Levi Sitler

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00114-7228.3

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00114-7228
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Teacher
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Solomon Sitler, "was born June 2nd, 1838. He resides on a farm in Wallace Township, Perth County, Ontario, and is married to Mary Ann Clemens. They have a family of eleven 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

Solomon married Mary Ann Clemens 24 Jul 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of John Bricker Clemens and Nancy Groff) was born 23 May 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Ann Sitler
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1866

Notes:

Mary Ann Clemens, "was born May 23, 1845. She is married to Solomon Sitler. They reside in Wallace Township, Perth County, Ontario, where he is engaged in farming. To them are 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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:

• Eby ID Number: 00114-7227
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 011, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer

Notes:

Jacob Sitler, "son of Martin and Elizabeth Sitler, was born in Columbus, Ohio, August 2nd, 1817. On November 14th, 1837, he was married to Rachel Clemmer who was born December 15th, 1816. They resided on the farm now in possession of Moses Bearinger where she died April 24th, 1895. He died December 15th, 1857. They had a family of six 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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 Rachel Clemmer 14 Nov 1837. Rachel (daughter of Henry M. Clemmer and Sarah Bergey) was born 15 Dec 1816, Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; died 24 Apr 1895; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Rachel Sitler
• Eby ID Number: 00024-1922
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Rachel Clemmer, "was born December 15th, 1816. On November 14th, 1837, she was married to Jacob Sitler. They resided on the farm now possessed by Moses Bearinger, her son-in-law, with whom she has her home. She is still hardy and quite active. She had a family of six 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:

• Misfortune: mental condition
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1864

Notes:

John B. Clemens, "was born April 2nd, 1822. On January 31st, 1843 he was married to Nancy Groff who was born October 5th, 1822. He died in the Toronto Asylum in November, 1879. 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.].

______________

Nancy Groff was married to John Bricker Clemens, born April 2, 1822, in Waterloo County, Upper Canada, he died at Rockwood Asylum, Portsmouth, Frontenac County, Canada, August 14, 1879. He had been incarcerated for four years there and was previously resident in Kingston Penitentiary. In January 1880 she married the widower, John Eby, 1814-1899.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147500344/nancy-huber-clemens
________________

During the mid 1800's before the construction of the Rockwood Asylum for the Criminally Insane, Kingston Penitentiary was overrun with mentally ill and criminally insane inmates. To solve this problem, The Rockwood Criminal Lunatic Asylum was built on the shores of Lake Ontario, close to the penitentiary and built by the prisoners themselves. Construction began in 1859 and although it was not completed until 1870, men began to occupy portions of the building as early as 1862. Female prisoners were admitted during this time period and lived in the old horse stables that remained from when the property was a private villa. In 1868, the female inmates were also moved inside. Once completed, the asylum housed 300 patients.

This was the criteria an inmate had to meet to be transferred to Rockwood Criminal Lunatic Asylum:

1. Convicts in the penitentiary becoming insane while under sentence there.
2. Certain classes of lunatics committed to jail as lunatics dangerous to be at large.
3. Persons charged with some offence of which they had been acquitted on the ground that they were insane at the time such offence was committed.
4. Persons indicted for any offence, and upon arraignment thereof found, by a jury especially impanelled for the purpose, to be insane.
Patients wore distinctive canvas uniforms bearing the word LUNATIC. The medical goal in the mid 1800s was not to cure criminal lunatics, but rather to calm them. Chloral hydrate and alcohol were used to pacify patients, and they were also often bled. Dr. Litchfield, the only physician at Rockwood at the time, had a simple treatment plan that relied heavily upon "a pretty free use of alcohol by day and sedative by night." Treatment also involved restraints, blistering, leeching, enemas, and blood-letting.

https://www.ontariogenealogy.com/kingstoninsaneasylum.html

John married Nancy Groff 31 Jan 1843. Nancy (daughter of Andrew Groff and Annie Huber) was born 5 Oct 1822, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 8 Nov 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nancy Clemens
• Name: Nancy Eby
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3350
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Nancy Groff, "the third daughter of old Andrew Groff, was born October 5th, 1822. On January 31st, 1843, she was married to John B. Clemens who was born April 2nd, 1822, and died in the Toronto Asylum in 1879. After his decease the widow was married to John Eby, January 29th, 1880. They reside on Frederick Street, Berlin."


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: 00114-7203.2

Martin — Elizabeth Yarian. Elizabeth was born 3 Feb 1775, , Berks Co., Pennsylvania; died , Ohio. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Sitler
• Eby ID Number: 00114-7203.3

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20746045
• Eby ID Number: 00024-1917
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone of Henry M. Clemmer
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 111, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 1 Lot 04, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; yeoman
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Henry M. Clemmer, "son of Abraham, was born in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1783, and died August 13th, 1866. In 1806 he was married to Sarah Bergey who was born in March, 1786, and died April 7th, 1867. They, in company with others, moved to Canada and arrived at old Christian Shantz's, one mile south-east of Berlin, in May, 1822. During the summer he purchased from H. Lamb, a farm situated near Preston. On this place he resided until 1837 when he made a deal with Christian Erb, exchanging this place for one of over two hundred acres, situated two miles north of the town of Waterloo. Here they resided until their deaths. They had a family of eight children, all of which were born in Franconia Township except John, the youngest, who was born in Canada."


