Drusilla Bear

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00003-609.11
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182431171
• Name: Benjamin Baer
• Eby ID Number: 00003-609
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1868, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1869, West Montrose, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; sawmiller
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Sawyer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; NC Methodist
• Occupation: 1873, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; carpenter
• Residence: 1873, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Bridge: 1881, Kissing Bridge, West Montose, Ontario
• Historic Building: 1881, 1245 Covered Bridge Dr., West Montrose, Ontario; Construction of the West Montrose covered bridge by John and Benjamin Bear
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; carpenter
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Historic Building: 1889, 1151 Doon Village Road, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bridge Builder
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bridge Builder

Notes:

Benjamin Bear, "was born March 2nd, 1847. He is a builder and contractor, and resides near Doon, Ontario. He was first married to Lydia Snyder, with whom he had two sons, Byron and Aaron. After his wife's decease he married Jemima Hallman, with whom he had nine children, After the decease of his second wife he was married to Lena Ham, with whom he has one son named Hamey."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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

Historic Building:
The West Montrose covered bridge was constructed in 1881 by John and Benjamin Bear and is best known for being the last remaining historical covered bridge in Ontario. Known as the Kissing Bridge. Wikipedia Entry

Bridge:
Benjamin Baer constructed in 1881 Ontario's last remaining covered bridge at West Montrose, Ontario.

Historic Building:
Polychrome brickwork, rare in Upper Doon, is a feature of this small residence. The original structure, built in 1889 by engineer Benjamin Baer, is a side-gabled, three bay cottage with original doorcase of transom and sidelights still present. The building is situated on a large lot at the corner of Oregon Drive...many changes and a large rear addition..<sup>1a

1a</sup>Upper Doon, a a heritage conservation district plan, prepared by Nicholas Hill (architect planner - London) 1987 pg 32

Benjamin married Jemima Hallman 18 May 1873, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Jemima (daughter of Rev. Wendell Hallman and Nancy Schlichter) was born 4 Feb 1850, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 21 Jun 1889, Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Kinzie-Bean Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region. Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Jemima Bear
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3625
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tunker
• Residence: 1873, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jemima Hallman, "was born February 4th, 1850. She was married to Benjamin Bear, a contractor. They resided in Doon, Ontario, where she died June 21st, 1889, leaving 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.].

__________________


BEAR. - In Doon, Waterloo county, Ontario, on the 21st of June, Jemima Hallman, wife of Benjamin Bear, aged 39 years, 4 months and 17 days. Buried at Doon. Services by J. Detwiler on Sunday 24th.


Herald of Truth, Vol. XXVI, Number 14, July 15, 1889, page 222, 223

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39053199
• Name: John Baer
• Eby ID Number: 00003-597
• 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; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

John Bear, "was born near Preston, Ontario, May 15th, 1804. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. When eighteen years of age he commenced life as a builder and contractor. Many a house and barn still standing in this and adjoining counties. were erected by him between the years 1823 and 1835. He was also the possessor of a beautiful farm lying between Preston and Hespeler, now owned by Anson Groh. Here he resided until the death of his wife in 1875. Then he had his home with his youngest son, Joseph, for five years. In 1880 he went to live with his son John, who resides a little west of Doon, where he died happy in the Lord, December 24th, 1894. He was converted unto the Lord when a young man, and in 1833 he joined the Mennonite Church. On December 2nd, 1838, he was ordained as Minister of the Gospel by the late Bishop Benjamin Eby. His field of labor was to be at 'Wanners', for which locality he was ordained. In 1870-71 when the first glimmerings of dissatisfaction were observable among the Mennonites, Mr. Bear was an active worker to keep up the union (The writer heard him advocate strongly in favor of union in 1870-71-72) but the spirit of disunion was carried so far (1873-4), which ultimately caused a division into the old and new communions. Mr. Bear joined himself with the new party and was one of their first ministers. We might add in conclusion that his educational attainments were very limited. Besides the acquisition of the simple elementary branches of reading, writing, and arithmetic, he in his youth was not favored, as the country was new and the schools in their primeval state. Being possessed of a very retentive memory, he exhibited a great taste for reading and was remarkably fond of investigation. He seldom accepted anything without first giving it due consideration and careful study. What little spare time he was able to snatch from the labors of the farm, he studiously devoted to the reading of such works as came within his reach. His library was composed of books pertaining to religious and devotional works. He was well versed in the Bible and works of a religious character. On February 11th, 1827, he was married to Anna, daughter of Cornelius and Anna (Detweiler) Pannabecker. She was born near Hespeler, Waterloo County, Ontario, April 23rd, 1812, and died February 16th, 1875. They had a family of thirteen 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.].

