Michael Zeller

Other Events:

• Interesting: story, pioneer
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-89544
• Occupation: 1851, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer

Notes:

Death Of A Pioneer.--Many of our readers will regret to learn of the death of Mr. Michael Zeller one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of this district Mr. Zeller passed peacefully away at his residence, Zurich, on Friday last, having completed a long and useful life. Although he had been perceptibly failing for several months, he did not seem to suffer from any particular disease, by gave way to a gradual wearing out of the physical system, and he was only confined to his bed for a few days previous to his death. He was 78 years of age, He was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and came to Canada in 1836, settling first in Waterloo County. He had been a resident of Zurich and vicinity for over half a century, and came here when the country around was practically a wilderness. He was an energetic businessman, and did his full share in aiding in developing this country and making it what it is to-day. When the division court was formed here in 1875, he was appointed clerk, and continued to occupy this position until a few years ago, when, on account of growing infirmities, he resigned, to be succeeded by his son Mr Ed Zeller. He was also one of the oldest Justices of the Peace in the country, and for a great many years he did a large conveyancing businesses, and was the chief advisor of the people for miles around, He was strictly upright and honorable in all his dealings with his fellow men, and enjoyed, in a very high degree, the confidence of the people. If Michael Zeller said so, and so it was alright There were no further questions asked. He, therefore, wielded a wide influence, but of which he never took undue advantage. He was of a kind and sociable nature and won and maintained friends. He will be much missed in the community where he had so long lived and in which he was so much and so deservedly respected. He was a most enthusiastic Liberal in politics, and always took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the public affairs of the country. His aged partner survives him, and he leaves a family of two sons and five daughters. His son Jacob is in Wisconsin, and the other is the editor and proprietor of the Zurich Herald Mrs. (Dr.) Buchanan is one of the daughters. The funeral took place on Monday and was very largely attended, many coming from considerable distances to pay a last tribute of respect to one whom they had so highly esteemed in life.

Huron Expositor

_______________________

Biography of Michael Zeller, written in his 74th year.
(taken from his own writing)

I am a son of Theobald Zeller and Margaret his wife, born Zimmer. I was born in the village of Huerschenhausen, Rhine Province, called Islulinate, belonging to the kingdom of Bavaria, on the 28th day of April, 1825. I went to common school in my sixth year. My teacher's name was Daniel Bartel. I went to my eleventh year.

In 1836 we emigrated to America; we left our home in Germany sometime in June in said year. We travelled by wagon through France; the first town we entered in France was Forbach, then Metz, Verdun, Shallow, Paris, Rowan to Havre de Grasse a seaport on the Atlantic. The voyage from home to Havre de Grasse per team took us two weeks. In Havre we stayed eight or nine days before the vessel had her full cargo and passengers. The name of the ship was Franzwere Premier, a French three mast sailing ship, manned by an English crew, only two French sailors and one Dane. We had 276 passengers on board, excluding sailors. We had to cook and furnish our own board. The voyage on the Atlantic took us from Havre de Grasse to New York 35 days. After staying one day and one night, we sailed up the Hudson River to Albany, from Albany to Shenectady, from Schenetady to Utica, a distance of 30 miles per railroad, the only one at that time in America.

I will give you a description of the cars to give you and idea of the railroad cars between then and now; the cars we travelled in (of course emigrant cars) were about 16 feet long, 4 wheels only, no seats; we all had to stand and had to support one another, shaking awfully. Cars were boarded up and down like bank barns, two holes sawed out, one on each side, about 14 inches square, for the purpose to let in fresh air, and foul air out, no windows panes.

From Utica we took the Erie Canal boat drawn by two horses, to Buffalo, the journey requiring, I think, five days. Stayed a few days in Buffalo and then took passage on a small steamer Emerald to Chippawa, on the Canadian side of the river St. Lawrence: from Chippawa, we hired a team to St. Catharines, to the home of my uncle, Philip Zeller, who at that time owned a 100 acre farm now in the corporation of St. Catharines, staying with him a fortnight.

The uncle Dan Zeller came from Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, with a large span of Pennsylvania horses, owned by a man, John Bechtel, and brought us to the village of Preston, where we moved in an old log house on the top of the hill, north of Preston. After we lived there for two months, we moved within one mile of Berlin, where father had rented a farm from a man by the name of John Eby, but they could not agree and they threw up the bargain after a three months stay on the place, and we moved to Berlin. From Eby's son George, I learned the English A.B.C. I went one month to the English school with an old Pennsylvania German by name of Wenger. He was also a pump maker and fond of drinking whiskey, but not to excess. After two weeks going to school, he allowed me to read in the Testament.

