apothecary
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Druggist
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Druggist

Notes:

John Eby, "the third son of George Eby, was born In Pennsylvania, November 6th, 1803. He was probably 6 months old when he came to Canada. It is supposed that he started the first drug store in the town of Berlin, Ontario. He used to bring his goods from Buffalo, New York, by team. He resided in the town of Berlin for about 70 years, then he moved to Elmira where he lived for 12 years, and several years ago he moved to Port Elgin where some of his family reside. Here he died October 22nd, 1891. He was married twice, first to Veronica Weber who was born July 19th, 1808, and died December 10th, 1837, and after the decease of his first wife he was married to Philipina Fischer who was born March 14th, 1811, and died in Listowel with her daughter, Mrs. Joshua Bowman, January 17th, 1894. His family consisted of 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.].

_______________________

Among the early settlers of Berlin were August Fuchs, a jeweller, from Baden ; George Jantz, a grocer and tavern keeper, also from Baden ; Anselm Wagner, a potter from Alsace


Theobald Spetz, The Catholic Church in Waterloo County Book I

______________________

Anselm Wagner was the first potter in Berlin and had a shop for many years on King street south.

_________________

How More German Families Were Brought In

At that stage there was a further influx of German hand-workers. In the main they came from Hesse, with sprinklings from Baden, Saxony. Mecklenburg, and other States. Woodworkers predominated. The Dorf however boasted a weaver, wagonmaker, hatmaker. a tailor (John Nahrgang), two shoemakers, and several carpenters, while Anselm Wagner, potter, made shilling crocks and flowerpots for the Hausfrau. A Dr. Klinkert was the first doctor

A History of Kitchener

___________________

King Street , North Side

Frederick Street.

Bishop Benjamin Eby's farm came to the corner of King and Frederick Streets. Next to Frederick Street, Frederick and William Miller erected a frame building and used it as a general store. After the grading operations spoken of this building had to undergo the same process as the St. Nicholas Hotel. It was considered a fine building in its day with large windows on each side of the centre door. Henry Stroh finally bought the building and tore it down in 1868. Jacob Stroh has some of the window sash, shutters, stairway, etc., still in his possession. Later the building was occupied by Jacob Eckstein cigar maker and tobacco dealer. Mrs. Warren with a family lived on the second story for a number of years.

Vacant lot. Next a large brick building with double deck porch along the front, the Queen's Arms Hotel, built about 1840 and continued as a hotel until about 1860. A Mr. Butchard was the first landlord and later Levi Weber. From this hotel the first omnibus met the trains at the G.T.R. station in Berlin in 1856. Before that day it was a stopping place of stage coaches operating from Hamilton and Galt to Berlin and beyond. The old Queen's Arms long vacant and practically ruined as a building was sold finally and made room for the Market Building and Town Hall in 1869.*

Next we come to the John Roos house. This also had a double-deck veranda with heavy posts as was the style 1840-50. The building was later turned into a hotel known as the Market Hotel and kept by Casper Heller.

A lot with a log cabin in the rear, occupied by Jacob Sauer, who had come from Pennsylvania, father of Mrs. John Roat.

* See 1922 Annual Report W. H. S., p. 210.

A harness shop occupied by John Roat, then by his son John and later by John Haugh, a son-in-law of John Roat.

A garden. A dwelling, 4 or 5 feet lower than the street which had been filled up, where lived the Susand family. Mrs. Susand had a reputation with juveniles for tarts and molasses taffy sold in lc. bars. Her children were in the habit of selling these wares to passengers at the G.T.R. station. After her husband's death about 1860, widow Susand moved her shop to Foundry Street North, and there continued until she died. Susand was an ex-slave. In 1857 at a nomination meeting for Council, he was nominated and stood a good chance of being elected, as a joke. However, the more thoughtful element among the voters prevailed.

A two story, frame building, lengthwise with King Street, built in the '30's. After street grading this had to be raised so that what had before been the ground floor became the cellar or basement.

A house occupied by Wm. Hawke,-known as Bill Hawke- a mason. A stout, easy-going man. His wife was in the habit of standing in the door way, with white lace cap, smoking a clay pipe. The east end of this building was occupied by Winters, a hatter, the first hat maker in Berlin. He made the old style, broad brim, Mennonite hats in fashion up to about 1845. At the corner of Scott stood a brick building of good size with gable toward King Street, used to stable the first fire teams for a number of years. Later John Wagner had a waggon shop above and George Ward a blacksmith shop underneath. Scott Street was, however, not opened until many years later.

