Elsie Grace Clemens

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-29833

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00023-1660
• Occupation: 1884, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer

Notes:

John H. Clemens, "was born February 10, 1862. He is married to Sophia Ernst and resides near Ravenswood, Lambton County, Ontario. where he is engaged in farming."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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 Sophia Ernst 27 Nov 1884, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Sophia (daughter of Jacob Ernst and Rebecca Hagey) was born 11 Apr 1864, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Sophia Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00033-2961
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Sophia Ernst, "was born April 11th, 1864. She is married to John Clemens, a farmer. They reside near Ravenswood, Lambton County, Ontario. They have four children"


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00023-1651
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Abraham M. Clemens, "the second son, was born May 26th, 1820. He is married to Polly, daughter of Abraham and Nancy (Strome) Rosenberger. They reside in Bosanquet Township, Lambton County, Ontario, near Forest P. O. To them was born 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

Abraham married Maria "Mary" "Polly" Rosenberger 16 Feb 1841, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Maria (daughter of Abraham Rosenberger, Sr. and Nancy Strome) was born 3 May 1825, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 13 Nov 1905, Bosanquet Twp., Lambton Co., Ontario; was buried , Ravenswood Cemetery, Ravenswood, Lambton Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria "Mary" "Polly" Clemens
• Name: Mary Ann Rosenberger
• Name: Polly Rosenberger
• Eby ID Number: 00095-5377
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Polly Rosenberger, "daughter of Abraham Rosenberger, is married to Abraham Clemens. They reside in Bosanquet Township, Lambton County, Ontario, where he is engaged in farming."


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

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00033-2960
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; M. E. N. S.
• Residence: 1862, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Notes:

Jacob Ernst, "was born in Waterloo County, Ontario, March 8th, 1835. On April 22nd, 1862, he was married to Rebecca, daughter of Bishop Joseph and Sophia (Bricker) Hagey. She was born February 18th, 1842. They reside about two miles west of St. Agatha, in Wilmot Township, where he is engaged in farming. They have 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.].

Jacob married Rebecca Hagey 22 Apr 1862, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Rebecca (daughter of Bishop Joseph B. Hagey and Sophia Bricker) was born 18 Feb 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 15 Oct 1926, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Shantz's Meeting House Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Rebecca Ernst
• Eby ID Number: 00047-3470
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1862, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1911, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Rebecca Hagey, "was born February 18th, 1842. She is married to Jacob Ernst. They reside near St. Agatha, Wilmot Township, where he is engaged in farming. Their family consists 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.].

_________________________

Ernst.-Rebecca Hagey was born Feb. 19, 1842, departed this life Oct. 15, 1926; at the ripe age of 84 y. 7 m. 27 d. 64 years ago she was married to Jacob Ernst who predeceased her in October, 1904. To this union were born 5 children, of whom one, Mary Ann, has passed on to the great beyond. There remain to mourn a loving Christian mother, 2 sons, 3 daughters, 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Sister Ernst united with the Mennonite Church at the age of 17, and for 67 years she was a faithful member. As God gave her a long, useful life may He now grant her an eternal peace. Funeral services were held form the home of her son David, Preston, Ont., on Oct. 18, thence to the Shantz church, near Baden, Ont. where her body was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. Bros. U. K. Weber, Orphen Wismer, and Oscar Burkholder had charge of the services. Text, 1 Cor. 13: 13.


GOSPEL HERALD - Vol. XIX, No. 32 - November 4, 1926 - pp 686-686

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29444043
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1634
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jesse Clemens, second son of Abraham and Rebecca (Miller) Clemens, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, June 12th 1791. In 1809 he came to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, near Hespeler. He was married in 1813 to Margaret Miller, who was born in July, 1789, and died October 18th, 1861. They resided on the farm now in possession of Noah Scheirich, about three miles north-east of Preston where they commenced to farm soon after their marriage. To them were born nine children"

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

__________

Clemens, - on the 6th of January, in Waterloo Co. Ont., of the infirmities of old age and dropsy, Bro Jesse Clemens, aged 90 yrs.,6 mos. and 24 days. he was born in Chester Co.Pa in 1791 and was a faithful member (sp) of the Mennonite Church. He bore his bodily afflictions with great patience, and showed an unbroken faith in Christ to the end. He was buried in Hagey's burying ground. services in English and German by J. Woolner.

