Julia Weber

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-26125
• Occupation: 1901, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Domestic Servant

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46336670
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7899
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Agricultural Laborer
• 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
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Button Factory
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer, Planing Mill
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Martin Weber," the fifth son of Abraham C. Weber, was born September 22nd, 1848. He is married to Magdalena, daughter of Henry and Mary (Musselman) Brubacher. They live on a farm being composed of part of lot No. 117, German Company's Tract. They have a family of five children, of whom the younger four died in infancy. The names of children are VII Mary, VII Simon (dead), VII Abram (dead), VII Louis (dead), and VII Martin (dead)."

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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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 married Magdalena Brubacher 7 Apr 1872. Magdalena (daughter of Henry Brubacher and Mary Musselman) was born 7 Jan 1853, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 8 Feb 1929; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46336902
• Name: Magdalena Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00018-1413
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Magdalena Brubacher, "the eldest, was born January 7th, 1853. She is married to Martin Weber. They reside on part of lot No. 117, German Company's Tract, where he is engaged in farming. They have had a family of five 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.].

___________________________

Weber. - Magdalena Brubacher Weber was born Jan. 7, 1853, at Kitchener, Ont.; died of a paralytic stroke Feb. 8, 1929; aged 76 y. 1 m. 1 d. She was married to Bro. Martin Weber in 1872. They had a family of 6 children, all of whom died in infancy except Mary. Her husband died 14 years ago. She was converted and joined the Mennonite Church 60 years ago and remained a faithful member ever since. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church on Feb. 10, by C. F. Derstine assisted by Mr. Munro. Text, Psa. 27: 4, 5. Burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Gospel Herald - Volume XXI, Number 47 - February 21, 1929 - page 990, 991

Other Events:

• Name: Abraham Weaver
• Name: Abram Weber
• Residence: 748 Old Zeller Dr., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7889
• 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
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Abraham C. Weber," the youngest son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Cressman) Weber, was born in Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario, March 14th, 1817. On October 23rd, 1838, he was married to Judith, youngest daughter of Peter and Anna (Zimmerman) Martin. She was born January 2nd, 1821, and died March 12th, 1884. After their marriage he moved on his father's farm, being composed of part of lot No. 15, German Company's Tract. Here they resided until the Grand Trunk Railway was built in 1855, when they sold their large farm and purchased that of Benjamin Shantz and Stafford's farms at Freeport. Here they resided until his death which took place July 6th, 1874. She resided until his death which took place July 6th, 1874. She resided with her son, Moses, on the west side of the Grand River, near Chicopee, where she died. He was ordained as minister of the Gospel for the Mennonite denomination, December 22nd, 1850. He preached regularly and attended frequently at funerals. His time was largely occupied in visiting the sick and giving words of consolation to such who were seeking their spiritual welfare, and his life was a busy one. So much of his time was devoted to his pastoral duties that he was almost unable to attend to his private affairs. Although sacrificing much of his time in the service of the church of his choice, he would not receive any compensation for the time devoted in behalf of the church, but looked for his reward beyond the present life where the faithful labors in His vineyard shall be spiritually rewarded for all ages of eternity. They had a numerous family, being composed of sixteen 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.].

_________________________

First Mennonite Church

The first church built in Waterloo County was erected in Berlin in 1813, and was known as Benjamin Eby's Meeting House.

Benjamin Eby had come to Canada in 1807 and in 1809 was ordained preacher. Three years later, in 1812, he was ordained bishop. His "parish included sections of Waterloo, Wilmot and Woolwich" (Uttley 1937: 27). In 1818 a frame addition, which was to be used as a winter school, was built on to the church. The log meeting house was replaced in 1834 by a larger frame church, and the old building was taken to Breslau to become the first meeting house in that community. (The Breslau church was known as Cressman Meeting House, a name which was changed in 1968 to Breslau Mennonite Church.) A Sunday School was opened in the church in 1841.

