Jeremiah N. Shantz

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00110-6741.2
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Agricultural Laborer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Jeremiah married Amelia "Ellen" Krempien 18 Mar 1897, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Amelia (daughter of Johann Friederich "Frederick" Krampien and Fredericka Herr) was born 30 Oct 1867, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 19 Nov 1945, Elmwood, Tuscola, Michigan, United States; was buried , Grant Township Cemetery, Grant Township, Huron Co., Michigan. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00110-6741
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1870, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Petersburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Petersburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Retired: 1911, Petersburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Amos M. Shantz, "was born June 15th, 1847. On August 16th, 1870, he was married to Isabella Nahrgang who was born June 9th, 1850, and died October 14th, 1871. On December 3rd, 1873, he was again married to Esther Cressman who was born January 20, 1848. He resides near Manheim, Ontario, where he is engaged in farming."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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/ At Petersburg, Ont., on Monday, Febuary 9th, 1920/ Amos M. Shantz/ aged 72 years, 7 months and 25 days/ The Funeral/ will take place from his late residence on/ Friday, February 13, 1910/ at two o'clock, p. m./ to the Latschar church and cemetery for service/ and interment/ Friends and acquaintances will please accept this intimation.


Funeral Card of Amos M. Shantz

Amos married Isabella Nahrgang 16 Aug 1870, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Isabella (daughter of Christopher Nahrgang and Mary Schneider) was born 9 Jun 1850, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 14 Oct 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mannheim Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Isabella Shantz
• Eby ID Number: 00085-5039
• Residence: 1870, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Isabella Nahrgang, "was born June 9th, 1850. On August 16th, 1870, she was married to Amos M. Shantz who was born June 15th, 1847. They resided in Wilmot Township where she died October 14th, 1871, leaving twin boys"


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: 00110-6737
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image
• Residence: 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Joshua Y. Shantz, "was born near Berlin, September 11th, 1817. On March 17th, 1840, he was married to Magdalena, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Miller) Martin. She was born December 8th, 1822, and died February 6th, 1892. They resided in Wilmot Township where he followed farming many years. To them were born ten 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.].

Joshua married Magdalena Martin 17 Mar 1840, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Magdalena (daughter of Henry Z. Martin and Catharine Miller) was born 8 Dec 1822, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 6 Feb 1892, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wilmot Mennonite (formerly Geiger) Cemetery, Wilmot, Waterloo Region, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Magdalena Shantz
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4304
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image
• Residence: 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Magdalena Martin, "the eldest daughter of Henry and Catharine (Miller) Martin, was born in Woolwich Township, Waterloo County, December 8th, 1822. On March 17th, 1840, she was married to Joshua Y., son of Jacob and Mary (Yost) Shantz."


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.].

__________________________

Last Saturday Mrs. Joshua Shantz was called to her long home, after a short illness and was buried at the cemetery between Hamburg and Wilmot Centre last Wednesday morning. Mrs. Shantz leaves a husband and grown-up family to mourn their loss. She resided on the farm on which she died for fifty-two years.

New Hamburg Independent 12 Feb 1892 pg 3

Other Events:

• Interesting: story
• Occupation: weaver
• Eby ID Number: 00085-5033.11
• Residence: Bef 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Notes:

Christopher Nahrgang, "The old pioneer settler of this highly respectable family was Christopher, son of George Nahrgang. he was born in Lahrbach, Province of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, December 25th, 1801. When a young man he chose weaving as his trade and followed it for a number of years. In 1825 he emigrated to America and settled in Canada, choosing Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario, as the place where he could most successfully carry on his trade. He had his shop at old Joseph Schneider's until he was married to one of Mr. Schneider's daughters, then they moved to near New Hamburg, Ontario, where he followed farming for many years. He was married, April 28th, 1833, to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Eby) Schneider. She was born April 1st, 1808, and died at New Hamburg, Ontario, March 22nd, 1887. He died June 22nd, 1886. 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.].

Christopher married Mary Schneider 8 Apr 1833. Mary (daughter of Joseph Schneider and Barbara Eby) was born 1 Apr 1808, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Mar 1887, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Schneider
• Name: Mary Nahrgang
• Residence: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6384
• Residence: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26915942
• Name: Jacob Schantz
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6690
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone of Jacob Shantz
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 001, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 008N, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jacob Shantz, "the third son of Isaac and Barbara (Reiff) Shantz, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, October 11th, 1781. In 1805 he was married to Mary Yost who was born in the same county, March 12th, 1784, and died near Berlin, Ontario, October 22, 1869. In 1810 they left their native home and moved to Canada. They settled a little south-east of Berlin, on the farm now owned by their grandson, Jacob B. Shantz. This place old Mr. Shantz purchased from old George (Yarrick) Eby who had settled thereon in 1804. Here Mr. and Mrs. Shantz resided until their deaths. He died July 1st, 1867, leaving a family of ten 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.].

____________________________________


On the first of July, 1867, in Waterloo Township, C. W., Br. JACOB SHANTZ, aged 85 years, 8 months, and 20 days. He was a native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and removed to Canada with his family in the year 1810. He lived in wedlock sixty-two years, and leaves eight children, eighty-four grand-children, and fifty-six great-grand-children. He took an active part in converting the wilderness of Waterloo Township into fruitful country. He was energetic and courageous in what he did, and is his works were according to the will of God, he is now at rest. DAVID SHERK.