Herald of Truth - April 15, 1882 - page 125,126

Jesse married Margaret Miller 1813. Margaret (daughter of John Miller and Hester Steiner) was born 1789, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 18 Oct 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29445358
• Name: Margaret Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00079-4779
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Margaret Miller, "daughter of John and Hester (Steiner) Miller and sister to Magdalena, was born in 1789, and was married, in 1813, to Jessie M. Clemens who was born June 12, 1791, and died January 6th, 1882. They resided north-east of Preston, on the farm now possessed by Noah Shiry. Here she died October 18th, 1861. See No. 1634. (Could not ascertain whether Magdalena and Margaret Miller were any relation to I Jacob Miller."

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

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00095-5363
• Residence: 1851, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; a farm
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Abraham Rosenberger, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, at the close of the last century and came to Canada with his parents in 1801, then being a mere child. He was raised at Preston. After arriving at the age of some twenty years he was married to Nancy, daughter of Christian and Polly (Rutt)Strome. After their marriage they resided for some time on the old 'Rosenberger Farm' near Preston but later on they moved to Wilmot Township, near New Dundee. 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.].

Abraham — Nancy Strome. Nancy (daughter of Christian Strome and Mary Rutt) was born 1 Jan 1807, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 10 Sep 1880, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Blenheim Mennonite Cemetery, Blenheim Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ann Strome
• Name: Nancy Rosenberger
• Eby ID Number: 00120-7464
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Nancy Strome, "the fourth daughter, was born in 1807 and died September 10th, 1880. She was married to Abraham Rosenberger. They first resided near Preston, thence they moved to Wilmot Township, west of New Dundee."


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:

• Name: Henry Ernst
• Eby ID Number: 00033-2956
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 074W, Waterloo County, Ontario
• 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; M. E. N. S.
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farm
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Death: 20 Nov 1878, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Henry Ernst, "a native of Pennsylvania, was born November 24th, 1803. He was married to Susannah Reist who was born January 4th, 1799, and died March 3rd, 1873. He followed farming and resided in different places of the county. He died November 20th, 1878. To them was born a family of seven children"

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

Heinrich — Susannah Reist. Susannah (daughter of John Reist and Susannah Huber) was born 4 Jan 1799, Warwick Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 3 Mar 1873. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Susannah Ernst
• Eby ID Number: 00090-5203
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; M. E. N. S.
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Susannah Reist, "the fifth member of John and Susannah (Huber) Reist's family, was born in Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 4th, 1799. She was married to Henry Ernst who was born November 24th, 1803, and died October 20th, 1878. She died March 3rd, 1873. They had a family of seven children"


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

Other Events:

• Land: 4425 Fountain St. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Name: Joseph Haegy
• Occupation: Cressman Mennonite Church, Breslau, Ontario; minister
• Eby ID Number: 00047-3465
• Land: 1861, 4685 Fountain St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: 1861, 4650 Fountain St. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: 1861, 4600 Fountain St. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• 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
• Website: 2007
• Website: 2007; wikipedia

Notes:

Bishop Joseph Hagey, " the second son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bergey) Hagey, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, June 11th, 1810, and came to Canada with his parents when twelve years of age. Some time during the summer of 1832 he was married to Sophia, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Eby) Bricker. She was born December 20th, 1812. Soon after their marriage they moved on the farm now possessed by their son, Joseph B., where they resided until his death which took place December 31st, 1876. On May 31st, 1851, he was ordained as a minister of the Mennonite body, and on October 11th, 1852, he was ordained bishop which position he held until his death. He was well received by both his and other denominations. His fame as a preacher was widely known and served to fill the houses of worship to their utmost capacity wherever he was known to officiate. His sermons were short and always well seasoned with a grand exhortation to be more like our Lord and Master. He was greatly respected by the young and always gladly received by his many friends. His last days on earth were much clouded with the church controversy which was carried so far as to cause a division among the Mennonites. Just at this time came the winged arrow of death and bore the soul of Bishop Hagey from the scenes of his life's activity, from the companionship of his faithful circle of followers, and from the worrying of this world, to the regions beyond the skies where trials and temptations are no more, where Christ reigns supreme, in Heaven. His last words were, 'O what a good and merciful Lord we have'. His end was peace. His widow is still living and has her home with her daughter, Mary. Their family consists 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.].

________________________________

Hagey, Joseph B. (1810-1876)

"Joseph B. Hagey: bishop and farmer; born 11 June 1810 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania to Daniel and Elizabeth (Bergey) Hagey. He and his twin brother, Daniel, had an older brother, and a younger brother and sister. In 1832 he married Sophia Bricker (20 December 1810-4 November 1895). She was the daughter of Sam Bricker, famous for his role in raising funds in Pennsylvania to buy the German Company Tract (much of Waterloo Township) from Richard Beasley. Joseph and Sophia Hagey had six sons and five daughters. Joseph died 31 December 1876 and was buried in the Breslau Mennonite Cemetery. It was said that three hundred carriages were part of the funeral procession, with one thousand persons in attendance at the service.