A one and one-half story building rough cast, gable facing King St., occupied by H. W. Peterson, who began publishing the "Canada Museum", in 1835 and so continued until 1840 when he went to Guelph as first Registrar of the County of Wellington. This was the first newspaper published in Waterloo County.

Jacob Hailer's house, a one and one-half story, frame building with porch along the front partly enclosed by lattice work. In this house was born in 1834, Catherine Hailer, who married Louis Breithaupt. She is said to have been the first child born in Berlin of parents who came from Germany. Hailer's barn was some distance back from the street and next along on the street front was his shop where he manufactured spinning wheels, etc., and chairs which had a large distribution. Hailer was an expert wood turner. He had two foot-power lathes and a number of German assistants from time to time, continuing his shop for about 40 years.

A two story frame building lengthwise with King Street, erected by Dr. John Scott. He had a drug store with two good-sized windows at the front. On the east gable of the building was a sign, "Med. Hall" in large letters. The sign was legible long after Dr. Scott's death. The doctor pursued his practice on horseback for which he used three horses. He was the first medical practitioner in Berlin, coming in 1834, at the time of the cholera epidemic. For a few years before he was married he boarded at the Gaukel Hotel. His later house, after the one described, is still standing on Weber Street at the rear of the Kitchener Public Library.

The old Scott house on King Street was later occupied by Franz Martin who kept a saloon. Martin had a musical family, with the zither as their principal instrument, which all the children could play.

A one and one-half story, frame building, painted, occupied by Anslm Wagner, a potter.

A brick building 1 ½ story lengthwise with King Street, the west end of which was John Eby's drug store, the rest of the building being his dwelling. This was the first regular drug store in Berlin.

A brick building with a frame extension in the rear used by David Eby as a pump shop. Part of the brick building is still standing, the rest having been cut off for the opening of Eby Street North.

A one story hip roof brick cottage occupied by Geo. Eby, a Notary, who came to Canada in 1804. He died in this house. A considerable fish story is told of how he followed a sturgeon in the Conestoga River, part of Grand River, and finally speared it.

A one and one-half story building, probably rough cast, occupied by Hy. Wurm, a carpenter employed at the Simpson factory.

A two story brick building painted red occupied by Henry S. Huber.'

A handsome brick building, two story, with veranda along the front and ground floor considerably above the street level, with broad steps, the width of the building, leading to it, was built in 1850. Some time later it was occupied by Casper Heller and known as the Royal Exchange hotel. Following the old custom its swinging sign had "Last Chance" on the side toward the village and "First Chance" outward, referring to liquid refreshments. Heller kept a good hotel and had also a large shed and ham next east of the hotel.

On the corner a steam grist mill was erected, about 1860. Louis Seyler, a German, was the miller. The custom was for farmers to bring in their wheat to have it ground, getting in return flour, bran and middlings, the miller retaining his toll. Later Lehnen & Shelly operated this mill.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

___________________

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and BuildingsThe first settlers in Waterloo Township had large farms, four hundred acres and over, the lot sub-divisions of the German Company Tract. Joseph Schneider settled on Queen Street South, Bishop Benjamin Eby at the south-east side , Abram Weber on the corner of King and Wilmot Streets and David Weber in the neighborhood of the later Grand Trunk Railway station. After the railway was built David Weber moved to Weber Street, named after him, to a location opposite the present Zion Church. Samuel Schneider and Elias Schneider settled in Waterloo. John Brubacher arrived from Pennsylvania in 1816 and took up his lot of the German Company Tract which was in the district of the County House of Refuge.

Throughout the county here and there little settlements consisting of a few houses, a blacksmith shop, perhaps a tavern and probably a cooper shop and weaver shop, began to appear. Only those settlements which had possible water-powers had any hope of growing to villages or towns. Preston, Galt, Bridgeport and Waterloo were in this class.

For a long time the vicinity of Berlin was known as the sand-hills. In the locality where the hospital and Collegiate Institute now stand were hills over which loaded wagons could hardly be drawn. On a windy day the sand would form ridges. There was a troublesome sand-hill from Queen Street eastward on Church and another one at the corner of King and Frederick Streets. This latter was cut down about eight or nine feet to the level of the cellar floors, some time after the first buildings had been erected.