Benjamin Eby died in 1853. He was followed by Abraham C. Weber who served the congregation until his death in 1874. In that same year, a division in the church brought about the departure of a group who organized a congregation of Reforming (or Reformed) Mennonites, to become United Mennonites in 1875 and then Mennonite Brethren in Christ in 1883. Their church is the present-day Bethany Missionary Church on Lancaster Street East. Christian Eby was the next minister of the Berlin Mennonite Church, until 1879. The church was known over the years as Benjamin Eby's Church, Christian Eby's Church (from 1854-1904), and the Berlin Church (from 1904 until 1917.) The name of the church became First Mennonite Church in 1917.

A new brick church was built in 1902. A Bible Study School was begun in 1907, and in 1928 a separate brick Bible Study School building was erected. Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church was formed by some members in 1924 as a result of a division in the church.

Of interest: when the new church was built in 1902, the 1834 frame church was bought by D.B. Betzner who moved it to Cedar Street where it became a woodenware business and then a furniture factory. It was destroyed by fire in 1937.

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

____________________



In the 1851 Census of Waterloo Township the birthdates of the children don't agree with Eby's book.

Residence:
The Woolner Farmstead buildings, located at 748 Zeller Drive, are situated in the north end of the City of Kitchener on 6.47 acres off scenic Zeller drive. The original Mennonite Georgian farmhouse and outbuildings were constructed in 1830. The farmhouse addition was built circa 1858, and the barn and concrete silo were built circa 1870.

Abraham married Judith Martin 23 Oct 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Judith (daughter of Peter Martin and Anna Zimmerman) was born 2 Jan 1821, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 12 Mar 1884, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Judith Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4503
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Judith Martin, "the eighth and youngest daughter of Peter and Anna (Zimmerman) Martin, was born in Waterloo County, January 2nd, 1821. On October 23rd, 1838, she was married to Rev. Abraham C. Weber."


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 13 th of March, in Waterloo township, Waterloo county, Ontario, of dropsy, Sister Judith(Martin), widow of Pre. A. E. Weber, aged 63 years. Buried on the 15 th of March, at Christian Eby's burying-ground. She was the mother of 16 children of which 14 are still living.


Herald of Truth - Volume XXI, Number 8 - APRIL 15, 1884, page 125,126

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00018-1412
• Occupation: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonist
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• 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, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Henry Brubacher, "was born February 12th, 1824. On January 6th, 1852, he was married to Mary, daughter of David and Esther Musselman. She was born November 24th, 1833, and died November 20th, 1867. Soon after their marriage they moved on his father's old homestead, a little east of Berlin, where they resided until their deaths. He died March 5th, 1893. To them was born a family of ten children".


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

____________________________________


BRUBACHER - On the 5th of March, 1893, near Berlin, Waterloo Co., Ontario, of an affection of the lungs, Bro. Henry Brubacher, aged 69 years and 21 days. The deceased was born on the 12th of February, 1824. In January, 1852, he married Mary Mussleman. To this union were born 5 sons and 5 daughters, of whom 4 sons and 3 daughters remain. Sister Brubacher died on the 20th of November, 1867. Bro. Brubacher had been confined to house nearly all winter and to his bed for about 4 weeks before his death. He was resigned to God's will. The remains were interred at C. Eby's meeting house, Berlin, on the 8th, followed by a large concourse of relatives and sympathizing friends. Funeral services at the house by D. Wisner and Moses Bowman in German from John 5: 24, 25 and by Noah Stauffer in English from Phillipians 1: 21.

Obituary - Herald of Truth, April 1, 1893

__________________

Mr. Henry Brubacher, an esteemed and widely known gentleman, who has resided near Berlin for many years, died at his late residence last evening after an illness of a few weeks. Deceased was in his sixty-ninth year of age and was the son of John Brubacher, one of the original settlers of the site where Berlin now stands. The dead citizen was very well known throughout the county and followed farming for the greater portion of his life, though for some years he was engaged, or had an interest in certain enterprises in the town. He was of a kindly disposition and leaves a family of seven grown children, four sons and three daughters, to mourn his loss. One of his sons is Mr. "Solly" Brubacher, so well and popularly known in Berlin. His death has aroused many expressions of condolences for his bereaved family, and the county loses a whole-hearted genial resident. He was born in Berlin, Feb 12 1821 and died of congestion of the lungs and will be buried on Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock in the Old Mennonite Cemetery. [Henry Sherk Brubacher]

The Daily Telegraph 6 Mar 1893

Henry married Mary Musselman 6 Jan 1852, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of David Musselman and Esther Z. Martin) was born 24 Nov 1833, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 20 Nov 1867, near, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 23 Nov 1867, First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Brubacher
• Eby ID Number: 00083-4937
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Mary Musselman, "was born November 24th, 1833. On January 6th, 1852, she was married to Henry Brubacher. They resided on the old "John Brubacher Farm" a little east of Berlin where she died November 20th, 1867, leaving a family of ten children."

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

________________

On the 20th of November, 1867, in Waterloo Co., Ontario, MARY, wife of Henry BRUBACHER, aged 33 years, 11 months and 26 days. Her maiden name was Musselman. She was buried on the 23rd at Eby's burying-ground. She leaves a husband and 10 children to mourn her early departure.

HERALD OF TRUTH - Volume IV, Number 12 - December 1867, Page 191

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171204899
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7876
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 016, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Abraham Weber," the second son of Henry Weber, was born October 2nd, 1787. In 1807 he in company with Benjamin Eby and wife, Joseph Schneider, wife and family, Peter Erb and wife, David Eby, Samuel Eby, and others, came to Canada and arrived at what is now Berlin, Waterloo County, on June 21st. Here Abraham Weber located on lot No. 15, German Company's Tract. His buildings were located on the west side of King Street, a little to the south of the Grand Trunk Railway where now is the beautiful residence and lawn of W. H. Bowlby. Soon after his arrival he was married to Elizabeth Baumann who was born October 16th, 1788, and died June 12th, 1847. They raised a family of three 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 19th of February, in Waterloo township, Waterloo Co., C. W., of , Bro. ABM. WEBER, aged 79 years, 4 mo., and 17 days. He was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1787, and went to Canada in 1807. He lived and died a faithful member of the Mennonite Church. He was buried a (sic) Eby's burying ground. Funeral sermons were preached by Joseph Hege and George Schmidt, from Heb. 13;14.

HERALD OF TRUTH - Volume IV, Number 5 - May 1867 - Page 78.

________________________________

Back to 1807 and 20-year-old Abraham Weber. He built his farmstead in the centre of his lot, close to 2017's King and Victoria. All vestiges of Weber's buildings have disappeared but one incidental structure lingers. At some point, Abraham gave refuge and work to an ex-slave named Levi Carroll. Levi and his family are among the earliest identifiable blacks in the German Company Tract. They appear in a later, well-known photograph from the 1880s featuring their home, the original 1820 Waterloo schoolhouse. It was then located on Lot 16 near the collegiate but is now in Waterloo Park.

Abraham left the farm in the late 1830s when son Abraham C. took over. Then, in 1855, the Grand Trunk Railway route split Lot 16 in two, so Abraham C. sold most of his land to George Grange who had the property surveyed and began selling industrial and residential lots.

mills, r. (2017). Flash from the Past: Lot 16: From Aboriginal village to factory | TheRecord.com. TheRecord.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017, from https://www.therecord.com/living-story/7577349-flash-from-the-past-lot-16-from-aboriginal-village-to-factory/#.Wc1fDR29Ijo.facebook

Residence:
At the time of the Woolwich Census in 1852 Abraham and Susan were staying with Isaac and Elizbeth Weber.