In 1822 Joseph Hagey came with his family from Pennsylvania after his father went bankrupt in business there. They lived on a farm just north of Cambridge (Preston). After their marriage, Joseph and Sophia lived on the farm owned by her father; they became the owners in 1837.
On 10 February 1839 Joseph Hagey was ordained as a minister, probably by Benjamin Eby , and on 31 May 1851 he was ordained as a bishop to assist the aging Eby. He served in the Hagey congregation as a pastor, but as a bishop carried responsibility for all the congregations in Waterloo Township. His years of service followed those of a very charismatic bishop, and Hagey never received the acclaim of his predecessor. In his later years he was faced with division within the Ontario Mennonite Conference. The division was sparked by a revival in Solomon Eby's congregation in Port Elgin, Ontario in 1870, and a similar revival within Waterloo County. These Methodist-style prayer/revival meetings were often held in homes, and were not yet generally accepted within the Mennonite community. Initially Hagey responded positively and baptized converts from the Port Elgin revival. However he then declined to baptize the Waterloo converts because of objections that arose within the conference leadership. Although another bishop finally baptized this group in 1871, the controversy festered and finally resulted in the division that created the Reformed Mennonites (later part of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ ).
Although Hagey was not successful in maintaining peace in the Ontario Mennonite community, he was a peacemaker in spirit. He assisted several attempts to help settle a church conflict in Indiana as a participant and served as the nominal leader (as bishop) of an Ontario delegation that attempted to mediate the conflict. Joseph B. Hagey was a longtime leader in the largest Mennonite settlement in Ontario during troubled times; his failure to preserve unity does not diminish the magnitude of his service to the church."

Steiner, Sam. "Hagey, Joseph B. (1810-1876)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2002. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 Nov 2005

_____________________________________

Breslau (Cressman) Mennonite Church

Services were begun in Breslau in 1815. In 1834, Benjamin Eby's log meeting house, which had been built in Berlin in 1813, was moved to Breslau to the Cressman farm. Preaching services which were held every four weeks began in the reconstructed meeting house in 1837. A new brick church was built in 1856, at which time the old log meeting house was moved to Frederick Schaefer's brickyard. The old building may have been used for storage or an office until approximately 1880 when it was clad with white "Breslau Brick" from the brickyard, and used as a home by Frederick Schaefer and his family. The address of the house is reported to have been 18 Woolwich Street; it was still standing in 1985, according to Alder 1985, with the original log walls possibly preserved within the brick ones.

A summer Sunday School was begun in June of 1872. It was held in the Breslau schoolhouse until 1877 when it was moved to the church. Sunday School continued on in the summers only until 1889 when Sunday School classes began to be held all year.

The 1856 white brick church was taken down in March 1908, and was replaced with a new white brick church. In 1968 the name of the church was changed from Cressman Mennonite Church to Breslau Mennonite Church. Major renovations were made to the church in the same year. It is of interest to know that land amounting to approximately three acres was deeded to the congregation by Christian C. Snyder in three parcels, in 1837, 1859, and 1870.

Joseph Hagey, the first minister at Cressman's, was ordained on February 10, 1839. He was ordained bishop in 1851. Ministers who followed him in serving the church at Breslau were Jacob Woolner Sr., Elias Weber, Isaac A. Wambold, Jacob S. Woolner, and Oscar Burkholder. Services were held every four weeks from 1837-1867, and bi-weekly from 1867-1894 when weekly services were begun