From Berlin, we moved to Glasson Mills, now Bridgeport. Father hired out one year to one Jacob S. Shoemaker, as an ox-teamster, at a salary of $170.00 a year, but had to find his own board and lodging. At Glasson I went to school for another month at $2.00 a month. I never knew the teacher's name. All I know about him is that he was an Austrian with red hair. Here my father hired me out for two months to one Monnie Staufer to drive his black ox team, called Black and Colley, and test of the year, I was fishing. So far I had two months English schooling, and no more until I was 21 years of age, when I went to another school for one month, and that make three altogether and no more.
I forgot to mention that we left Germany about the middle of June and arrived in Preston November 5th, four months travelling. The same journey can be accomplished now in 8 days, what a change, wonderful to think about.

From Glasson we moved to a rented house on a farm, and a short time afterwards, father bought an 100 acre farm, 8 acres partly cleared. With a small log stable, and a small log house; size of house 16 X 16, one story high, say 5ft 8 in. high, from floor to ceiling, with a rough field stone chimney, and two windows with three panes in each, 7 X 9, one facing east, and one south, and all in one room, which was used as a kitchen, parlor and bedroom, so you may imagine what space room to move about, very little room for a glove fight. A ladder of basswood scantling with six or seven steps was place in a corner of the hut to an opening left above to get up under the roof, (called upstairs.) I had my bed in the middle of the room on account of the upper story was only 10 inches at the side. The roof was covered with two feet pine shingles split but no shaved and nailed down with two inch clinched inside. Through some cracks, the stars in the firmament could be counted in a clear night.

At the time we moved to the land, I was in my 13th year; had to chop down trees with father every day during winter, some winters in two or three feet of snow, with clothing of two pairs of linen pants and shirt and a smock half wool and half lined; logging all summer until I was twenty years old. Hard work to clear up a farm, split rails for fences, drawing stones to make the land fit for cultivation.

I had to help to break in steers for logging, leading them first with a rope, even barefooted, had many days sore feet by tramping on shrubs and roots. At noon we chopped down basswood trees to feed the steers on the leaves, and after six o'clock in the evening, had to hunt the cows in the woods, at times two miles from home, likewise had to hunt them in the morning before breakfast.

One particular point I forgot to mention is this, when I got up in the morning after a stormy night, I stepped in about one foot of snow in front of my bed. I tell you it opened my eyes very quickly, but after I came down from the loft, father had a good fire, in fact most of the night, so I did not mind the snow step above.

We lived in the old house until I was twenty years old, and then we built a new log house; from that time we had a more comfortable living, than formerly.

In my 26th year, I married Clara (born Liebler) and rented father's farm and one year after farming, I ran a small hotel in Strasburg, Waterloo county; in the year 1856 I moved to the township of Hay, Huron county, commenced bush life again. I will not repeat the hardships again, the former statement will suffice as a substitute for it.

Here in Hay, I served as a constable for one year, then held the office as a Justice of the Peace for about fifteen years, township counselor for two years, and commissioner for taking affidavits in Huron County at the same time; held the office of township treasurer for twenty years. I will not mention any more transactions of my lifetime.

In the year 1880 I visited the old fatherland, Germany, and after a stay of three and a half weeks, I returned again to Canada, my home. While being in Germany I visited Strasburg Cassel \endash Wilhelm's Hoehe, where Napoleon was confined as a prisoner to the German government; I also paid a visit to Frankford at the Main, Worms, Meynce, Sarbruatan, and the battle field of Spechern Heights near Baarbruken, and some othe places of Germany such as Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, and other smaller towns.

After my return from Germany I have been in the hardware business for about two years in the village of Zurich. I forgot to mention that I held the office as clerk of the tenth division court for about nineteen years, and in the year 1898, I resigned all my offices to my son Edmund who does attend to all such business in connection with the office.

As before stated, I married in the year 1851, raised 8 children, two sons and six daughters, of whom the youngest died in May, the 17th, 1898, the first death in the family in 47 years. Many incidents I would have to repeat yet, but I think this will do the present day June 15th, 1898, in my 74th year. Michael Zeller

P.S. I forgot to mention that after living one year in the old log house, father built an addition to it, same size and height. U also may state that I collected the township taxes for two years in the fifth ward for the township of Waterloo, and I accessed the township of Hay 4 years, one year the whole township, and three years the part west of the big marsh.

