Mayor Titus Geer Simons Nevills

Other Events:

• Interesting: politics, life story, mill
• Name: Titus Geer Simons Neville
• Eby ID Number: 00032-2801.1
• Occupation: 1850, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; merchant, miller, carder, fuller & spinner
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; miller and merchant
• Elected Office: 1858, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Reeve/Mayor
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Business: 1862, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Dry good store, woollen manufacturer
• Occupation: 1871, Ailsa Craig, Middlesex Co., Ontario, Canada

Notes:

"The Sheriff is in charge of T.G.S. Nevills' store, Ailsa Craig. The last seen of the "Old War Horse" was aboard the ferry between Sarnia and Port Huron, where he was overheard humming the well-known lines from Nancy Lee about, 'The sailor's wife the sailor's star shall be, Away with me across the sea.'"

London Advertiser July 18 1881

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Death of T.J.G. Nevils

"Sunday evening last, about 5 o'clock, the dead body of Mr. Nevils was discovered by some of his neighbors, through his bedroom window, the door having previously been tried but found fastened. After the fact of his death became known, the door was forced and the proper officers summoned to take action. Mr. Nevils lived in a house on the Duncan road, near the residence of J.B. McArthur, and carried on the business of a tailor and repairer of garments, and for some time had lived alone in the house. The jury impanelled returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death from natural causes. J.H. Tuttle, the undertaker, took charge of the body, telegraphing to the dead man's friends the facts in the case. The disease that carried him off is claimed by some to have been dropsy and by others to have been Bright's disease. Two sons of the deceased arrived Monday from Vassar, and preparations made for burial. He was buried in the village cemetery Tuesday afternoon.".'"

"The Cheboygan Democrat" Thursday, March 18, 1886

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Built second grist mill in New Hamburg; according to E.W.B. Snider, Neville had a sawvmill and a flour mill which operated for some time, but eventually "the water freshets made conditions very unfortunate, destroying mill dam and damaging buildings, so that where formerly a thriving busines was done, today there is barely a trace left of the industries:

Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 6 pg 29

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The first name of the place was Cassel, but was shortly changed to New Hamburg. Wm. Scott was one of the most prominent among the pioneer business men. He, about 1834, became possessed of a lot of land and a grist mill. Most, if not all of this property, he purchased from Absolom Schade. According to some one Goschman was the builder and first proprietor of the mill. Scott added a saw mill and distillery, the little group of buildings being located just at the rear of where the Wm. Tell Block now stands. Later a woollen mill was erected on the site of the distillery. Meantime, Charles Kirkpatrick opened the first general store and other tradesmen followed. T. G. S. Neville was the second merchant, following Kirkpatrick in 1835. Neville also built a grist mill and established a second woollen mill. He became the owner of considerable land and was a leading figure for some years, becoming the village's first reeve in 1858. In 1852 Scott erected the large four-story frame flour mill, still familiar to nearly everyone, as it was burned down only six years ago. In 1837 a second visitation of cholera epidemic dealt the place a severe blow. These are, in the main, the facts in connection with the earliest, history of New Hamburg. The names and occupations of a few of the other . early settlers are herewith given in the hope that they may prove of some interest.

Special Industrial souvenir number of New Hamburg: containing a comprehensive review of the natural advantages and resources of the village of New Hamburg, 1908, Berlin Daily News, Berlin, Ontario
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Titus was named after Titus Geer Simons after his father's commanding officer in the War of 1812 and was reported to have been born in West Flamborough, Wentworth Co., Ontario. He served on Waterloo County Council in the years 1858-1864.

Titus married Margaret Erb 1842. Margaret (daughter of Samuel Erb and Mary Lewis) was born 11 Jul 1822, About Two Miles South-East Of Berlin, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 24 Oct 1909, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

1. Malissa Rhuhamah Nevills was born 13 Feb 1843, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 10 Nov 1843, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. William Henry Nevills was born 17 Aug 1844, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 20 Nov 1913, Gaylord, Otsego, Michigan, USA.
3. Mary Samantha Nevills was born 20 Jul 1846, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 31 Dec 1892, Parkdale, York Co., Ontario; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
4. John Neville was born 1847, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
5. John Emery Neville was born 1 Jul 1848, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Jun 1908, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
6. Samuel Nelson Nevills was born 28 Oct 1850, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 13 Aug 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
7. Titus Geer Simons Nevills, Jr. was born 2 Jun 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 4 Sep 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.