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

__________________________________________

Wanner Mennonite Church
Begun: 1829

A small wooden meeting house was built in 1829 on a corner of the farm belonging to Samuel Bechtel which was located in the vicinity of the present-day regional headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources near the intersection of Highways 24 and 401. The site for this community meeting house, as well as a school and a burial ground, had been chosen on August 8, 1829. The land was donated by Samuel Bechtel and his wife Barbara (Baumann) on March 15, 1830. A new meeting house, of white brick, was built in 1837 on the east side of Henry Wanner's farm, somewhat north of the first meeting house. Meetings at first were held every eight weeks. The deed of land for the meeting house known as Wanner's was dated October 15, 1837. Early preachers were David Sherk, who had been ordained by Benjamin Eby in July 1837, Jacob Bretz, Jr., and Joseph Hagey.
Joseph Hagey was ordained bishop in 1851. During his time divisions occurred in the church by a surge of enthusiasm for a Methodist form of revivalism. Solomon Eby of Port Elgin, who announced his own conversion in December 1869, was leader of a group which believed that members could be converted through participation in revival meetings. John Baer of Wanner's became associated with Solomon Eby, and was compelled to leave the church in the spring of 1874, as were Eby and his other followers. The new church movement resulted in organization conferences which culminated in the conference on March 23, 1875 at Bloomingdale where New Mennonites and Reforming (or Reformed) Mennonites joined together as United Mennonites. The United Mennonites favored revival meetings, Sunday Schools and prayer meetings, and were opposed to the use of alcohol and tobacco.
The date of construction of the meeting house which replaced the one built in 1837 is somewhat in doubt. It is possible that a new building was erected in the early 1870s; it is also possible that the 1837 building only underwent extensive renovations at that time. There is no doubt, however, that a new brown brick church was built in 1938. An education wing was added in 1969.
The earliest Mennonite Sunday School in North America was begun in 1842 and was held jointly by the Wanner and Hagey Meeting Houses. It was discontinued after a short time because of a division of opinion within the congregations. An attempt was made later, in the mid-1860s, to begin another Sunday School, but this, too, did not last long. Many years later, on June 10, 1896, a meeting was held to organize a Sunday School. Anson Groh was appointed superintendent..<sup>4a

4a</sup>Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

__________________________________________


Preston (Bechtel or Hagey) Mennonite Church

The second meeting house in Waterloo County was built, probably in 1814, by John Erb, a wealthy miller of Preston. This brick meeting house served as a community church and was located "near Jacob Hagey's", which was on the road running from the top of the Kress Hill west and "adjoining the Kitchener Highway" (Witmer 1967: 26). Another meeting house, known as the Union Meeting House, was built in the area around 1824. A meeting was held in the Union church on November 20, 1824 to commence recording the accounts of the congregation in Hagey's Deacon Book. The deed of land for the Union Meeting House and burial ground, which was for one acre of part Lot 22, Beasley's Broken Front, was transacted in 1835.
Hagey Meeting House was buiilt of red brick in 1842 on part Lot 23, just north of Preston on the west side of the Breslau Road, and slightly north of the Union Meeting House site. The deed, dated February 2, 1842, recorded the purchase of the land from John Hilborn and stressed that the property was to be for "the purpose of public worship by the Mennonist Society" (Witmer 1967: 28). Joseph Bechtel was the first minister in the area, from 1804-1837; he was followed by David Sherk (1838-1843). Next came Joseph Hagey (1844-1877), who was ordained bishop in 1851, and then Jacob B. Gingrich from 1878 to 1901. Services were held every four weeks until 1890 when bi-weekly services were begun. A Sunday School was established in 1842 with the congregation of Wanner Meeting House near Hespeler, but it was discontinued because of a difference of opinion regarding the need for Sunday Schools. On April 26, 1891 a Sunday School was organized at Hagey's, with deacon Abraham Oberholtzer as superintendent. Five years later, on June 10, 1896, a Sunday School was organized at the Wanner church.
Major changes were made to the church building in 1927-1928 when the basement was excavated, new windows were installed and the roof was raised two feet. Fire on January 15, 1950 caused extensive damage to the interior and furnishings of the church. The building was completely renovated and also enlarged at the same time; dedication was on July 2, 1950. Another fire, on Feburary 19, 1953, completely destroyed the church. A congregational decision was made to build a new church, on Concession Road in Preston, and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, October 12, 1953. Official dedication services in the new Preston Mennonite Church were held on May 16, 1954. The building was enlarged in the summer of 1989.<sup>5a

5a</sup>Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

__________________________________________


LARGE FUNERAL AT BRESLAU - On Tuesday of last week the funeral of the late Joseph Hagey, Bishop of the Mennonite Church at Breslau, took place, and was the largest ever held in that section, over three hundred teams being in the procession, and over one thousand people present, thereby testifying to the great respect entertained by all for the deceased. Mr. Hagey at the time of his death, must have been nearly eighty years old (ed. note actually 66), and for many years was recognized as the head of that body in Western Ontario. He was always distinguished for his Christian virtues, and was held in high esteem by the members of his own church and by all who knew him.<sup>6a

6a</sup>The Galt Reformer 3 Jan 1877

Website:
Gameo Entry

Website:
Wikipedia Entry

Other Events:

• Name: Sophia Hagey
• Eby ID Number: 00016-1342
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Sophia Bricker,"the second daughter of old Samuel Bricker and his wife, Rebecca Eby, was born December 20th, 1812. In 1832 she was married to Joseph Hagey who was afterwards ordained as minister and bishop of the Mennonite body. They resided about two miles south of Breslau where he died suddenly, December 31st, 1876. To them were born 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.].