J. Ross "Ross" Martin

Other Events:

• Name: Ross Martin
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-224020
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

J. — Jessie Erdman. Jessie (daughter of Charles Balthasar Erdman and Elizabeth Sophia "Lizzie" Prueter) was born 1909, , Ontario, Canada; died 1999; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-44045
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teacher
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Excise Officer, Distillery
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Noah — Lydia Ann Bingeman. Lydia (daughter of John B. Bingeman and Catharine Snider) was born 3 Oct 1874, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1961; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Lydia Ann Martin
• Eby ID Number: 00009-1052.4
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201666038
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-32801
• Residence: 1858, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Painter
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1873, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; painter
• Occupation: 1876, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; painter

Jacob married Catherine Bachert 12 Sep 1858, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Catherine (daughter of Martin Bachert and Catharina "Catherine" Martin) was born 3 Dec 1837, Sranko , Mecklenburg, Germany; died 24 Jul 1900, Rummelhardt (Waterloo City), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201666617
• Name: Catherine Martin
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-65747
• Residence: 1858, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Death of Mrs. Martin.

Mrs. Catharine Martin, nee Bachert relict of the late Jacob Martin, who resided in Rumelhardt, about two miles west of Waterloo, died on Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock after a lingering illness, aged 62 years, 7 months and 21 days. For the last eight months she had been troubled with cancer which caused her death. The funeral will take place on Friday at 9.30 o'clock a. m. to the David Eby meeting house for service and interment. Mrs. Martin was the mother of Martin Bros., proprietors of the Waterloo bookstore. The family have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement.

The Chronicle-Telegraph 26 Jul 1900 pg 5

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35004269
• Eby ID Number: 00009-1052
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1869, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Retired: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

John B. Bingeman," was born September 18th, 1843. He is married to Catharine Snider. They reside on his father's old homestead west of Berlin where he is engaged in farming. Their family consists of six children".

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

John married Catharine Snider 4 Apr 1869, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Catharine (daughter of Samuel Shantz Snider and Anna Snider) was born 21 Apr 1848, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Sep 1922, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catharine Bingeman
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5936
• Residence: 1869, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1922, 9 Victoria St., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Mrs. Catharine Bingeman

Another aged and respected resident of Waterloo passed away on Friday, Sept. 22nd, in the person of Catherine Snider, widow of the late John Bingeman, in her 75th year. Four children survive, namely: Lydia Ann (Mrs. Noah Martin), Emma (Mrs. Alvin Scheifele), Hahnah, at home, all of Waterloo, and one son, Edwin, of Alberta.

The funeral, which took place on Tuesday from the residence, 9 Victoria street, was largely attended by friends and relatives. Service was held in the Waterloo Mennonite church and interment took place In the Eby cemetery.

The Chronicle Telegraph Sep 28 1922

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-32802
• Residence: 1830, Kleineicholzheim, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Bernard — Catherine Vogel. Catherine was born Abt 1800, of, Kleineicholzheim, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Martin
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-64411
• Residence: 1830, Kleineicholzheim, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203975298
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-66075 
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

May the 30th [the 31st is given on the gravestone], in Waterloo county, Ontario, of rheumatism and the infirmities of age, Martin Bachert, aged 73 years and 5 months. Buried June 2d, in Latschar,s burying-ground. Services by Moses Bauman and George Schmitt. He leaves a bereaved widow and seven children.

Herald of Truth, Vol XVII, No 12, December 1880

Martin — Catharina "Catherine" Martin. Catharina was born 25 Aug 1807, , Baden, Germany; died 19 Jan 1884, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mannheim Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203975041
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-67609 
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

On the 19th of January, in Waterloo County, Ontario, Catherine, widow of Martin Bachert, aged 76 years, 5 months and 22 days. She suffered much of cancer. She was under treatment about 10 months. She was buried at Latscher's grave-yard; services were held by Moses Bauman and Moses Erb from Rev 14:13.