_________________________________


"Bear, John (1804-1894)

John Bear: minister and building contractor; born 15 May 1804 near Preston, Upper Canada to Martin and Catharine (Gingrich) Bear. He was the oldest child in a family of six sons and seven daughters. On 11 February 1827 he married Anna Pannabecker (23 April 1812-16 February 1875); they had ten sons and three daughters. John died 24 December 1894.

By vocation John Bear became a carpenter and builder. One of his projects was the Union Mennonite/Tunker school and meetinghouse of 1829 that predated the Wanner building of 1837. This building was used as a school until 1848. He did much of his construction work between 1823-1835. He also farmed between Preston and Hespeler (both now part of the city of Cambridge).

John Bear was baptized as a member of the Mennonite Church in 1833; on 2 December 1838 he was ordained as a minister by Benjamin Eby particularly for service in the Wanner/Hagey area of the conference. He was widely read, but had only the basic primary education of the day. He was a second generation minister in the conference; his father had been one of the first persons ordained as a minister in the Waterloo region.

When a doctrinal conflict arose in the Ontario Conference beginning in 1869, John Bear led an party of three ministers to investigate revival activities in Solomon Eby's congregation at Port Elgin, ON. Bear's group brought back a positive report in early 1870, but a division ultimately could not be averted. Bear then joined the new "Reformed Mennonites"; a group that ultimately became part of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ denomination (later known as the Evangelical Missionary Church). He served as a minister in that denomination until his death. He was ordained as an elder in that denomination on 4 March 1888 by Menno Bowman.

Bear's departure from the Ontario Mennonite conference was very significant because of his longstanding leadership role in the conference. As leader of the investigation committee to Port Elgin he carried the respect of his fellow ministers, and his loss to the movement was keenly felt."

Mennonite Historical Society of Canada https://www.mhsc.ca/

_______________________________

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

John married Anna "Nancy" Pannabecker 11 Feb 1827. Anna (daughter of Cornelius Pannebecker and Anna Detweiler) was born 23 Apr 1812, Near Hespeler, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 16 Feb 1875, Near Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39053031
• Name: Anna "Nancy" Bear
• Name: Nancy Panabaker
• Name: Nancy Pannebecker
• Eby ID Number: 00087-5121
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Anna Pannebecker, "was born April 23rd, 1812, and died near Preston, Ontario, February 16th, 1875. She was married to Rev. John Bear."

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: story, pioneer
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3624
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tunker
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Retired: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Wendell Hallman, "the youngest son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Detweiler) Hallman, was born in North Dumfries Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, November 4th, 1827. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm near Roseville. On February 13th, 1849, he was married to Nancy Schlichter who was born August 24th, 1829. Soon after their marriage they settled on a farm (The farm is now owned by Mr. Samuel Tohman) about a mile west of New Dundee, where they resided until March 20th, 1883, when they sold their farm and moved to Yale, Michigan, where he again purchased a farm and followed farming for several years but now lives retired. Nearly thirty years ago he was ordained to the ministry for the River Brethren (Dunkards) denomination, for which body he is still a diligent worker. As a minister he is well liked by his congregation and others, and his sermons are distinguished for the great amount of well-digested thought so vividly expressed in the plainest language, that no one hearing him preach can say, "I did not understand him," for all who wish to be taught out of the Word of God, will say, "Mr. Hallman's sermons are always Gospel-like and soul-cheering." In his habits he is very domestic."


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.].

________________

DEATH OF REV. W. HALLMAN - Waterloo County Pioneer Passes Away on Sunday Morning in Yale, Mich.

WAS IN HIS 83RD YEAR - The sad intelligence was received in Berlin on Sunday by Rev. H. S. Hallman, of the death of his venerable father, Rev. Wendel Hallman, which took place in the morning at the home of the deceased's daughter, Mrs. Levi Donnenworth, Yale, Mich., where he has resided during the last three years. The deceased had been suffering from dropsy for several years but the direct cause was heart failure. The remains will be brought to Berlin on Wednesday morning and taken to the residence of Rev. H.S. Hallman, Bingeman Street, and the funeral will be held in the afternoon at 2 o'clock to the Bethany Mennonite Church, and interment will take place at the East End Mennonite cemetery ( First Mennonite Cemetery) The late Rev. Wendell Hallman, the youngest s/o Benjamin and Elizabeth (Detweiler) Hallman, was born in North Dumfries Township on November 11th, 1827, and was in his 83rd year. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm near Roseville. On Feb. 13th, 1849, he was married to Nancy Schlichter. Soon after their marriage they settled on a farm about a mile west of New Dundee, where they resided until March 20th, 1883, when they sold their farm and moved to Yale, Michigan, where he again purchased a farm and followed farming for several years when he retired. Nearly 45 years ago he was ordained to the ministry of the River Brethren (Dunkards) denomination, for which today he was a diligent worker. He was a thoughtful and practical preacher and endeavored to live the Gospel as he preached it. There was a family of 14 children of whom ten survive, namely, John, Yale; Benj. S., British Columbia; Rev. Henry S., Berlin; Wendell S., Chicago; Simeon, Toronto; Mrs. Philip Zeller, Mrs. Levi Dunnenworth, Mrs. Emanuel Gingerich, Mrs. Jos. Smith and Mrs. Isaiah Martin, all of Yale, Michigan. One brother, Rev. Benj. Hallman, of Roseville, who is six years older than the deceased and one sister, Mrs. Enoch Ziegler, Irvin street, Berlin, also survive.


Berlin Daily Telegraph 2 May 1910

Wendell married Nancy Schlichter 13 Feb 1849. Nancy (daughter of John Schlichter and Elizabeth Bechtel) was born 24 Aug 1829, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 16 Mar 1906; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nancy Hallman
• Eby ID Number: 00103-5781
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tunker

Notes:

Nancy Schlichter, "is married to Rev. Wendell Hallman."


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/176887467
• Name: Martin Baer
• Eby ID Number: 00003-596
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 1 Lot 06E, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Residence: 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 1 Lot 06, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Martin Bear, "was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1774. At the time when he was a young man, real estate in Pennsylvania, especially in the older counties, became so high in price that the majority of farmer's sons who wished to follow their paternal calling, were not in a financial position to procure a farm for themselves, hence the desire to seek homes elsewhere. This caused young Martin to make a journey to Canada to see the country before he would move here. In the summer of 1800 he arrived at old Joseph Schörg's who had located on the Grand River, opposite Doon, a few months previously. Finding the nature of the country, soil, timbers, and waters even beyond his expectations, he decided to settle here and immediately selected a tract of land (Now in possession of Anson Groh) situated between Preston and Hespeler, of which he cleared several acres and erected a small log house thereon, then returned to Pennsylvania. Early in spring, 1801, he in company with his wife and others, moved to Canada, and upon their arrival here each party settled on the locations made the year previously. In a few years nearly all these early settlers had comfortable homes. Old Mr. Martin Bear was an ordained minister of the Mennonite Church. He was one of the first that was ordained in this county (Ordained in 1808 by Bishop Moyer of the Twenty). He was married to Catharine, daughter of Abraham and Anna (Hunsicker) Gingerich. They had a family of thirteen 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.].

Martin — Catharine Gingrich. Catharine (daughter of Abraham H. Gingrich and Barbara Hunsicker) was born CA 1782, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 6 Mar 1849, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176887449
• Name: Catharine Bear
• Eby ID Number: 00039-3129

Notes:

Catharine Gingerich, "second daughter, was married to Martin Bear. They resided about one mile east of Preston, on the farm now possessed by Anson Groh, where they had a numerous 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.].