The easterly part of the settlement was known as Ben Eby's. Queen Street South was the Schneider road.

1830 the village centre was established by Phineas Varnum who, by permission of Joseph Schneider, started a blacksmith shop on the site of the present Walper House. A moderately sized house, 35' by 25', about 40' southwest of the blacksmith shop, was used as a tavern. In the same year the first store in the settlement was opened by William, David and Frederick Miller on the site of the present Post Office,

There were few houses in the hamlet until a number of immigrants arrived directly from Germany, after 1820. John Eby, druggist and chemist, who had his shop a little west of the present Eby Street, related that when immigrants arrived it was the custom, such was the scarcity of buildings, to form a "bee" including farmers and villagers, to erect log houses for the new-comers. A number of these primitive dwellings were in the locality of the present Post Office. It is related that after one of these bees, the company being assembled in Varnum's blacksmith shop or tavern, the proposal was made that the hamlet should be given a name and someone suggested Berlin in honor of the German immigrants. The suggestion was joyously received. Jacob Stroh's mother, adopted in 1827 by Abram Weber when she was three years old, often told Mr. Stroh of her remembrance of the day when Mr. Weber, who had assisted at the bee, came home and told how the little hamlet had that day received the name of Berlin. This occurred probably in 1833. Mr. Stroh has a document dated 1833 in which Berlin first appears as the name of the hamlet. H. W. Peterson, publisher of the "Canada Museum", the first newspaper in the county, from 1835-1840, is authority that in 1835 there were only 25 dwellings in the place.

King Street, Queen Street and Frederick Street, being the main entrances from the surrounding country, were from the beginning the principal streets of the village. These streets are not normal with points of the compass. King Street changes direction several times. At the C.N.R. crossing its direction is about northwest, at an angle with the railway of about 45 degrees. It keeps on turning and finally in the main part of Waterloo it runs due north and south. Queen Street and Frederick Street are approximately at right angles to King Street. Conventionally King Street is called east and west from Queen Street, and Queen Street north and south from King Street. Particulars of the buildings and occupants for these streets follow:


REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

John — Veronica Weber. Veronica (daughter of Rev. John Weber and Catherine (Katherina) Gehman) was born 19 Jul 1808, Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 10 Dec 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202200174
• Name: Veronica Eby
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7679

Notes:

Veronica Weber," the eldest daughter of John and Catherine (Gehman) Weber, was born July 19th, 1808. She was married to John Eby, druggist of Berlin, and died December 10th, 1837."


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/191061171
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2581
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 001, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1851, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; gelder
• Occupation: 1851, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; veternary surgeon

Notes:

George Eby, "the fourth son of George Eby and his wife, Barbara Sensenig, was born May 8th, 1776, and was married, April 1st, 1797, to Barbara Wenger who was born in the year 1780 and died in September, 1834. In 1804 they moved from Pennsylvania to Canada. They were accompanied by his elder brother, Samuel, and a few others. He took up part of lot No. 1, German Company's Tract, in the township and county of Waterloo. The farm is now owned by Jacob B. Shantz. They had 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.].

_________________________

Among the early settlers of Berlin were August Fuchs, a jeweller, from Baden ; George Jantz, a grocer and tavern keeper, also from Baden ; Anselm Wagner, a potter from Alsace


Theobald Spetz, The Catholic Church in Waterloo County Book I

______________________

Anselm Wagner was the first potter in Berlin and had a shop for many years on King street south.

_________________

How More German Families Were Brought In

At that stage there was a further influx of German hand-workers. In the main they came from Hesse, with sprinklings from Baden, Saxony. Mecklenburg, and other States. Woodworkers predominated. The Dorf however boasted a weaver, wagonmaker, hatmaker. a tailor (John Nahrgang), two shoemakers, and several carpenters, while Anselm Wagner, potter, made shilling crocks and flowerpots for the Hausfrau. A Dr. Klinkert was the first doctor

A History of Kitchener

___________________

King Street , North Side

Frederick Street.

Bishop Benjamin Eby's farm came to the corner of King and Frederick Streets. Next to Frederick Street, Frederick and William Miller erected a frame building and used it as a general store. After the grading operations spoken of this building had to undergo the same process as the St. Nicholas Hotel. It was considered a fine building in its day with large windows on each side of the centre door. Henry Stroh finally bought the building and tore it down in 1868. Jacob Stroh has some of the window sash, shutters, stairway, etc., still in his possession. Later the building was occupied by Jacob Eckstein cigar maker and tobacco dealer. Mrs. Warren with a family lived on the second story for a number of years.

Vacant lot. Next a large brick building with double deck porch along the front, the Queen's Arms Hotel, built about 1840 and continued as a hotel until about 1860. A Mr. Butchard was the first landlord and later Levi Weber. From this hotel the first omnibus met the trains at the G.T.R. station in Berlin in 1856. Before that day it was a stopping place of stage coaches operating from Hamilton and Galt to Berlin and beyond. The old Queen's Arms long vacant and practically ruined as a building was sold finally and made room for the Market Building and Town Hall in 1869.*

Next we come to the John Roos house. This also had a double-deck veranda with heavy posts as was the style 1840-50. The building was later turned into a hotel known as the Market Hotel and kept by Casper Heller.

A lot with a log cabin in the rear, occupied by Jacob Sauer, who had come from Pennsylvania, father of Mrs. John Roat.

* See 1922 Annual Report W. H. S., p. 210.

A harness shop occupied by John Roat, then by his son John and later by John Haugh, a son-in-law of John Roat.

A garden. A dwelling, 4 or 5 feet lower than the street which had been filled up, where lived the Susand family. Mrs. Susand had a reputation with juveniles for tarts and molasses taffy sold in lc. bars. Her children were in the habit of selling these wares to passengers at the G.T.R. station. After her husband's death about 1860, widow Susand moved her shop to Foundry Street North, and there continued until she died. Susand was an ex-slave. In 1857 at a nomination meeting for Council, he was nominated and stood a good chance of being elected, as a joke. However, the more thoughtful element among the voters prevailed.

A two story, frame building, lengthwise with King Street, built in the '30's. After street grading this had to be raised so that what had before been the ground floor became the cellar or basement.

A house occupied by Wm. Hawke,-known as Bill Hawke- a mason. A stout, easy-going man. His wife was in the habit of standing in the door way, with white lace cap, smoking a clay pipe. The east end of this building was occupied by Winters, a hatter, the first hat maker in Berlin. He made the old style, broad brim, Mennonite hats in fashion up to about 1845. At the corner of Scott stood a brick building of good size with gable toward King Street, used to stable the first fire teams for a number of years. Later John Wagner had a waggon shop above and George Ward a blacksmith shop underneath. Scott Street was, however, not opened until many years later.

A one and one-half story building rough cast, gable facing King St., occupied by H. W. Peterson, who began publishing the "Canada Museum", in 1835 and so continued until 1840 when he went to Guelph as first Registrar of the County of Wellington. This was the first newspaper published in Waterloo County.

Jacob Hailer's house, a one and one-half story, frame building with porch along the front partly enclosed by lattice work. In this house was born in 1834, Catherine Hailer, who married Louis Breithaupt. She is said to have been the first child born in Berlin of parents who came from Germany. Hailer's barn was some distance back from the street and next along on the street front was his shop where he manufactured spinning wheels, etc., and chairs which had a large distribution. Hailer was an expert wood turner. He had two foot-power lathes and a number of German assistants from time to time, continuing his shop for about 40 years.

A two story frame building lengthwise with King Street, erected by Dr. John Scott. He had a drug store with two good-sized windows at the front. On the east gable of the building was a sign, "Med. Hall" in large letters. The sign was legible long after Dr. Scott's death. The doctor pursued his practice on horseback for which he used three horses. He was the first medical practitioner in Berlin, coming in 1834, at the time of the cholera epidemic. For a few years before he was married he boarded at the Gaukel Hotel. His later house, after the one described, is still standing on Weber Street at the rear of the Kitchener Public Library.

The old Scott house on King Street was later occupied by Franz Martin who kept a saloon. Martin had a musical family, with the zither as their principal instrument, which all the children could play.

A one and one-half story, frame building, painted, occupied by Anslm Wagner, a potter.

A brick building 1 ½ story lengthwise with King Street, the west end of which was John Eby's drug store, the rest of the building being his dwelling. This was the first regular drug store in Berlin.

A brick building with a frame extension in the rear used by David Eby as a pump shop. Part of the brick building is still standing, the rest having been cut off for the opening of Eby Street North.

A one story hip roof brick cottage occupied by Geo. Eby, a Notary, who came to Canada in 1804. He died in this house. A considerable fish story is told of how he followed a sturgeon in the Conestoga River, part of Grand River, and finally speared it.