Herald of Truth, Vol XXI, No 5, 1 March 1884

Other Events:

• Honoured: Bingeman St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bingeman Street named in honour
• Interesting: life story
• Residence: 111 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00009-1051
• Residence: 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• 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
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jonas Bingeman, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, April 9th, 1817. In 1825 he came to Canada with his parents who had moved in the wilderness near Bridgeport, Ontario. Here he had, even in his boyhood days, to assist in hewing out a home in the primeval forest. When a boy, 14 or 15 years of age, he used to drive through the forest to Dundas, thirty miles distant, being the nearest business place for these early pioneers. A trip to Dundas was nothing uncommon, then considered no more an undertaking than going two miles to town in our day. In common with the rising generation of the day Mr Bingeman received his education in the stern school of experience and hard work. The school he attended was to the east end of Berlin to which place he had to go through miles of forest. He generally took a straight course through the forest from his father's home to that of Mr. John Brubacher's where he met the first clearing. he only subjects then taught were reading, writing, and arithmetic. This school Mr. Bingeman attended for a few short winter months for several years in succession. In 1842 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Catharine (Sherk) Brubacher. She was born December 13th, 1820. After their marriage they moved on their farm about three miles west of Berlin where they resided until 1882 when they quite the farm and moved to the town of Berlin where they own a beautiful residence, No. 111 S. Frederick Street. They are still enjoying the best of health and are spending the evening of their days in ease and comfort. 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.].

_________________


Died - In Berlin, on Saturday, Sept 11th, Mr. Jonas Bingeman, aged 80 years, 5 months and 2 days.

Berlin News Record, September 13, 1897

_______________


Bingeman - On the 11th of September, 1897, at his home on Frederick St., Berlin, Ont., after long continued suffering of cancer in the face, Bro. Jonas Bingeman, aged 80 years, 5 months and 2 days. Bro. Bingeman was born in Montgomery Co., Pa., on the 9th of April, 1817. In 1825 he came to Canada with his parents, who settled near Bridgeport. In 1842 he married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Catharine Brubacher. They moved on a farm a few miles west of Berlin, where they resided until 1822, when they moved to Berlin. He leaves his aged widow, four sons, three daughters, a number of grandchildren and a large circle of friends to mourn his departure. He was a consistent member of the Mennonite church for many years, and enjoyed the highest esteem of all. The remains were laid to rest at the C. Eby M.H., Berlin, on the 14th, followed by a large concourse of relatives and friends.

Herald of Truth, October 1, 1897

Jonas married Elizabeth Brubacher 8 Dec 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of Deacon John E. Brubacher and Catharine Shirk) was born 13 Dec 1820, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Jan 1899, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Bingeman
• Name: Lizzie Brubacher
• Eby ID Number: 00018-1396
• Residence: 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Brubacher, "second daughter in the family, was born December 13th, 1820. In 1842 she was married to Jonas Bingeman who was born April 9th, 1817. Soon after their marriage they moved on their farm about three miles west of Berlin where they resided many years. Some years ago they moved to Berlin where they still reside. To them was born a family 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.].

_______________________

On the 22d of January 1899, at her residence, Frederick St., Berlin, Ont., of Lagrippe and pneumonia, Sister Elizabeth Brubacher, widow of the late Bro. Jonas Bingeman, aged 78 years, 1 month and 7 days. Sister Bingeman had been enjoying good health up to the 17th ult., when she was seized with an attack of the grippe. Two days later she took her bed, and although medical aid was promptly summoned the disease took its course, and she quietly passed away with the glorious hope of meeting her Redeemer in the world of light. She was the daughter of the late John Brubacher, one of the early residents of this locality and in her childhood was a pupil of the well known Bish. Benjamin Eby. She was united in marriage to Jonas Bingeman in 1842. Of their nine children eight survive her, all married but one, who, with true filial devotion, cared for her parents in their declining years. She leaves also many grandchildren and numerous friends to mourn their lose. Her funeral on the 25th at the C. Eby M. H. was very largely attended. Services by Daniel Wismer in German and by Noah Stauffer in English.

The Herald of Truth, Vol. XXXVI, No. 4, February 15, 1899 - pages 61,62

________________


Fatal LaGrippe
Mrs. Jonas Bingeman Receives the Final Summons

Mrs. Jonas Bingeman one of Berlin's oldest and most highly respected ladies, passed quietly away at 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, after an illness of about a week's duration. She was suffering with LaGrippe, which, though broken up, weakened her that she fell a victim to heart failure. The funeral will be held on Wednesday morning at 9:30 from the family residence, Five Points, Frederick St., to the East End Mennonite church and cemetery.

Deceased was revered by all who knew her for her Christian graces and kindly life, her many words and acts of assistance cheering the pathway of life for many a fellow traveller. She leaves behind to mourn her loss eight children, all grown up, four sons and four daughters. Messrs John Joseph, Jonas and Elias, of Berlin, Mrs. M. Weber, town; Mrs. M B Shantz and Mrs. R Dewart, Rochester, N. Y., and Miss K. Bingeman, at home. Mrs. Bingeman attended school in a little red school house near where the Mennonite church now stands, and which was taught by Mr. Benj. Eby. Her husband predeceased her a little over a year ago.