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.].

Henry married Sarah Bergey 1806. Sarah (daughter of Isaac Bergey and Veronica Hunsberger) was born Mar 1786, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 7 Apr 1867, Waterloo City, 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/21078264
• Name: Sallie Bergey
• Name: Saloma Bergey
• Name: Sarah Clemmer
• Eby ID Number: 00004-851
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Sallie Bergey," was married to Henry M. Clemmer. Her descendants are all in Canada."


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: 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:

• Name: Andreas Groff
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3340
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 007, Waterloo County, Ontario
• 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
• Residence: Bef 1865, Lititz, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Andrew Groff, "son of John and Anna (Moyer) Graff, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, April 18th, 1793. His boyhood days were spent in acquiring a business education which proved of great benefit to him in later years. At the age of seventeen he made choice of the milling business as the most pleasing to his taste. His first years of apprenticeship were served in Earl Township where he remained until 1822 when he was induced by others to seek his fortune either in the West or in Canada. Being persuaded by one Joseph Mosser and others who were on the point of leaving for Canada, to join in with their company, he came to Waterloo in the fall of 1822 and found everything most satisfactory. As he was a miller by trade, old Abraham Erb wanted him to take charge of his grist mills which he intended to do after moving to Canada. After being here a short time and making arrangements to move to Canada he started again for Pennsylvania. Arriving at home in safety and spending a few weeks in visiting friends, he then set out for his new home. He left Pennsylvania with his wife and family of four children and made the trip to Canada in seventeen days. On his arrival at Waterloo in November, 1822, he was engaged by Abraham Erb to work on the saw mill where he remained three weeks, after which he entered the employ of Mr. Shade of Galt where he remained for nearly two years, and acquired a considerable amount of cash. He then purchased 200 acres of land half way between Preston and Galt and in a few years he was the proprietor of a store, tavern, grist mill, saw mill, and distillery, from all of which he soon realized quite a fortune, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the county. In 1848 he sold this property and purchased the farm of the late David Erb, north of the town of Waterloo, now in possession of his son Jacob. During the close of his life he lived on the place now possessed by Mr. F. Scheifle, a little to the north of the town of Waterloo. Here he died May 11th, 1877. He was married in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1815, to Annie, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Reist) Huber. She was born October 15th, 1795, and died in Waterloo County, Ontario, September 19th, 1865. They had 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.].

_________________________________-


SAMUEL GROFF. PRESIDENT NORTH WEST BUTTON CO.

Mr. Samuel Groff, though not a native born Berliner, still is a son of the fine old County of which Berlin is the chief town. He comes of Pennsylvania German stock. His grand father was Andrew Groff who learned the trade of Miller in his home state-Pennsylvania. In 1822 he came to Waterloo and after a few years spent there and at Galt, he acquired a large tract of land near Preston, where he carried on farming, saw-milling, a grist mill, store, hotel and distillery and became one of the wealthiest men in the county. His eldest son, Isaac, was the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born near Freeport in 1847. He early entered mercantile life in the late J. Hoffman's store and was one of the earlier merchants in Berlin. He was head of the firm Groff and Hymmen for many years, a house that was among the largest in the county. Several years ago, he went to Winnipeg and at present he is president of the North West Button Co.2^a


Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir
_______________________________________________________

From the Region of Waterloo Hall of Fame website.

The name of Groff in Waterloo in the nineteenth century was associated with the raising of Shorthorn cattle.

Andrew Groff of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, settled in 1822 on 170 acres at the location of the Galt Country Club. He later owned a grist mill, general store, tavern and a distillery. In the 1840s the family moved to Waterloo where his sons and grandsons, with outstanding success, bred and raised Shorthorn cattle.

A Knight of Warlaby, imported from Scotland, proved to be an outstanding sire. A son, A Baron of Waterloo," in 1882 was Grand Champion at the leading Canadian show at Kingston. In 1886 he was champion at Guelph. He was then sold to the Hon. George Brown. This bull sired what was probably the best show herd in Canada, winning awards on the American and Canadian show circuits. The Groffs were justifiably proud of their reputation as Shorthorn breeders.

Andrew married Annie Huber 1815, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. Annie (daughter of Samuel Huber and Elizabeth Reist) was born 15 Oct 1795, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 19 Sep 1865, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Annie Groff
• Eby ID Number: 00044-3340.1
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite