Alice Betzner

Other Events:

• Name: Alice Stutt
• Eby ID Number: 00016-0969
• Residence: 1883, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Alice Betzner "was born October 8th, 1863. She is married to James Stutt and resides in West Flamboro, Wentworth County, Ontario."

Alice married William James Stutt 4 Oct 1883, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. William (son of James Stutt and Jane) was born 7 Feb 1858, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

1. Gordon Stutt was born 5 Aug 1885, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Gertrude Stutt was born 22 Sep 1888, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
3. Alberta Stutt was born 7 May 1893, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
4. James Stutt was born 17 Jul 1898, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00006-0966

Notes:

Jacob Betzner "son of David Betzner (See No. 913), was born in Flamboro West, Wentworth County, where he was married October 4th, 1852, to Lydia, daughter of Henry and Nancy (Bricker) Clemens. She was born in Waterloo County, January 4th, 1831, and died December 4th, 1882. They resided in Flamboro West where he was engaged in farming until her death, then he retired from the farm and moved to Toronto where he has since resided. To them was born a family of three 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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 Lydia Clemens 4 Oct 1852, Flamboro West Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario. Lydia (daughter of Henry Lederach Clemens and Nancy Bricker) was born 28 Jun 1831, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 2 Dec 1882, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Lydia Betzner
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1892

Notes:

Lydia Clemens, "was born June 28th, 1831. She was married to Jacob Betzner, October 4th, 1852. They resided in West Flamboro Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, where she died December 2nd, 1882. Mr. Betzner now resides in Toronto. Their family consisted of three 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.].

__________________



!QUESTION: Lydia has two different birthdates in the book.

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51363762
• Residence: Flamboro West Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0913

Notes:

David Betzner, "the only son of Samuel D. and Elizabeth (Brech) Betzner, resided in Flamboro Township, Wentworth County, where he had a family of five sons whose descendants are resident of Wentworth County."

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.].

________

DIED In West Flamboro', on Tuesday, March 16th,

DAVID BETZNER, aged 85 years, 2 months and 9 days.

THE FUNERAL Will take place from the residence of J. W. Betzner, on Thursday, Mar. 18th, at 1.30 p. m., to the family burying ground.
After the interment a service will be held in the Methodist Church.

Friends and acquaintances will please accept this intimation. March 16, 1886.

Funeral Card

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00023-1863
• Occupation: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Sawyer
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada; farmer
• House of Industry and Refuge: 1876

Notes:

Henry L. Clemens, "was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, November 25th, 1802. He came to Canada when a young man. Here he was married to Nancy, daughter of John and Anna (Erb) Bricker. She was born at Blair November 25th, 1802, and died April 17, 1845. After her decease he was married to Elizabeth (born June 8th, 1816 and died May 5th, 1872), daughter of Sylvester Dodge and widow of Samuel Schlichter. He died at Berlin, June 17th, 1876. To him and his first wife were born nine children and with second wife there were 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.].

_________________

"It seemed as if the luck of the Clemens's family was ruined. In spite of all his natural talents, the father [Henry] became a squanderer and fell into vice. Later, he stopped drinking, claimed conversion, and was totally poor. He came to the children of his first wife in an insane condition and was taken to the poorhouse where he went totally mad."

Detweiler Meetinghouse, A History of Mennonites near Roseville, Ontario:

Henry — Nancy Bricker. Nancy (daughter of John Bricker and Anna "Nancy" Erb) was born 21 Nov 1802, Blair (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 17 Apr 1846, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nancy Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00016-1258

Notes:

Nancy Bricker," the second daughter of John and Annie Bricker, was born November 21st, 1802. She was married to Henry Clemens who was born November 24th, 1802, and died June 17th, 1876. She died April 17th, 1846. 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.].