Berlin News Record, January 23, 1899

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20974184
• Name: S. S. Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5933
• House: CONSTRUCTED 1840, 39 Doon Valley Dr., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1844, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1853, 194 Forsyth Dr., Waterloo, Ontario
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Business: 1878, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lancaster Flour Millers
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Retired: 1901, Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Samuel S. Snider, "was born October 9th, 1821. After the decease of his father in 1834 he had his home with his uncle, Benjamin Shantz who then resided at Freeport (Toll Bridge) on the old "Abraham C. Weber Farm." On March 5th, 1844, he was married to Anna, daughter of Jacob C. and Elizabeth (Cressman) Snider. She was born July 23rd, 1824, and died April 23rd, 1890. After his marriage' he moved on a farm adjoining the town of Waterloo where he was engaged in farming for a number of years. In connection with the farm he also had an interest in the Union Mills, Waterloo, and later in the Lancaster Mills of Bridgeport, Ontario. After the decease of his first wife he was again married to Elizabeth Reist, widow of the late Joseph Heckedon. They reside in the town of Waterloo. "

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.].

_________________


Snider.- Samuel S. Snider was born in Waterloo Co., Ont., Oct. 9, 1821; died March 24, 1912; aged 90 y. 5 m. 14 d. He was married to Anna Snider March 5, 1844. Their home was blessed with 14 children, 3 of whom died in infancy, the mother dying April 23, 1890, aged 65 y. 9 m., whose death was mourned by a father and 11 children. On April 19, 1891, the father again married Elizabeth Reist, since which time family have had occasion to mourn the loss of 2 children, Titus, the fifth son dying Oct. 16, 1907, aged 47 y., and Cyrus, eldest son dying Aug. 17, 1909, aged 65 years.

The death of the father at this time leaving a widow, 4 sons, 5 daughters, 25 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren to mourn his departure. Funeral services were held at the Waterloo Mennonite Church, conducted by Bro. Noah Stauffer in English and Bro. Solomon Gehman in German. Interment in the David Eby Cemetery.

Gospel Herald - Volume V, Number 2 - April 11, 1912 - page 31, 32

______________________

Snider - Forsyth - Home
194 Forsyth Dr, Waterloo
Part of Lot 22, German Company Tract


The Germany Company, originating in Pennsylvania, was initially comprised of 26 shareholders. These shareholders raised 10,000 pounds to purchase 60,000 acres of property which came to be known as Waterloo Township. The property was bought from Richard Beasley. He, along with two partners, had purchased a total of 94,012 acres from the Crown who held the land in trust for Chief Joseph Brant of the Mohawk or Five Nations Indians. This transaction took place in 1798.

Lot 22 of the German Company Tract originally comprised 448 acres stretching between boundaries now defined approximately by streets Erb and Glasgow. It was sold by David and Jacob Erb, agents of the German Company, to Abraham Gingrich in 1805. In 1815, David Gingrich, Abraham's son, sold the lot to John Binkley of Ancaster. Binkley, in turn, sold the entire 448 acres to Jacob C. Snider in 1842.

Jacob C Snider was a Mennonite. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1790 and worked as a yeoman. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1791. The house at 194 Forsyth Drive was built by Jacob C. Snider in 1845. This fact is recorded in the census records of 1861. The original house was a two-storey, typical Georgian frame with walls 15 - 16 inches thick. These walls were made of concrete and brick, and were covered by a clapboard exterior. The entire house, at that time, was comprised of the present day living room and centre hall.

In 1853, Jacob C. sold the property to his nephew, Samuel S., a farmer. In 1864, Samuel took out a mortgage for $6,000 from the Canada Permanent Building Society. The mortgage was discharged in 1863 according to the 1861 census. Samuel and his wife Anna had 8 children - Cyrus, Elizabeth, Catherine, Hiram, Samuel, Menno, Susanna and Titus. With a family of this size it is speculated that the money was used for very needy additions. These included four second floor bedrooms, a third floor attic, a dining room, and the present-day kitchen. The architectural design of the addition was Gothic rather than the original Georgian. This is evident in the pointed cathedral window, the centre peaked roof, and the decorative mouldings above the east and west entrances to the centre hall.