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29726013
• Historic Building: 655 Blackbridge Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; 2 story stone house
• Military: War of 1812
• Eby ID Number: 00087-5083
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 128, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 2 Lot 09, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 3 Lot 08, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

"The Pannebeckers (To have a complete history of the Pannebecker family, write to Mr. Samuel W. Pennypacker, Philadelphia, Pa., and get the book, "Historical and Biographical Sketches of the Pannebeckers", edited by Pennybecker. It is well worth the money and one of the most complete works of its kind in existence) were of the first settlers of German origin who settled in Pennsylvania over two hundred years ago. We find them to have been a prominent family in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania as early as 1709."

Cornelius Pannebecker, "a native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was born December 8th, 1770. In April, 1792, he was married to Anna Dettweiler, sister to old Rudolph Dettweiler who resided near the Wanner Meeting House at Hespeler. She was born November 16th, 1775, and died October 27th, 1855. In 1810 they, in company with Christian Shantz and family, Jacob Shantz and wife, and others, moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario, near the present village of Hespeler, on the farm now occupied by Peter Wier. Here they resided until their deaths. He died June 22nd, 1855. To then was born a family of thirteen 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.].

____________________

About the year 1822, Joseph Oberholtzer, a sawyer, and Cornelius Pannabecker, a blacksmith, both sound men, had come to the conclusion that, having regard to the fact that so many new buildings were being put up by the settlers, a saw mill in this locality would pay.

In 1823, Joseph Oberholtzer bought from Christian Strome (Strohm) 24 acres of land lying both sides of the River Speed at some distance below the present D. W. & W. Buildings and on it they erected a small saw mill building, installed sawing machinery and built a dam on the Speed to furnish power to operate it.

After it had been in operation for a time they discovered to their sorrow that their mill was not big enough to handle the huge logs the farmers were hauling in to be sawn, and so, later, when their frail dam went out in a flood it was not replaced; They salvaged what they could and wrote off the rest to profit and loss. They had made the mistake of building too small and they paid the shot.


Le Rue De Commerce, Other Times Other Customs Other Days Other Ways, Winfield Brewster 1954

__________________________

Unwilling participants in the War of 1812

About 20 Mennonite men were conscripted to haul supplies for an 1813 engagement

...No one was exempt from non-combatant duties, although some resisted at times. Some were fined heavily in court. Cornelius Pannebecker removed the wheels from his wagon to save it, although his horse and son were still conscripted. Elizabeth (Gabel) Bechtel was threatened at sword-point by an officer who knew she was hiding oxen, which he sought for a massive-scale transport operation to the Detroit River.

Waterloo Region Region 23 Jun 2012 Jonathan Seiling

_________________________________

About the year 1840, the third saw-mill in New Hope was erected. It was located just below the Forbes Mill site by a partnership composed of another great-grandfather of the write, the late Cornelius Pannebecker, and one Joseph Oberholtzer, whose sister was married to Bergy.

Cornelius Pannebecker arrived from Montgomery County, Pa. in 1810 and was the son of a Mennonite minister who lived on the Schuylkill River at the present site of Spring City. Joseph Oberholtzer was evidently a native of the same county in Pennsylvania and located here probably in 1826 and information in hand also points to his having been the son of a Mennonite preacher. The family was of Swiss descent, while Pannebecker was descended from a Dutch family which had migrated for a few years into Germany about Kriegaheim near Worms, before participating in the exodus of Quakers and Mennonites to Pennsylvania, about the year 1700.

It would appear that Bergy's first saw-mill was too far up the river and the partnership mill too far downstream to quite meet the tastes or requirements of the times, for within a few years Cornelius Oberholtzer erected the fourth saw-mill about midway between these two points, and with it a small foundry or shop, probably for mill repairs etc. Some particulars of this fourth mill are available.

