Elizabeth Bechtel

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Groh
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0669
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1885, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Elizabeth Bechtel "was born January 29th, 1863, and died May 24th, 1889. She was married to Jonathan Groh. She left no family."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

Elizabeth married Jonathan Groh 10 Mar 1885, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Jonathan (son of Reeve Isaac Groh and Mary S. Wanner) was born 29 Nov 1860, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 13 Feb 1946, Gravenhurst, Muskoka Twp., Muskoka District, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0664
• 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; --
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Solomon Bechtel "was born on the farm on which he now resides, June 29th, 1828. On November 3rd, 1850, he was married to Esther, daughter of Jesse and Margaret (Miller) Clemens. She was born April 15th, 1830. They reside at Hespeler on the old "Bechtel" farm. Their family consists 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

Solomon married Esther Clemens 3 Nov 1850. Esther (daughter of Jesse M. Clemens and Margaret Miller) was born 15 Apr 1830, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 9 Jan 1905, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Esther Bechtel
• Name: Hester Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1674
• 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
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Hester Clemens, "the youngest daughter of Jesse and Margaret (Miller) Clemens, was born April 15th, 1830. She is married to Solomon Bechtel. They reside near Hespeler where a family of six children was born unto them"


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.].


In 1901 Esther lived with her son Jesse in Waterloo Township, Waterloo, Ontario.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0648
• Historic Building: CONSTRUCTED About 1815, 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; squared timber (about 1815) & stone after 1840
• Land: 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 2 Lot 08, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Residence: 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Old Survey Lot 02, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Samuel Bechtel "son of Joseph and Magdalena (Allenbach) Bechtel, was born January 24th, 1791, and died February 21st, 1861. He was married to Barbara, daughter of Wendel and Mary (Huber) Baumann. She was born January 17th, 1799. They resided on the farm now occupied by their son Solomon, situated in the township of Waterloo, near Hespeler. Their family consisted 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.].

________________________

Wanner Mennonite Church
Begun: 1829

A small wooden meeting house was built in 1829 on a corner of the farm belonging to Samuel Bechtel which was located in the vicinity of the present-day regional headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources near the intersection of Highways 24 and 401. The site for this community meeting house, as well as a school and a burial ground, had been chosen on August 8, 1829. The land was donated by Samuel Bechtel and his wife Barbara (Baumann) on March 15, 1830. A new meeting house, of white brick, was built in 1837 on the east side of Henry Wanner's farm, somewhat north of the first meeting house. Meetings at first were held every eight weeks. The deed of land for the meeting house known as Wanner's was dated October 15, 1837. Early preachers were David Sherk, who had been ordained by Benjamin Eby in July 1837, Jacob Bretz, Jr., and Joseph Hagey.

Joseph Hagey was ordained bishop in 1851. During his time divisions occurred in the church by a surge of enthusiasm for a Methodist form of revivalism. Solomon Eby of Port Elgin, who announced his own conversion in December 1869, was leader of a group which believed that members could be converted through participation in revival meetings. John Baer of Wanner's became associated with Solomon Eby, and was compelled to leave the church in the spring of 1874, as were Eby and his other followers. The new church movement resulted in organization conferences which culminated in the conference on March 23, 1875 at Bloomingdale where New Mennonites and Reforming (or Reformed) Mennonites joined together as United Mennonites. The United Mennonites favored revival meetings, Sunday Schools and prayer meetings, and were opposed to the use of alcohol and tobacco.

The date of construction of the meeting house which replaced the one built in 1837 is somewhat in doubt. It is possible that a new building was erected in the early 1870s; it is also possible that the 1837 building only underwent extensive renovations at that time. There is no doubt, however, that a new brown brick church was built in 1938. An education wing was added in 1969.

The earliest Mennonite Sunday School in North America was begun in 1842 and was held jointly by the Wanner and Hagey Meeting Houses. It was discontinued after a short time because of a division of opinion within the congregations. An attempt was made later, in the mid-1860s, to begin another Sunday School, but this, too, did not last long. Many years later, on June 10, 1896, a meeting was held to organize a Sunday School. Anson Groh was appointed superintendent..

Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

Samuel — Barbara Bauman. Barbara (daughter of Wendel Bauman and Maria Huber) was born 17 Jan 1799, Alleghany Valley, Berks Co., Pennsylvania; died 7 Jun 1871; was buried , Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Barbara Bechtel
• Eby ID Number: 00002-32
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Barbara Baumann, "the fourth daughter of Wendel Baumann, was born January 17th, 1799 and died June 7th 1871. She was married to Samuel Bechtel. They resided in Waterloo County near Preston. They had 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.].

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29444043
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1634
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jesse Clemens, second son of Abraham and Rebecca (Miller) Clemens, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, June 12th 1791. In 1809 he came to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, near Hespeler. He was married in 1813 to Margaret Miller, who was born in July, 1789, and died October 18th, 1861. They resided on the farm now in possession of Noah Scheirich, about three miles north-east of Preston where they commenced to farm soon after their marriage. 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.].

__________

Clemens, - on the 6th of January, in Waterloo Co. Ont., of the infirmities of old age and dropsy, Bro Jesse Clemens, aged 90 yrs.,6 mos. and 24 days. he was born in Chester Co.Pa in 1791 and was a faithful member (sp) of the Mennonite Church. He bore his bodily afflictions with great patience, and showed an unbroken faith in Christ to the end. He was buried in Hagey's burying ground. services in English and German by J. Woolner.

