Robert Roderick Fraser

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-142190

Robert — Miriam Boughner. Miriam was born 1923. [Group Sheet]

1. Anne Fraser was born , Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died CA 2009, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-126886

Johnathan — Mabel E. Stewart. Mabel (daughter of Ernest John Stewart and Martha Mabel Fennell) was born May 1896, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1960; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mabel E. Fraser
• Name: Mabel E. McCulloch
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-187003
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Student, High School
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-186959
• Occupation: 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Banker

Ernest married Martha Mabel Fennell 3 Apr 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Martha (daughter of John Fennell and Alicia Jackson) was born 24 Jul 1870, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 13 Sep 1922, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Martha Mabel Stewart
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138257
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-461544

John — Marie. Marie died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Marie Stewart
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-461545

Other Events:

• Business: John Fennell Hardware, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Business: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; John Fennell - Coal, Iron, and Hardware Merchant
• Interesting: business, building, public service, life story,
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-32263
• Residence: 1864, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Business: 1867, Kiddomhill, Eskdalemuir, , Dumfries, Scotland; John Fennell Iron Monger, oils, saws,cutlery, plated ware, paint, glass, etc.
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Elected Office: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; councillor - Kitchener
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Possessions: 29 Jun 1887, 46 Ahrens St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Grantee
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Hardware Merchant
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Residence: 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Hardware Merchant
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant
• Residence: 1911, 125 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Employer: 1912, Ecomonical Fire Insurance Company, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; director of Economical Fire Insurance Company
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Storekeeper, Hardware
• Residence: 1921, 125 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England

Notes:

MR. JOHN FENNELL.

ONE OF BERLIN'S SUCCESSFUL AND PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS.

On June 1st, 1863, a young hardware merchant arrived in Berlin from the neighboring town of Stratford. He came well equipped for his life's work. For he knew that success in business life is attained only by a strict adherence to sound principles, by industry and by unvarying attention. These were resolutions well taken and their fruit is seen today in the large wholesale and retail business of John Fennell & Son, for it is the gentleman at the head of this firm to whom reference is made. Mr. Fennell was born in Cobourg in 1837 and by a happy coincidence his natal day this year falls on the last day of the Old Boys' Re-union, Aug. 8th. He was educated at Victoria College Cobourg and chose a business career. His connection with Berlin had been a long and honorable one. When he came here Berlin had a population of about 2700 and Waterloo about 1700. The latter was however the better business place. Berlin however kept growing and a few years later was incorporated as a town. Naturally a man of Mr. Fennell's ability and energy has been called upon to fill positions of public trust. This he always did with credit to himself and general satisfaction to the public. For 24 years he was a member of the Public School Board and chairman for several years. During this period the Central School increased from 8 to 12 rooms and the four ward schools were completed.

Mr. Fennell took a keen interest in politics and recalls the fierce battle of 1878 when the National Policy shot its roots so deeply into Canadian soil that they have never since been eradicated. "He was President of the Liberal-Conservative Association of North Waterloo at that time. To quote his own -words, it was a "red hot battle fought with honest weapons by both sides. The tricks of today were not even thought of". The result was a triumph, for the Conservative party. Though never seeking public honors, Mr. Fennell was upon a largely signed requisition prevailed upon to contest the mayoralty in 1885. He had given excellent service in the Town Council for years and was a "progressive." Unfortunately for his candidature, a long line of English speaking mayors had occupied the chief magistrate's office, and in a three cornered contest he was defeated, the feeling being that a German should be honored. The following year the Berlin Board of Trade was incorporated. He became its first President and prepared the by-laws as they stand today. He was also one of the five applicants for a charter for the Berlin-Preston Street Railway now in successful operation. Brought up in the Anglican Communion, Mr. Fennell's activities have also extended to church affairs He has been church warden of St. John's church for many years and has been elected by this congregation as their representative to the Synod of the Diocese of Huron for some 35 years past. In this capacity he has assisted in the election of three Bishops, viz.: The late Bishops Helmuth and Baldwin and the present incumbent, Bishop Williams. Kindred organizations have, too, benefitted by his sympathy and aid. Mr. Fennell's business career is well known to all. After his coming to Berlin the hardware trade was largely transferred from Waterloo to Berlin. Associated with him is his son Jas. P., who has acted as buyer for many years and who assumes a large portion of the burden of the business. The firm import heavily from England, Germany, and the United States, although Canadian manufacturers are supplying more and more of the trade, especially in certain staple lines. When the Economical Mutual Fire Ins. Co. was organized in 1872, Mr. Fennell was one of the charter members. He has been on the Board of Directors ever since and for the last four years has been president. He is also a Justice of the Peace.

Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir

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John Fennell, Hardware King Street - One of the most successful business men in the town of Berlin to-day is Mr. John Fennell, hardware merchant, whose establishment is located on King Street. The premises occupied are 25x100 feet in dimensions and three stories in height; also three warehouses in rear covering 28x100 feet and one story in height, for the storage of heavy iron, nails, woodenware, plaster of Paris, etc.; and another warehouse near the railroad station for the storage of oils; also a coal yard, located near the station. The business was established in 1863 by Mr. Fennell, and since that time the trade has been rapidly and constantly growing. In his extensive warehouse he carries a large stock of hardware, shelf-hardware, heavy irons, carriage hardware, cutlery, etc. He gives employment to eight competent assistants, but personally supervises his entire business. He also uses five teams, the trade extending through the town and extensive sections of the surrounding country. Mr. Fennell was born in Cobourg, Ontario on the 8^th of August, 1837. After passing through the public schools of the district he went to Victoria College, and thereafter learned the hardware business. Mr. Fennell, on the formation of the Berlin Board of Trade, last May, was elected President, and in honouring Mr. Fennell the members honoured themselves and made a most wise choice, for he has been educated in the best of all schools for such a position as he occupies on the Board, namely, practical business, in which he has achieved such unqualified success. He has also held positions of honor and trust in the Council and School Board, and has been for a number of years President of the Liberal-Conservative Association of the North Riding of Waterloo. He is a gentleman of sterling worth.


Industries of Canada Historical and Commercial Sketches Hamilton and Environs 1886

___________________________

John Fennell founded a retail and wholesale hardware enterprise here in 1863, and leased quarters in the Victoria block from J. A. Mackie. Mr. Fennell was one of the first coal merchants in the town. He admitted his son James P. to a partnership and they were for many years lessees of premises in the Royal Bank block. Mr. Fennell, Sr., was the first President of the Board of Trade and for thirty years President of the Economical. In 1923, after his death, the assets and good will of their business were sold by James P. Fennell to C. N. Weber and his father, Karl Weber. The new owners bought the former Randall & Roos block at 66 S. Queen Street and incorporated the Weber Hardware Company Ltd. As retailers and wholesalers, the company specializes in mill supplies, builders' hardware, mechanics' tools, blacksmith and garage supplies, paints, electrical lines, and sporting goods. Hardware figures largely in living, farming, and manufacturing. It is a far cry from the articles of wood and plain materials used by our grandfathers to the present day. In 1863, Mr. Fennell imported most of his hardware. Afterward some lines were made in Canada. In the multiplicity of changes that have taken place in the last seventy-five years, science and technology have put everything on a technical plane, assuring not only improvement but uniformity of manufacture. The Weber Hardware Company has kept pace with that progress. The territory covered by their travellers has a radius of 150 miles, whilst by means of a large catalogue they serve customers from Vancouver to Halifax.

History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937, pg 157

_________________

JOHN FENNELL

St. John's Anglican Church was filled with friends and relatives who paid final tribute to John Fennell, whose death occurred on Wednesday. The body was lying in state from 10 o'clock this morning until the time of the funeral services at 3 o'clock. Rev. H. M. Lang-Ford, rector of the church, conducted the impressive services. The pall-bearers were Messrs. J. H. Dobbie, K. G. Barrie, D. S. Bowlby, P. Hymmen, Geo. 0. Potter and Capt. E. A. Snow. The directors of the Economical Fire Insurance Company acted as honorary pall-bearers. Interment took place at Mount Hope Cemetery.

The Daily Record 1 Sep 1922 pg 15

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King Street, Kitchener

Victoria Block, erected by John A. Mackie in 1855, came next. Mackie was a dealer in dry goods, groceries, crockery, boots and shoes. Samuel Date first occupied the other half as a hardware store. Later the proprietors were John Fennel and George Graber.

The Victoria Block was considered one of the finest places along King Street. It was a two-story, brick building with a veranda rail at the top, along the King Street front.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

Business:
C. N. Weber is a complex organization, but it started simply enough as hardware store founded by Samuel Date in 1855. He sold tools and supplies needed by carpenters, metal smiths and carriage makers in the community of Berlin, which later became Kitchener. Date sold the store to John Fennell, a prominent community leader who died in 1922. In 1923, C.N. Weber bought the store from Fennell's widow. Over time, the business shifted from retail sales to industrial supply.

Elected Office:
Years Served: 1881-82

John married Alicia Jackson 20 Sep 1864, Stratford, Perth Co., Ontario, Canada. Alicia (daughter of William Jackson and Elisabeth) was born 16 Jun 1840, Stratford, Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 1930; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Alice Jackson
• Name: Alicia Fennell
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-32264
• Residence: 1864, Stratford, Perth Co., Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Residence: 1921, 125 Queen St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England