Other Events:

• Interesting: pioneer, story
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0912
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Old Survey Lot 05, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Old Survey Lot 11, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 106W, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Samuel D. Betzner, "the second son, was born probably in 1770, and was married to Elizabeth Brech* . In 1799 he and his family in company with Joseph Schörg* and family, moved to Canada, and in spring of 1800 he settled on the farm now known as the "B. B. Bowman Farm" on the west bank of the Grand River and adjoining the village of Blair. He afterwards sold his farm to Rev. Joseph Baumann and moved to Flamboro West Wentworth County, where he died, leaving a family of several children, viz:* ".

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.].

* now spelled Break
* now spelled Shirk and Sherk. See notes pages 20, 21
* we have the names of only two, maybe there never were more

_________________________


"The Late Samuel Betzner"

A few biographical remarks in the reference to the well known Samuel Betzner of Flamborough West, who died on the 10th day of August, 1856, will, we are well assured, be highly acceptable to the majority of our readers. Samuel Betzner emigrated from the State of Pennsylvania to this province at the early period of 1799, in the month of October, and stopped in the township of Ancaster for the winter. He brought only a small capital with him, and we regret to say that small capital was reduced to almost nothing by the misfortune of having his house, with all its contents, not excepting his money, consumed by fire. But Mr. Betzner was one of those men not easily discouraged by trifles. The following spring he pressed his way through a total wilderness to the Township of Waterloo, and he may fairly be numbered among the first settlers of that important place. Without anything in truth that could be called a road-without a saw or grist mill nearer than Flamboro' West

Berlin Chronicle 27 Aug 1856

_________________________

BETZNER, SAMUEL D., settler and district constable; b. 1 March 1771 in Lancaster County, Pa, a son of Samuel Betzner (Bezner) and Maria Detweiler; m. before 1798 Elizabeth Brech, and they had a son and a daughter; d. 10 Aug. 1856 near Flamborough (West Flamborough), Upper Canada.

A native of Württemberg (Federal Republic of Germany), Samuel D. Betzner's father immigrated to North America in 1755 and settled in Franklin County, Pa. In the fall of 1799 Samuel D. and his brother-in-law Joseph Schörg left that county for the Jordan area of the Niagara district of Upper Canada, where a number of other Mennonites from Pennsylvania had already settled. Betzner spent the winter in Ancaster and that spring set out with Schörg to explore the valley of the Grand River, which had been recommended to them as being attractive for settlement by Jacob Bechtel, an earlier visitor. Proceeding by way of Brant's Ford (Brantford) they came to block 2 (Waterloo Township), which had been purchased in 1796 from the Six Nations Indians by Richard Beasley*, James Wilson, and John Baptist Rousseaux* St John.

In August 1800 Betzner bought from them land adjacent to the site of the village of Blair. A disastrous fire at Ancaster had destroyed most of his possessions but despite this misfortune he took steps to establish a farm on his chosen lot by clearing land and erecting buildings. Joseph Schörg settled near by, on the east bank of the Grand, and these two men are credited with being the first to establish homes in the area which became Waterloo County in 1850. They were followed by other Pennsylvania Mennonites who sought not only reasonably priced land for farms for their sons but also the continuation of the exemption from military service they had received under British rule before the American Revolutionary War. Most purchased their land from Richard Beasley, who had bought out the interests of Wilson and Rousseaux.

Early in 1803 it was reported that the land these later settlers had bought had been mortgaged by Beasley, Wilson, and Rousseaux to trustees for the Six Nations in 1798 and therefore the settlers would not be able to secure clear title. Betzner and Jacob Bechtel were engaged to go to Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake) where they learned to their consternation that the report was true. The matter was resolved when Beasley agreed in 1803 to sell to the Mennonites a parcel of 60,000 acres of land in block 2 for the sum of £10,000 to pay off the mortgage. The settlers sent representatives back to Pennsylvania, where they eventually persuaded a group of affluent co-religionists and other investors to form a joint-stock company, the German Company, to raise the purchase money. A number of the early settlers, including Betzner, who did not have the mortgage problem remained on their original lots and had no financial interest in the German Company.