A one and one-half story building, probably rough cast, occupied by Hy. Wurm, a carpenter employed at the Simpson factory.

A two story brick building painted red occupied by Henry S. Huber.'

A handsome brick building, two story, with veranda along the front and ground floor considerably above the street level, with broad steps, the width of the building, leading to it, was built in 1850. Some time later it was occupied by Casper Heller and known as the Royal Exchange hotel. Following the old custom its swinging sign had "Last Chance" on the side toward the village and "First Chance" outward, referring to liquid refreshments. Heller kept a good hotel and had also a large shed and ham next east of the hotel.

On the corner a steam grist mill was erected, about 1860. Louis Seyler, a German, was the miller. The custom was for farmers to bring in their wheat to have it ground, getting in return flour, bran and middlings, the miller retaining his toll. Later Lehnen & Shelly operated this mill.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.



___________________________


?living with George in Waterloo Township in 1851 was apparently a second wife named Elizabeth born 10 Oct aged 63 born USA. source: 1851 census of Waterloo Township.

George married Barbara Wenger 1 Apr 1797. Barbara (daughter of Martin Wenger and Anna Gingrich) was born 1780, , Pennsylvania, USA; died Sep 1834; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205499105
• Name: Barbara Eby
• Eby ID Number: 00013-1147.3

Other Events:

• Interesting: story, religion, pioneer
• Name: Johann Weber
• Name: Johannes Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7678

Notes:

John Weber," the eldest son of Peter and Elizabeth (Wenger) Weber, was born March 20th, 1786, and was married, March 18th, 1806, to Catherine, daughter of Benjamin Gehman. She was born March 11th, 1782, and died June 2nd 1864. They resided in Earl Township, Lancaster County, until 1825 when they moved to Canada. They left their home April 7th, and arrived at the farm now possessed by Joseph M. Brubacher, two miles north-east of the town of Waterloo, on the 26th day of the same month. Shortly after their arrival they located on a farm in the township of Woolwich, about one mile south of Conestogo. The farm is now possessed by Aaron Sheifley. Here old John Weber resided until his death which took place January 21st, 1854. Mr Weber was a deacon of the Mennonite body when he came to Canada. In July, 1833, he was ordained at the Martin Mennonite Meeting House as minister of the Mennonites by Bishop Benjamin Eby. He was considered a good speaker and ranked among the foremost of the ministers of his day. Their family consisted of ten children, all born in Pennsylvania. The names of three of the children are not given, they died when quite young, none being more than five days old. Those whose names were given were as follows:"


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.].

_____________________

Martin Meeting House

According to Isaac Horst, "Martins meeting house was the first of the Old Order places of worship to be built. A meeting house is reported to have been built in 1830; burial was begun in the adjoining cemetery in 1831. Martins was aptly named. The first three bishops of the area were Martins, all descended from the pioneer, Peter Martin. The land on which the house stands was formerly owned by Martins (1979: 376)." Peter Martin, Jr. purchased 220 acres of land from his brother, Henry Martin, on May 8, 1824. Apparently he set aside four acres for a meeting house and burying ground at that time. The first burial is reported to have been that of Peter Martin, Sr., who died March 2, 1831. The meeting house was enlarged in 1900.

John Weber was the first minister, followed by Abraham W. Martin, Samuel Weber, Paul Martin, Tobias Martin and Urias Martin. At one time surrounded by countryside, the meeting house and cemetery are now completely encircled by the commercial development brought about by the rapid expansion northward of the city of Waterloo.


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

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John Weber: Last Will and Testament of John Weber of the Township of Woolwich, in the united Counties of Wellington, Waterloo and Grey, Yeoman.