Herald of Truth - April 15, 1882 - page 125,126

Jesse married Margaret Miller 1813. Margaret (daughter of John Miller and Hester Steiner) was born 1789, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 18 Oct 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29445358
• Name: Margaret Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00079-4779
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Margaret Miller, "daughter of John and Hester (Steiner) Miller and sister to Magdalena, was born in 1789, and was married, in 1813, to Jessie M. Clemens who was born June 12, 1791, and died January 6th, 1882. They resided north-east of Preston, on the farm now possessed by Noah Shiry. Here she died October 18th, 1861. See No. 1634. (Could not ascertain whether Magdalena and Margaret Miller were any relation to I Jacob Miller."

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/19546720
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Location of his log house.
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Joseph Bechtel "son of Martin Bechtel, a minister of the Mennonites, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1761. He was married March 5th, 1786, to Magdalena Allebach who was born September 21st, 1761, and died September 21st, 1837. They moved to Canada in 1802 and settled on the farm situated at the mouth of the Speed River where it meets with the Grand River. Here they resided many years. In 1804 he was ordained as a minister of the Mennonite body which position he held until his death which took place April 11th, 1838. They had 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.].

________________________

Preston (Bechtel or Hagey) Mennonite Church

The second meeting house in Waterloo County was built, probably in 1814, by John Erb, a wealthy miller of Preston. This brick meeting house served as a community church and was located "near Jacob Hagey's", which was on the road running from the top of the Kress Hill west and "adjoining the Kitchener Highway" (Witmer 1967: 26). Another meeting house, known as the Union Meeting House, was built in the area around 1824. A meeting was held in the Union church on November 20, 1824 to commence recording the accounts of the congregation in Hagey's Deacon Book. The deed of land for the Union Meeting House and burial ground, which was for one acre of part Lot 22, Beasley's Broken Front, was transacted in 1835.

Hagey Meeting House was buiilt of red brick in 1842 on part Lot 23, just north of Preston on the west side of the Breslau Road, and slightly north of the Union Meeting House site. The deed, dated February 2, 1842, recorded the purchase of the land from John Hilborn and stressed that the property was to be for "the purpose of public worship by the Mennonist Society" (Witmer 1967: 28). Joseph Bechtel was the first minister in the area, from 1804-1837; he was followed by David Sherk (1838-1843). Next came Joseph Hagey (1844-1877), who was ordained bishop in 1851, and then Jacob B. Gingrich from 1878 to 1901. Services were held every four weeks until 1890 when bi-weekly services were begun. A Sunday School was established in 1842 with the congregation of Wanner Meeting House near Hespeler, but it was discontinued because of a difference of opinion regarding the need for Sunday Schools. On April 26, 1891 a Sunday School was organized at Hagey's, with deacon Abraham Oberholtzer as superintendent. Five years later, on June 10, 1896, a Sunday School was organized at the Wanner church.

Major changes were made to the church building in 1927-1928 when the basement was excavated, new windows were installed and the roof was raised two feet. Fire on January 15, 1950 caused extensive damage to the interior and furnishings of the church. The building was completely renovated and also enlarged at the same time; dedication was on July 2, 1950. Another fire, on Feburary 19, 1953, completely destroyed the church. A congregational decision was made to build a new church, on Concession Road in Preston, and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, October 12, 1953. Official dedication services in the new Preston Mennonite Church were held on May 16, 1954. The building was enlarged in the summer of 1989.

Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

Residence:
The current building contains some original logs from the home.

Joseph married Magdalena Allebach 5 Mar 1786. Magdalena was born 21 Sep 1765, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 21 Sep 1837, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546759
• Name: Magdalena Bechtel
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.2

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00002-25

Notes:

Wendel Baumann, "the third son of Christian Baumann, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 25th, 1758. He resided in the house built by his father in 1749. Here he died November 20th, 1842. He was married to Maria Huber, who was born May 20th, 1760, and died April 20th, 1816. They had a family of eight 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.].

Wendel — Maria Huber. Maria was born 20 May 1760, Of, Alleghany Valley, Berks Co., Pennsylvania; died 20 Apr 1816. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Bauman
• Eby ID Number: 00002-25.1

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39091890
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1619
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 3 Lot 09, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 3 Lot 10, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Abraham Clemens, " was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1764. He was married to Rebecca Miller who was born in 1763 and died in 1819. They moved to Canada in 1809 and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario. near Hespeler, where he died in 1819. To them were born eight 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.].

______________________________________________


WARNING: In my view (Jim McKane), the preponderance of the evidence suggests that at least the first 5 of Abraham's children were born to Rebecca Miller and the last one, two, or three of his children to Mary Custer. Hannah and Elizabeth could have been the last children of Rebecca (and I have listed them this way) or the first two children of Mary. Apparently all the children were born in Chester Co., PA before Abraham and his second wife moved to Canada. But I have no primary sources to confirm the dates of the two marriages or which wife was the mother of each child.

Abraham — Rebecca Miller. Rebecca (daughter of Miller) was born 15 Feb 1763, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 1819, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250518525
• Name: Mary Miller
• Name: Rebecca Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00079-4777

Notes:

Rebecca Miller, "sister to John Miller and aunt to II Magdalena, II Christian, and II William Miller, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1763. She was married to Abraham Clemens who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1764, and died near Hespeler, in 1819. In 1809 they moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario, near Hespeler where she died in 1819, being the same year in which her husband died." [this is apparently in error, the tombstone and family bible indicate it was Mary who died in 1819 and was born in 1763]


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: 00079-4778.2

John — Hester Steiner. Hester was born CA 1775, Of, Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Hester Miller
• Eby ID Number: 00079-4778.3