A leading member of the Mennonite community, he was made a constable for the Home District in 1800 and was a charter member of the church formed by Benjamin Eby in 1813. In 1817, however, Betzner sold his farm in Waterloo Township and settled on lot 3, concession 1, in West Flamborough Township, where he spent the rest of his life. In 1828-29 he transferred title on this farm to his son, David.

Perhaps Betzner's only claim to recognition is as one of the earliest settlers in Waterloo County, where heavily forested lands were reached by trails that could scarcely be called roads. He is, nevertheless, representative of those pioneers who, through perseverance and industry, overcame disasters and hardships in order to establish productive farms for succeeding generations of their families.
Grace Schmidt

PAC, RG 1, L3, 33: B6/45; RG 31, A1, 1851, Flamborough (West) Township: 45 (mfm. at AO). Waterloo North Land Registry Office (Kitchener, Ont.), Abstract index to deeds, Waterloo Township, Beasley's old survey, concession 1, lot 5 (mfm. at AO, GS 3023); West Flamborough Township, concession 1, lot 3 (mfm. at AO, GS 1472). "Minutes of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the Home District, 13th March, 1800, to 28th December, 1811," AO Report, 1932: 44. Berlin Chronicle and Provincial Reformers' Gazette (Berlin [Kitchener]), 27 Aug. 1856. Laura Betzner Edworthy, The Betzner family in Canada: genealogical and historical records, 1799-1970 (n.p., n.d.; copies at AO and Kitchener Public Library). E. E. Eby, A biographical history of Waterloo Township . . . (2v., Berlin, 1895-96); repub. as E. E. Eby and J. B. Snyder, A biographical history of early settlers and their descendants in Waterloo Township, with Supplement, ed. E. D. Weber (Kitchener, 1971), 1. A. B. Sherk, "The Pennsylvania Germans of Waterloo County, Ontario," OH, 7 (1906): 98-109.

Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online 2000 University of Toronto/Université Laval

Samuel — Elizabeth Brech. Elizabeth was born 1 May 1768; died 17 Mar 1848, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Betzner Family Cemetery, Christies Corner, Flamborough, Wentworth, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Betzner
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0912.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00023-1829

Notes:

Jacob C. Clemens, "third son of Abraham and Catharine Clemens, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1754. He was married to Elizabeth Lederach. In 1776 he received eighty-two acres of his father's old homestead which he possessed for nine years. On June 30th, 1785, he sold his land to his brother, Abraham, and moved to Chester County to which place his brother George had moved several years previously. They resided in the vicinity of West Pikeland P. O., Chester County, Pennsylvania, where they both died. His death took place in 1819. To him and his wife, Elizabeth, was born 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 — Elizabeth Lederach. Elizabeth was born Abt 1754, Of, Chester Co., Pennsylvania; died , West Pikeland, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1829.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00016-1221
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Old Survey Lot 11, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 011, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 036, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

John Bricker," the eldest son of Peter Bricker, was born December 28th, and died February 19th, 1854. He was married to Anna, daughter of Christian and Mary (Scherch) Erb. She was born December 11th, 1774, and died October 13th, 1866. In 1802 they, with others, moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, near the village of Blair where he died. After his death the mother had her home with her son David who resided near Roseville where she died. They had a family of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy and are buried at Blair. There were three Johns, the first died, aged nearly nine years; the second was born a few weeks after the decease of the first; and after second's decease they named a third one John."


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.].

_______________________________

A-1-29 John Bricker Snr.: Last Will and Testament of John Bricker, Sen. of North Dumfries, deceased.

