Ruby Lucette Gies

Other Events:

• Name: Ruby Lucette Bauman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-30331

Other Events:

• Family Photograph: Helma and Howard Gies
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-54432
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer Son
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Assocation
• Residence: 1948, 61 Irvin St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Family Photograph:
Image from Patrick Gilkes 2016

Other Events:

• Name: Adeline Gies
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-54430
• Residence: 1881, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Residence: 1881, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Occupation: 1891, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Seamstress
• Residence: 1891, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Assocation
• Residence: 1921, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Congregational

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-125971P
• Immigration: 1842, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Minister
• Occupation: 1881, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Minister
• Residence: 1881, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Occupation: 1891, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Elder
• Residence: 1891, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Occupation: 1901, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clergyman

Notes:

(Reverend) Joseph joined the Evangelical movement in this area, so the records show, and was much influenced by it's preachers. He was so well liked and determined to succeed that when the Waterloo District was formed, Joseph was recommended and accepted to preach in this area, even though he was not ordained to do so. This was done at a later date. He was looked upon as a great leader in the community. He received his appointment to preach in 1854. He preached in New Hamburg in 1857, 1858-1895, 1896. and I understand at some of the other evangelical churches around this area such as Waterloo and Hespeler. Some records in Waterloo Historical Society books. vol #5 vol #6

A local Evangelical church was dedicated in 1851, Joseph was its minister. from Zion Evangeliacal (United) church 100th anniversary book. page 48-Joseph Umbach and Simon L Umbach mentioned. Joseph as District Superintendant. Ministers in this age were only permitted to serve for two years and so had to move to different churches periodically to maintain their profession. Hence both Joseph and Simon served many places in this area. page 55 mentions corner stone laying for Zion church building on Weber St. (present site) near Queen St. Joseph Umbach supervising.

Joseph born Munchzell in Baden Germany. His father Johann was born Grossgartig, Wurrtemburg Germany, and was a laborer and as a young man moved to Baden. He lived there with his parents until the family moved to America. Joseph was the second oldest and his mother's darling. The father was away from home a lot and so the training was left to the mother. The children had to learn to work early to help their mother with the farm. The father was Evangelical and the mother was catholic, a very pious person, so the children received a very strong christian upbringing. Joseph attended a rural school and shortly before they came to America he was confirmed. Relatives in Canada had been writing to them and so they came to Canada in sept 1843, having left Germany in June.

(Laschinger) The grandmother had died and grandpa was living in a small log house with his family, in a rural area with no neighbors, no school, or church. Joseph received no further schooling and hard work made him strong. The father bought a small farm near Conestoga but traded it for a tract of woodland 11 miles away in Woolwich twshp. there Joseph helped father build a house. The nearest neighbor lived 3 miles away and Joseph still could get no more education. The Umbachs were warned not to attend nearby chuch meetings in Berlin, but went anyways, with the result that his mother (Katherine) joined. Johann was furious and tried to stop things but after attending a meeting in St. Jacobs, joined himself.

Joseph at 18 was well on the way to becoming a preacher and his mother who was getting fed up with having so many preachers around, put her foot down on having home meetings and so Joseph left. The Michael Menger family built a house and the meetings were held there. After Josephs mother became more reasonable he returned home, and the religious group took him in. Later he was elected an officer of the church. (Elder). In 1853 he proved his ability as a preacher to a congregaion in Waterloo, under Rev. F. Herlan, where many people joined. Next was New Hamburg, for two years, with the same results. In 1859 he attended a church conference in New York, (400 miles with horse and wagon) with his wife and two children. It was very hard on them. He was rejected by the conference because he was Canadian. Two years later he went to the Utica mission as area head. In 1863 he was in Buffalo. In 1864 he returned to Niagara Falls for two years. In 1866 he was elected president of the district and held had post for 29 yrs. till poor health forced him tor esign that post.

For 4 yrs. he had a helper then spent a yr. as a helper, and then hiscareer as a minister was over. He suffered for 10 yrs., had many operations, but never fully regained his health.

He had a happy family life, though many trials. He had 12 children, 3 died in infancy. The death of his wife in 1906 was very hard for him and he stayed with his oldest daughter till he died in 1911. Rev. W. J. Wager conducted the funeral and 22 ministers lead the procession. The church could not hold all the people who came to pay their respects. Surviving were- Johanna-to Herman Uppel Levi-Professor North Western college-Naperville-Illinois U. S. A. Moses-Principle-Corpus Christie-Texas, U. S. A. Otto M. -Waterloo William H. -New Hamburg Maria Anna-wife John Kaercher-New Hamburg Adeline-wife A. Gies Sarah-wife Rev. E. Becker Laura-wife H. Beilstein

Lorne Umbach Family File