Abraham married Elizabeth Cressman 1808. Elizabeth (daughter of Daniel Cressman and Esther Bechtel) was born 16 Oct 1788, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 12 Jun 1847, 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/171205031
• Name: Elizabeth Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00028-2106

Notes:

Elizabeth Cressman, "was born October 16th, 1788. In 1806 she came to Canada with her mother and in 1808 she was married to Abraham Weber who was born October 2nd, 1787, and died February 19th, 1867. They resided on a farm where now is situated a part of the town of Berlin. Here she died June 12th, 1847. To them were born three children,"

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

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38400277
• Interesting: story, pioneer, religion
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4295
• Residence: 1830, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 010, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Peter Martin, "was born in West Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 26th, 1769. He was married to Anna Zimmerman, December 25th, 1793. She was born February 18th, 1775. He followed farming in his native state, but owing to the poor harvests for several years in succession, together with low wages and many business failures, caused him to make arrangements with his numerous family to move to Canada. Two of his daughters, Barbara, married to David Martin and Maria, married to Christian Zimmerman, remained in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, while the parents with fourteen of their children, together with Daniel Weber and others, moved to Canada in 1819. They, at their arrival here, settled first on the farm now owned by Dilman Shantz and the heirs of the late Abraham Groff, but not finding this to their taste they finally located on the farm now possessed by Menno Gingerich. Here they resided until their deaths. He died March 2nd, 1831, and she died December 12th, 1836. They had a family of seventeen children, all of whom were married."

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

________________________________

...Martin was 62 when died in 1831, just 12 years after coming to Canada, but his important role in local history was not forgotten. His home doubled as the Martin's Church before the Martin's Meeting House on King Street North was completed.

The meeting house still stands today, next to the Martin's cemetery that holds Peter Martin's remains. Across King Street was the Martin's School (SS21), in use until 1972. It's gone now.

Because of his large family, 17 children in all, Martin was once described as "probably the most vigorous progenitor in the history of the region." His story is told in a booklet Thou Art Peter, published in 1983 by the Mennonite historian Isaac Horst of Mount Forest.....

Flash from the Past: Peter Martin House once stood in Waterloo, Waterloo Region Record 4 May 2013 Jon Fear, Record Staff

Peter married Anna Zimmerman 25 Dec 1793. Anna was born 18 Feb 1775, Of, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 9 Dec 1836, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38400457
• Name: Anna Martin
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4295.1

Other Events:

• Interesting: pioneer, story
• Eby ID Number: 00018-1389
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 057, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 059, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 006, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

John Brubacher, "the youngest son of Jacob and Susannah (Erb) Brubacher, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, July 11th, 1793. In 1815 he came to Canada (See pages 45, 46 and 47) and selected his lot, No. 57, German Company's Tract, township and county of Waterloo, Ontario, a little to the east of Berlin. Here he had a small clearing made and a log shanty erected thereon. Late in fall of the same year Mr. Brubacher returned to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to make arrangements for moving to Canada the following spring. Early in 1816, he, in company with his mother, moved to this country and had their home with Bishop Benjamin Eby. As soon as the log shanty on his large farm was finished he started housekeeping for himself. His mother proved to be his female assistant for one year. On March 6th, 1817, he was married to Catharine, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Betzner) Sherk. She was born February 11th, 1798 and died October 8th, 1882. He died October 10th, 1875. When quite a young man he was ordained as deacon of the Mennonite Church for the Eby field of labor. This position he held until his death. To them was born a family of fifteen 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.].

________________________________________________


October 10th, in Berlin, Canada, John Brubaker, one of the first settlers in this section, aged 82 years and 3 days.