…I John Weber, of the Township of Woolwich, Yeoman, do make and consitute these presents, dated the thirtieth day of August 1852, my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and declaring null and void all other Will or Wills which I ever before have made and may have made, and desiring and ordaining, that with my worldly property, it shall after my demise be held and done as follows Having disposed of the whole of my real estate to my son in law, David Gingrich, by a certain indenture I do hereby authorize and empower my Executors to issue, execute and deliver to him or to his heirs and assigns, good and sufficient Deed or Deeds, of conveyance for the same, as soon as the terms and conditions of the sale, as stated in the said Indenture shall have been fully complied with. I also hereby request, authorize and empower them to have and cause the said Indenture, of which there is a copy in my possession, to be fully carried out in all its bearings, to enforce the payments to be made, and receive - also distribute the monies mentioned and specified therein, as also all other monies, notes, bills, accounts, charges and dues owing and do to me as well as owing and due by me. I request and empower them, after the demise of both myself and my wife or widow, to sell all our personal effects and distribute the proceeds thereof, amongst all my legal heirs viz. my children or the bodily issue left by them…except my son Peter Weber, now residing in some one of the United States, who is to have one pound five shillings more than any of the rest, and except my daughter Anna Weber, to whom shall be given the Book in my possession called the Martyred S[piegel [The Martyed Spiegel is a book that was part of every Mennonite and Amish home, telling about the Martyres and faith.] I nominate, and appoint my beloved and trusty friend David Musselman, of Woolwich Township, Yeoman, and Christian G. Martin of the Township of Waterloo, my Executors…my children and heirs, I especially commend to their care and kindness…[and] my said beloved widow and my sickly daughter Anne. The farm for which they are desired to give deed to said Gingrich, his heirs and assigns composed of One hundred and sixteen acres of Lot number Two, and ten acres of Lot number One of the German Company Tract, of Woolwich Township. Concerning my sickly daughter Anna Weber it is to be understood that she is to have draw and receive annually, during the whole of her lifetime, the interest of Two Hundred Pounds of lawful money of Canada, to be paid to her by my son-in-law David Gingrich, just in accordance with a certain Indenture between us…

Witnessed by David Good and Christian Martin
Will Dated 30^th August 1852
Proved and insinuated the 9^th February 1854
Inventory £119/17/3

Surrogate Court Records Copybook Register A 1853-1871 partial transcript to 1863. Frances Hoffman transcriber. A-1-25

John married Catherine (Katherina) Gehman 18 Mar 1806. Catherine was born 11 Mar 1782, Of, Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 2 Jun 1864; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine (Katherina) Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7678.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00031-2420.6

Notes:

George Eby, "the fifth son of Christian Eby and his wife, Elizabeth Mayer, was born December 11th, 1748, and died June 10th, 1800. He was married, September 17th, 1769, to Barbara Sensenig who was born in January, 1750, and died April 24th, 1787. They resided in Lancaster County, near Lititz, where they had a family of nine children, namely: Christian, Samuel, David, George, Joseph, Esther, Anna, Elizabeth, and Susannah. None of this family settled in Canada save Samuel and George."


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.].

George married Barbara Sensenig 17 Sep 1769. Barbara was born Jan 1750; died 24 Apr 1787. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Barbara Eby
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2542.1

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10555581
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-232443

Notes:

There is a marker for him in this cemetery but possibly buried on his farm in Franklin Co in the Wenger/Siloam Cemetery.
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Martin was the 1st Wenger in Franklin County. He had come to America with his parents in 1748, living in what is now the Jonestown area of Lebanon County until he moved to Franklin County.

In Franklin County, he was a farmer and owned the hemp mill. He was also the fist supervisor of Greene Twonship. Martin is buried in Brinzer's Cemetery in Chambersburg, Pa, on the land which was once his farm. His 1st wife is buried next to him and it is presumed that his 2nd wife (Katherine Funck) is also. No headstone exists for Katherine. Numerous Wengers and their descendants are buried in the cemetery.

Martin's name is listed among the children on the Hans Wenger Memorial at the Wenger Meeting House in Jonestown, Pa. That memorial was erected by Wenger. The names of the children of Hans who are presumed to be buried at the meeting house are marked with an *. Since Martin is buried in Brinzer Cemetery in Franklin Co., his name does not have an * on the memorial in Lebanon Co.

Inscription
Martin Wenger Gestorben Ten 28 Sep 1815 74 Jahr Alt

Translation from German: Died on the 28th of September 1815, 74 years old

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10555581

Martin — Anna Gingrich. Anna (daughter of Joseph “Yost\Jost” Gingrich and Anna Huber) was born 19 Aug 1743, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 16 Aug 179, , Franklin Co., Pennsylvania; was buried , Brinzer-Brainer Cemetery, Chambersburg, Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117665189
• Name: Anna Wenger
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-232444

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00127-7677

Notes:

Peter Weber," the sixth, child of Christian and Magdalena (Rutt) Weber, was born in the year 1760. He was married to Elizabeth Wenger and resided near the old homestead in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 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.].

Peter — Elizabeth Wenger. Elizabeth was born Abt 1760, Of, Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7677.1