It continued in operation until sometime in 1864, although it evidently changed ownership, September 27th, 1863, to a partnership composed of George Randall, then of Berlin, Herbert M. Farr of Waterloo and Shubel H. Randall of New Hampshire, the purchase price according to the Galt Reporter files of that time being $8,000. The old mill was used to saw the timber and lumber for the Randall-Farr Woolen Mills, two stone structures erected in 1864, but as the saw-carriage had capacity only for logs up to 16 feet in length, the large timbers for the new Woolen Mills had to be hewn and were not sawn. It had been said with perhaps some little exaggeration, that the process of sawing logs of large diameter with the vertically operated drag-saw then in use was so slow that the operator after starting to log, had time to walk up town a half mile or more to the hotel, for liquid refreshments and return before the cut was finished.

The timbers of white-pine, taken out of this Oberholtzer mill when the woolen-mill buildings crowded it out of its place were used in the construction of the Lewis Kribs saw-mills which in 1865 were located close to the old public school site. When Mr. W. A. Kribs erected his present manufacturing buildings alongside the G. T. R. lines in 1902, these same old timbers were for the third time used and are at the time of writing, as sound as when first used in 1840.


Tenth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, 1922, pages 213 - 224.

Historic Building:
In 2009 this 2 story fieldstone house was in good condition, still used as a residence and their are still farm buildings on the site. There is a great deal of new construction not far from the house and soon the house will be surrounded with new housing.

Cornelius married Anna Detweiler Apr 1792. Anna (daughter of Abraham Detweiler and Elizabeth Kolb Ziegler) was born 16 Nov 1775, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 27 Oct 1855, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29726056
• Name: Anna Pannebecker
• Eby ID Number: 00087-5083.1

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88926226
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3502
• Immigration: 1824, , Canada
• Occupation: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Benjamin Hallman, "was born September 18th, 1783, in Perkiomen Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming as his calling. During the great financial depressions from 1816 until 1827 many of that calling in Montgomery and other counties failed financially, and in order to save their creditors from losing any money, the distressed farmers sold their farms at a great sacrifice and paid their debts, and with whatever little balance left they wended their way to Canada where land could be had cheap and thus made another attempt to gain a free home. And as a rule all these parties in a very few years were the possessors of valuable farms. Such was the case with Benjamin Hallman, our Canadian progenitor. He suffered financially during the great crisis as aforesaid, and, finding things to his advantage, he moved to Canada in 1825 (See page 56 for more information) and settled in Waterloo County, two miles west of the town of Waterloo. Here he resided until spring (1826) when he moved to North Dumfries Township, about one mile east of Roseville, where he had purchased a most beautiful farm, then nearly all forest. This farm is now in possession of Menno H. Hallman. Here the old progenitor died full of years, September 10th, 1869. On September 2nd, 1802, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Harley) Detweiler. She was born August 8th, 1784, and died August 9th, 1856. To them was born a numerous family, all of which were born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, save the two youngest, Hannah and Wendel, who were born in Waterloo County, Ontario"

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.].

Benjamin — Elizabeth Detweiler. Elizabeth (daughter of Jacob Reiff Detweiler and Margaret Harley) was born 8 Aug 1784, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 9 Aug 1856, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hallman Mennonite Cemetery, North Dumfries, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20072393
• Name: Elizabeth Hallman
• Eby ID Number: 00048-3502.1
• Residence: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• Name: John Slichter
• Eby ID Number: 00103-5764

Notes:

John Schlichter, "the eldest in the family, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, October 10th, 1787. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Gabel) Bechtel. She was born November 24th, 1795, and died February 1st, 1876. They resided on a farm (now owned by John McDonald) one mile east of New Dundee, Ontario, where he died August 12th, 1849, leaving 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.].

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Elizabeth Bechtel "the second daughter, was married to John Schlichter. They resided about a mile east of New Dundee where they both died. Their family consisted 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.].

John married Elizabeth Bechtel 1815. Elizabeth (daughter of Deacon Jacob Bechtel and Elizabeth Gabel) was born 24 Nov 1795, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 1 Feb 1876, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Schlichter
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0739
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Bechtel "the second daughter, was married to John Schlichter. They resided about a mile east of New Dundee where they both died. Their family consisted 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.].