P.S. I beg to state that I do not wish my children or grandchildren to criticize this my biography; let them consider that I had only three months schooling in English and no more. It's not good style spelling or grammar. Michael Zeller


Michal Zeller died September 25th, 1903, and was buried in Zurich, Ontario, Lutheran Cemetery on September 28, 1903: text, 2nd book of Moses, 20th chapter, 2nd and 3rd verses; at the house, hymn #453, in church #645.

Mother died December 12, 1904, was buried December 14th; text Heb. 13th chapter, 14th verse.
Ida Zeller Appel.

Father left a note, selecting his text, also the following pallbearers \endash Henry Weseloh Sr., Henry Bauer Sr., Henry Walper, Sr., Henry Creb, Henry Lipphardt, and Henry Ortwein Sr.
Ida Zeller Appel.

Following are two letters written to his family by Michael Zeller -

Atlantic Ocean, Monday, June 28, 1880.

Dear Wife and Children:
I am going to drop a few lines to you to let you know that we are near to land; we are 2850 miles east of New York, and about 150 from Plymouth, England, where the steamer halted to exchange the mail. From Plymouth we sail for Cherberg, France, 104 miles from Cherberg to Hamburg, 444 miles \endash total distance from New York to Hamburg 2980 miles. The voyage will take us 14 days.

The steamer has a heavy cargo, 175 passengers, and officers and crew of 70 men, and very clever too, all low Dutch. There are people on board from 25 different States and parts of the world, 12 different languages spoken, so that a person thinks it is something like the Tower of Babel.

We are getting good board, no reason to complain, but for all that, we are anxiously looking for land. I have been well all the way, not sick for an hour, but the weather has been very cold, only one warm day; for two days we had rain mixed with snow.

Henry Funk is very hearty, not sick for a minute, in fact he can eat like a hog, more in a day than I can in two. I think I will come to a close, will write again either from Hamburg or Cassel.

Tell William and Edmund to send J.M. Miller the teacher's superannuation fund, about $16.00 to $18.00 \endash it is mentioned in his statement.

I will give you a table of our voyage in miles, we made each day, say 24 hours. 1st day 209 miles, 2nd day, 255, 3rd day 260, 4th day 259, 5th day 277, 6th day 301, 7th day 286, 8th day 290, 9th day, 296, 10th day 302.

Dear family I hope you're all enjoying good health and getting along as usual; if anything should not go according to your wishes, it is my will that you will bear it patiently, bear in mind the sun does not always shine, there will be cloudy days too, even on high sea. I send my best wishes to you all, likewise to all my neighbours, and the Zurich Menner Choir. Michael Zeller

Gundershausen, July 5, 1980.

Dear Wife and Children: -
I am going to inform you that we arrived at Hamburg, June 30th, at Cassel July 2nd, Kirchhain July 3rd, I stopped first at William's brother's lodging. Today I have been at Gundershausen. William's mother was here yesterday, they are all well and healthy and I have been received as a Gentleman wherever I was. I also saw the house and was in it, N. Deichart, Nich's father, in Neidersfleiden, in which they lived. Tomorrow I am going to leave for Mrs. Jeidow's brother, and then for Alsfelt, Frankfort and home. I will write you again before I sail for home. I cannot tell you what I saw and how I felt seeing a community I left 44 years ago. William's mother, brother and sister are all well yet, and they gave me good treatment, so much so we ate 6 meals every day, I will close and tell you everything personally. Hoping you are well yet. Tell Mrs. Wing that I have been at her brother's house several times. He is a Burgomeister of Neidersfleiden, he seems to be a nice man. Tomorrow I am going to Alsfeld and Frankford and after that, to my house in Bavaria.

Michale Zeller

" Michael Zeller (1825-1903) - Find A Grave...". Findagrave.Com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79302028/michael-zeller.

Michael married Clarissa Liebler 8 Jul 1851, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Clarissa (daughter of Peter Liebler and Mary Main) was born 22 Mar 1835, , Ontario, Canada; died 15 Dec 1904, Zurich, Hay Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Luther Cemetery, Zurich, Huron, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Leopold Zeller
• Name: Theobold Zeller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-269921P
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Directory: 1864, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 01, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

Theobold is reported to been born in Hütschenhausen, Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, documentation needed.

Johann — Anna Margaretha "Margaret" Zimmer. Anna was born CALC 17 Jul 1797, , Germany; died 26 Oct 1877, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Margaretha "Margaret" Zeller
• Name: Margaret Zimmer
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-269922P
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

1871 - Margaret Zeller is staying with Ludwig Riehm.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-28061

Johann — Maria Elizabeth Lisette Stuber. Maria was born Abt 1766; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Elizabeth Lisette Zeller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-97341