Simon M. Brubacher

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75798584
• Eby ID Number: 00018-1393.8
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer Son
• Occupation: 1911, Heidelberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer Farm
• Residence: 1911, Heidelberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer, Farm
• Residence: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

SIMON BRUBACHER

Funeral service for Simon M. Brubacher, 83, of St. Jacobs who died Saturday at South Waterloo Hospital, Galt, were held at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church at 3 p.m. Tuesday, with Rev. Glenn Brubacker [sic] officiating.

The body was at the Dreisinger Funeral Parlor, Elmira, until noon Tuesday. Burial was in Martin's Mennonite cemetery.

Born in Waterloo Township, Mr. Brubacher was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Moses Brubacher. For the past four years he was a patient at the Fairview Mennonite Home in Preston. He was a member of St. Jacobs Mennonite Church.

He was predeceased by his wife, the former Melinda Good, in 1933, a son, a daughter, four brothers and two sisters.

Surviving are a son, Leonard of RR 1, Elora; a daughter, Mrs. Willard (Anna) Shantz, RR 1, Waterloo; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Elmira Signet 9 Apr 1969 pg 14

Simon married Malinda Good 8 Mar 1911, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Malinda (daughter of Deacon Eli Good and Nancy Cressman) was born 20 Nov 1884, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 8 Jul 1933, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Wilbert G. Brubacher was born 4 Jun 1913, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Apr 1968, RR1, Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , St. Jacobs Mennonite Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. Beulah Brubacher was born 19 Nov 1915, , Ontario, Canada; died 6 Feb 1916; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. Anna Brubacher was born 1918, , Ontario, Canada.
4. Leonard Brubacher was born 24 Feb 1922; died 1 Jan 1994; was buried , Elmira Mennonite Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00018-1393
• 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; Agricultural Laborer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Heidelberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Heidelberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Moses Brubacher, "was born August 5th, 1847. On October 6th, 1872, he was married to Elizabeth Musselman. They reside near St. Jacobs, on north side of Heidelberg Road, on the old 'Miller Farm'. To them were born 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.].

Moses married Elizabeth Musselman 6 Oct 1872, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of David Musselman and Esther Z. Martin) was born 27 Nov 1845, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 25 Apr 1926; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Brubacher
• Eby ID Number: 00083-4964
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1911, Heidelberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Musselman, "the youngest in the family, was born November 27th, 1845. On October 6th, 1872, she was married to Moses Brubacher who was born August 5th, 1847. They reside in Woolwich Township, about three miles east of Heidelberg."


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: 00018-1390
• Residence: 1840, 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
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• 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:

Jacob Brubacher, "the eldest son, was born April 9th, 1818. On February 11th, 1840, he was married to Mary Weber who was born December 10th, 1815, and died April 20th, 1888. After their marriage they moved near Bridgeport, Ontario, on the farm now possessed by Benjamin M. Eby, where they resided four years, then they moved three miles west of Berlin, on north central part of lot No. 35 where she died. Here he still resides with his youngest son. Their family consisted of 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.].

_______________


BRUBACHER - On the 6th of December 1896, near Berlin, Ont., Bro. Jacob Brubacher, aged 78 years, 7 months and 27 days. He was married to Maria Weber in 1846. He leaves behind him, three children, fourteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. He was a consistent member of the Mennonite church. He was buried in C. Eby's burying ground where services were conducted by Daniel Wismer and Noah Stauffer.

Herald of Truth, Vol. XXXIV, No. 3, February 1, 1897 - Page 45, 46

_________________

Died - Jacob Brubacher, who lived on the Petersburg road, near Berlin, died on Sunday, 6th Dec 1896, at 3.30 p.m. at the age of 77 years. Funeral on Wednesday at 10 a.m., from his late residence to the Old Mennonite cemetery, Berlin. A brother and four sisters survive him

Berlin News Record, December 7, 1896

Jacob married Mary Weber 11 Feb 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Benjamin Weber and Veronica Martin) was born 10 Dec 1815, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 20 Apr 1888, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Weber
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-345666
• Residence: 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• 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

Notes:

Mary Weber, the youngest daughter of Benjamin and Veronica (martin) Weber, was born December 10th, 1815. In the year 1840 she was married to Jacob Brubacher and died April 20th, 1888"

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.].

_______________________________

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

______________________________

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.].

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/20684523
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7833
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 008, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 113, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; yeoman
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Benjamin Weber," the eldest son of Henry and Veronica (Hershey) Weber, was born near Blue Ball, Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 2nd, 1786. He was married to Veronica Martin, April 28th, 1806. She was born May 24th, 1784, and died 11th, 1859. In 1817, in company with others, they, with their family, left Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and moved to the wilds of Canada, and located on lot No. 8, German Company Tract, Waterloo County, Ontario, where they resided until their deaths. He died January 21st, 1863. 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.].

Benjamin married Veronica Martin 28 Apr 1806. Veronica was born 24 May 1784, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 11 Apr 1859, Woolwich 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/20684963
• Name: Fronica Martin
• Name: Veronica Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7833.1

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