Death Announcement - Herald of Truth, November 1875

_____________

JOHN BRUBACHER

John Brubacher came to Canada in 1816 and was accompanied by his widowed mother, Mrs. Susanna (Erb) Brubacher. She was a plucky woman and whatever she did was done aright. On the way over Mrs. Brubacher rode on a horse and killed a rattlesnake with her whip. Her son drove a heavily-laden Conestoga. Among other articles he brought in a churn. When they reached this settlment, their first meal was eaten off a pine stump. Mother and son then threaded their way through the woods to her son-in-law, Ben Eby's place,

John Brubacher made a clearing on Lot 57 and erected a log home. His mother kept house for him until 1817, when he married Catherine, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Betzner) Sherk. Ezra Eby said that Mrs, Susanna Brubacher sold her son 896 acres for $672 and then returned to Pennsylvania. Later on John Brubacher. as has been said, bought the Elias Eby farm in the East Ward and built a home in Brubacher Street that is still in use. Eventually John is said to have acquired 3,000 acres of land and to have given each of his fifteen children a farm.

John Brubacher was a short, dark man, and could lift a barrel of cider to his shoulder and take a drink out of the bunghole. His favorite saying was: Truth lasts the longest. His great-grand-father, also named John, when urged by his neighbors in Pennsylvania to build a gristmill declined, because he feared he might he tempted to take too heavy tolls.

Mrs. John Brubacher dressed plainly and wore a white cap. Her descendants treasure the heirlooms she handed down. There were no locks on their doors and often at night Indians entered her kitchen and slept on the floor. Once she was alarmed at breakfast time when a squaw fed a young papoose a piece of liver-sausage.

Fire was hard to make, for the settlers had no matches. A handful of dry cedar-bark was shredded and sparks struck from a flint with a piece of steel. Some families kept their fire burning the year round.

One night an Indian buck rapped on John's window and pleaded for a drink of whisky, but the pioneer did not give him any. Wild animals were all too plentiful and wolves a menace. Occasionally he heard the squeal of a pig as it was dragged from its pen by a black bear.

The Mennonites loved music. Once, while revisiting his old home in Pennsylvania, John Brubacher called on a man who owned a medodeon and had him play a hymn often sung in Ben Eby's church. As he listened tears of joy rolled down his cheeks. The pioneer walked with his head bent Ward Bowlby once met him in East King Street and said, "Mr. Brubacher, when walking you should keep your head up" John responded, "Mr. Bowlby, yonder is a field of wheat. Some of the stalks stand with their heads up those are empty; the bent heads only are filled with grain."

Mr. Brubacher's youngest daughter, Veronica (Mrs. Moses Betzner) died in 1936, when in her ninety-second year. She was an early riser; ate whole-wheat bread and until her fortieth year never tasted tea nor coffee after that she drank milk or butter-milk. "Sunrise," said she, "has a virtue no other part or the day has. Work is a blessing. Without it He would not be worth living."

"This community," she added, "was based on practical Christianity. The people were honorable and in business matters no writings passed among them It was all done by word of mouth and a man's Yes was binding."

A History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937, pg 23, 24

John married Catharine Shirk 6 Mar 1817. Catharine (daughter of Joseph Sherk and Mary Betzner, daughter of Joseph Schoerg and Elizabeth Betzner) was born 11 Feb 1798, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 8 Oct 1882, near, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 11 Oct 1882, First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catharine Brubacher
• Name: Catherine Scherich
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5638
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Catharine Shirk, "was born February 11th, 1798. She was married to Deacon John Brubacher. They resided near Berlin where they both died. She died October 8th, 1882"


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/37030080
• Interesting: pioneer, mill, story
• Eby ID Number: 00083.4908
• Birth: CALC 25 Apr 1799
• Occupation: 1852, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Musselman, "The two old pioneer settlers of this numerous family were David and Frederick who were no relatives to each other. They came to Canada in 1819 and settled in Waterloo County. The former, Mr. David Musselman settled in Woolwich Township, near Conestogo, on the farm now possessed by David Koch, while Frederick Musselman settled on the farm known as Rev. Elias Snider's place a little north of Waterloo. We shall first five the family of David and then of Frederick."