…I, John Bricker, senr., of the Township of Dumfries…make and publish this my Last Will and Testament. (First) I will that my funeral expenses and all my other debts, if there shall be any, be paid out of my estate as soon as can be after my decease. I will that my beloved wife Nancy shall have to live in the house which we now occupy during her natural life, and my son David Bricker shall keep a cow for my wife Nancy during her life, which cow he shall in every respect keep in the same manner as he keeps his own cows. I also give and bequeath unto my wife during her life, all my household furniture which I may be possessed of at my decease and that my beloved wife Nancy Bricker, shall yearly and every year as long as she lives, have Twenty five pounds, and if my wife Nancy shall through sickness or otherwise happen to need more than twenty five pounds, then my Executors shall give her so much more as will suffice to keep her comfortable. I will that all the above-mentioned bequests to my said wife shall be instead of her lawful Dower. And it is my will that the real and person property together with the five hundred dollars, together with all I have heretofore given and paid to my eldest son Peter Bricker, shall be taken, and the same really is, the whole share of my said son Peter Bricker's heirship by me bequeathed to him out of my real and personal estate. And it shall be considered, and it is so truly, that my said son Peter Bricker is, by his having receiv'd from me as before said, amply remunerated for which time he has worked for me, after he was twenty-one years of age. And I consider that my son David Bricker and my daughters Nancy and Susanna have their full share of heirship out of my real estate, in the land and their property which they have already received from me, for which reason I exclude them from any further share out of the same. I will that after the decease of myself and my wife, all the household furniture then belonging to my estate shall be equally divided between my three daughters, Mary, Magdalena and Lydia, except my Clock, which I have already given to my son David Bricker. I will that they residue of my real property of whatever kind or nature it may be, shall after the demise of myself and my wife be equally divided between my sons John and Abraham, and my daughters Mary, Magdalena and Lydia, share and share alike. Nevertheless I give, devise and bequeath all that legacy left to me by my brother Peter Bricker of Cumberland County, State of Pennsylvania, deceased, to be equally divided between my children now living likewise including my son Peter, and likewise the share that would have come to my daughter Nancy, if living shall be equally divided amongst all her children, share and share alike. I will that for the above legacy of my brother Peter Bricker, as said before, I have executed a power of Attorney to Wendell Bowman, Esq., and my son John Bricker to settle that part of my estate. And lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my son John Bricker and Samuel B, Bowman to be the lawful executors.

Witnessed by Benjamin D. Rosenberger and Jacob W. Detweiler.
Will dated: 10 January 1852
Proved and insinuated 1 March 1854
Inventory £550/-

Surrogate Court Records Copybook Register A 1853-1871 transcript to 1863. Frances Hoffman transcriber.

John — Anna "Nancy" Erb. Anna (daughter of Christian Erb and Maria Scherch) was born 11 Dec 1774, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania; died 13 Oct 1866, Roseville, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 16 Oct 1866, Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna "Nancy" Bricker
• Name: Annie Erb
• Name: Nancy Erb
• Eby ID Number: 00016-1221.1
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

In Wilmot, Waterloo Co., C. W, at the residence of Abraham Bricker, son of the deceased, on the 14th October, Nancy, wife of the late John Bricker, at the advanced age of 91 years, 10 months, and 2 days. She came from Cumberland Co., Pa., to Canada in the Spring of 1802, and lived here, respected by all, to the day of her death. She was a sister of Daniel and Jacob Erb, to whom the German Company Tract of Waterloo Township was deeded in 1865, also of Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo Village. She was buried on the 16th in the old burying-ground in the village of Blair. This is the oldest piece of ground selected for burying purposes in Waterloo, and she was the one who made the selection. Sixty-two years ago, while her husband was away to the States, one of her sons died, and as there was no place to bury the dead she went up to the hill, a little distance from where they were then living, and found an open little little(sic) place where she decided to bury her dead. She planted a tree at the foot of the little grave which tree is now about ten inches in diameter. She herself gave ground for a public cemetery, and for that reason wished to be buried there. Moses Bowman and Daniel Wismer officiated on the occasion. Only one or two are still living who came to Canada so early as the deceased.- Waterloo Chronicle

Herald of Truth November 1866 - Vol. III, No. 11 Page 92