One of the interesting additions to the house involves a separate building of brick construction which may be entered from the living room of the main house. The date of this addition is unclear according to some reports. It was used as a laundry prior to 1936. In a recent interview with Mrs. Howard Snider, who moved into the house as a new bride in 1929,[Howard and Linda were married in 1919] this addition was referred to by her as the "milk house," for the farm was still operational in those years. Mrs. Snider's daughter recalls, "my sister was old enough then to do the selling [of milk] to the townspeople. We would bring the milk from the barn, and use the milk house as our dairy." It is quite possible, however, that this building had been constructed prior to 1851 as "the doddy house" of Jacob and Elizabeth, for the census records of that year described their home as a "one storey brick." It was a very common Mennonite practice in those days for parents to have an add-on building constructed to the home of a son or daughter. Housed in this room is an enormous Dutch oven which was used for cooking. It remains uncertain whether this was the original location, or whether it had been relocated from another area of the house. While the large metal doors used to close the oven have been removed to expose the hearth, the cranes for supporting huge cooking pots remain.

Of the 448 acre property, Samuel sold 117 acres to his son, Titus, in 1903 for $8,000. In 1908, the executors of Titus Snider sold the property to George H. Hahn for $10,550. Six years later, the land was returned to the Snider family, this time to Jacob S., a ninth child of Samuel S., born after the 1861 census. The cost was $17,550. For the same amount Jacob sold the land to his son Howard S. in 1929. Jacob and his family then moved to the farm house now designated as 131 William Street West [Waterloo]. Howard sold various parcels of his land off, including a sizeable portion to the Westmount Golf and Country Club, and 56 acres, a
at a cost of $16,782 to John Derby C. Forsyth.

The Forsyths, who purchased the property in 1936 never lived at 194 Forsyth Drive, the street which now bears his name. It was purchased as a guest house. Shortly after they acquired the property, the old barn was torn down and an elaborate new one was built. Pine beams from the old were salvaged and sawed into mellow panelling for the livingroom and master bedroom of the house. "He didn't want to leave the land empty," said Mrs. Forsyth, "so he put in grain and bought a herd of purebred Jersey cattle. He lost money every year."

In 1947, the house was sold to Dominion Life Assurance Company. They planned a housing development and put the house up for sale. While the tender of Dr. Archie Case was not the highest submitted, his plans for the house most appealed to the company, and the property became his the following year. In his renovations, three-quarters of the house was replastered, and the old fashioned closed stairway was opened onto the centre hall. Part of the livingroom was put up on jacks, and garages were constructed under it at basement level. Adverse to change of any sort in the refurbishing, Dr. Case contracted for copies of the rotting window sashes, interior trim; and clapboard for exterior repairs was specially milled.

In 1963, the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. J. Askin. Subsequent owners to the Askins included Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Epp in 1978 - 1980, and a Ms. D. Crossan and a Mr. D. Zimmer, 1980 - 1982.

Much of the research for the history was done by Marg Rowell, Waterloo. This was printed with permission by Marion Roes from the framed history hanging in the hall of the 2008 owners.

House:
39 Doon Valley Drive is associated with three prominent citizens of Waterloo County. The first owner, the Honourable Adam Ferrie, was the founder of Doon Village. Samuel Snider, who purchased the property from Ferrie, owned the Blair Mill, as well as other mills that he and a partner operated in Bridgeport and Baden. Thomas Slee, one of the first trustees of the area, and the Doon Postmaster from 1867 to 1893, was the last significant owner of the property, purchasing it from Snider in 1878. In addition to its association with persons of historic significance, Doon Valley Drive (formerly Doon Village Road), was once an important linkage between the Village of Doon to Tow Town and Oregon (today Upper Doon).
39 Doon Valley Drive is unique in its use of building materials and the methods of construction. This one-and-a-half-storey house combined granite, limestone, fieldstone and lime mortar in its construction. It retains many original, intact features, such as the stone chimney with cove moulding, and the single door with a transom, on the north façade.<sup>1a

1a</sup>City of Kitchener Heritage Property Report, November 1990, Jean Haalboom; City of Kitchener By-law 91-142

Business:
Shirk & Snider Proprietors

Samuel married Anna Snider 5 Mar 1844, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Anna (daughter of Jacob C. Snider and Elizabeth Cressman) was born 23 Jul 1824, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 23 Apr 1890, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Erb Street Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5897
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Anna Snider
• Residence: 1844, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

SNIDER.-On the 23d of April, in the town of Waterloo, Waterloo county, Ontario, Sister Anna Snider, wife of Samuel Snider, aged 62 years and 9 months. Buried in the afternoon of the 23d at David Eby's meeting-house, where a very large number of relatives and friends gathered. Services were held by Moses Bowman and Noah Stauffer from Rev. 14: 13.


Herald of Truth pages, Vol. XXVII, Number 10, May 15, 1890, p. 157 and 158