David Musselman, "was a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he was born April 18th, 1799, and was married to Esther, daughter of Peter and Anna (Zimmerman) Martin. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 29th, 1803, and died July 31st, 1872. He died October 25th, 1870. To them was born a family of twelve children".


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

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All lands in the early days was in the hands of large holders. Where the village now standing was part of a large holding belonging to David Musselman who himself lived on the western side of the village[Conestogo]. It was this man Musselman who started the wheels of Conestogo running by beginning the very important business of flour milling. This was urgent owing to the extreme distance that settlers had to hand for their supplies as all these were brought in on horseback from Dundas.

The Milling Industry

In 1845 the flour mill was built, also a saw mill, both run by waterpower, obtained from the waters of the Conestogo River diverted to these plants thru a raceway nearly a mile in length, the building of which was a colossal piece of work.

Mr. Musselman did not continue long as a miller, for in 1850 he sold the saw and grist mill with the property belonging to them to Henry Snider who conducted both for some years. The saw mill was finally abandoned and the mill taken away. More time was devoted to the flour mill which had attained wonderful proportions so much so that a new building on a far larger scale was put up equipped with more machinery.

About this time it was a common occurrence for farmers to come 40 and 45 miles with their wheat, so that very often from 20 to 30 teams stood waiting at this mill for their chance to unload. After a very successful term, Mr. Snider turned over his interests here to one of his sons Menno who remained at the head until about 1916. During this time he suffered reverses and a severe fire in 1904 wiped out the mill with its contents together with the storeroom for wheat all of which was lost.

Berlin Daily Record Apr. 26, 2008 typed by Marion Roes

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CONESTOGA

A pioneer named David Musselman is credited with having founded Conestoga. He first purchased 700 acres of forest in the vicinity. In 1830 he bought a parcel of land where the village stands from Abram Martin. It was watered by the Conestoga River and Spring Creek, on which he built a sawmill. In 1844 he built a dam across the Conestoga River and erected another sawmill and a flourmill. A hamlet sprang up. Among the first buyers of lots in Musselman's survey were: John Miller, Adam Heller, Stephen Washburn, John B. Eby, Christian Stuernagel, James Merrilees, H. von Trilera, Theodore Spetz, Henry Snider, Jacob Grosz, Philip Oswald, Joseph S. Weaver, George Davidson, Peter Eby, S. B. Eby, Peter Buchanan, Michael Oswald, Jacob Kuntz, Charles Hendry, Solomon Kaufman, and Jacob Lippert.

After their advent a cooper shop, blacksmithshop, a store, an hotel, and a post office followed. In time a brickyard, a school, and a church were added, and the place was called Musselman's Mills. Later Perine Brothers built a flaxmill on Spring Creek, while on the same stream Goodworth & Sills constructed a paint mill.

The hamlet was known as Musselman's Mills until 1852, when it was renamed Conestoga, after the Conestoga River or the town of Conestoga in Lancaster County, Pa., from which county many of the pioneers had come. David Musselman operated his mills until 1856 and then sold them to Henry Snider, who carried on the milling till his death in 1885. His executors sold the mills to Menno Snider, who operated the flourmill until his own death in 1916. During his closing years he was assisted by his son Walter J. Snider, who succeeded to the property. Walter Snider afterward purchased the flour-mill at St. Jacobs from W. W. Snider and operated the two mills as the Snider Flour Milling Company, Limited. After his decease, his son Russell became head of the industries..

Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1933 pg 16 - Woolwich Township - Its Early Settlement by W. V. Uttley

David — Esther Z. Martin. Esther (daughter of Peter Martin and Anna Zimmerman) was born 29 Aug 1803, Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 31 Jul 1872, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Esther Z. Musselman
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4391
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Esther Martin, "the fourth daughter of Peter and Anna (Zimmerman) Martin, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 29th, 1803, and came to Canada when sixteen years of age. She was married to David Musselman who died October 25th, 1870. She died July 31st, 1872."

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.].