HERALD OF TRUTH - Volume IV, Number 8 - August 1867 pages 115, 116

_________________________

A LARGE FAMILY

The family of the late Jacob Shantz, father of our well-known Mr. Jacob Y. Shantz, was most remarkable for its size and long life. There were eight brothers in this family, named Isaac, John, Joseph, Joshua, David, Jacob, Samuel and Amos - all good scriptural names. They all write Y. as a middle name, after their mother's maiden name, which was Yost. These brothers all lived up to about two weeks ago when Isaac, the eldest, died at the advance age of about 70, the youngest being about 50. They all raised large families, some of them even beyond the orthodox dozen, and we believe all with perhaps one exception rejoice in the possession of numerous grand-children. The family have also been remarkably successful in their business matters, each having not only a comfortable home of his own but a sufficient surplus to start his children on the road to prosperity. These worthy brothers had one sister, wife of the late Abraham D. Clemens, Williamsburg, who is also still living though considerably over sixty years old. It is a very rare thing to find so large a family attaining the ages of these excellent brothers who are most of them yet in the prime of manhood.

BERLIN DAILY NEWS OCTOBER 17th, 1878

Jacob married Mary Yost 1805. Mary was born 12 Mar 1784, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 22 Oct 1869, near, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26916095
• Name: Mary Shantz
• Eby ID Number: 00110-6690.1
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

On the 22nd of November, in Waterloo county, Ontario, Mary, widow of Jacob Shantz (who died some two years ago), aged 85 years, 7 months, and 11 days. She leaves a posterity of 159 souls.


Herald of Truth - Volume VI, Number 11 - November 1869 - page 175

Other Events:

• Interesting: religion, story
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4296
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image
• Occupation: 1852, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Possessions: 1853, Woolwich Township German Company Tract 086, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Probate: 20 Jun 1853, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Henry Martin, "was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 16th, 1794, and died on his farm now in possession of his son, Elias, June 8th, 1853. He was married to Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Bricker) Miller. She was born November 4th, 1803, and died after an illness of a few months, October 2nd, 1870. They had a family of ten 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 Meeting House

According to Isaac Horst, "Martins meeting house was the first of the Old Order places of worship to be built. A meeting house is reported to have been built in 1830; burial was begun in the adjoining cemetery in 1831. Martins was aptly named. The first three bishops of the area were Martins, all descended from the pioneer, Peter Martin. The land on which the house stands was formerly owned by Martins (1979: 376)." Peter Martin, Jr. purchased 220 acres of land from his brother, Henry Martin, on May 8, 1824. Apparently he set aside four acres for a meeting house and burying ground at that time. The first burial is reported to have been that of Peter Martin, Sr., who died March 2, 1831. The meeting house was enlarged in 1900.

John Weber was the first minister, followed by Abraham W. Martin, Samuel Weber, Paul Martin, Tobias Martin and Urias Martin. At one time surrounded by countryside, the meeting house and cemetery are now completely encircled by the commercial development brought about by the rapid expansion northward of the city of Waterlo.


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

___________________________

A-1-8 Henry Martin: The Last Will and Testament of Henry Martin, Yeoman, late of the Township of Woolwich.

,,,I Henry Martin, yeoman of the Township of Woolwich, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament.. First that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be paid by my Executors, trusty and beloved son and brother, Peter Martin and John Martin, As to my worldly estate, I will to my beloved wife Catharine, two cows out of my stock after her own choice and three beds, and if my executors see fit, they are at liberty to leave as many more beds in the possession of my beloved wife as they deem necessary, and my five stoves and pipes and as much house and kitchen furniture as she and my Executors see fit and proper, which she, my beloved wife, is to have in lieu of Dower. I further will to my beloved wife Catharine, the privilege to occupy the adjoining house and garden I now lived in on the old homestead, as long as she remains my widow. During her widowhood, she is to have as much firewood as she wants for her own use, delivered to her house, she is also at liberty to go in my orchard at all tims and take as much of all kinds of fruit as she wants for her own use and as much good merchantable wheat well ground, delivered to her house, as she wants for her own use, and three hundred pounds of good pork and fifty pounds of good beef, which is to be delivered to her house yearly. She is also to have each and every year, the interest of one hundred and fifty pounds, which are to be paid out of my farm on the old homestead, whereupon I now reside, and the cowshed that I have willed to my beloved wife are to be kept for her on my farm in good order during summer and winter so long as she remains my widow, and the old homestead my two youngest sons are to have for the consideration sum, of eight hundred pounds as soon as they have obtained the age of twenty one years, and as soon as they have obtained the said age, each of them are to have one hundred and twenty five pounds, which is to be deducted out of the said Eight hundred pounds as a part of their legacy, and should my two youngest sons not wish to have the said old homestead, my Executors are to sell, or lease, as they see fit, with the consent of my beloved wife, and of my sons. They are to deliver to my beloved wife, yearly, all the above mentioned articles, which she is to have yearly, and until my two sons have obtained the age of twenty one years, and herein after named Executors are to deliver to my beloved wife yearly fifteen bushels of potatoes, and after they have obtained the said age, they my said sons are to deliver the fifteen bushels of potatoes yearly, further that the one hundred and fifty pounds are to remain in the old homestead during my beloved widows natural life, or so long and she remains my widow, which my two sons, as aforesaid are to pay the interest of as above mentioned. The remaining four hundred pounds are to be paid as follows: in fourteen equal annual installments the first of each becomes payable three years after my said two youngest sons have obtained the age of twenty one year. Should my beloved wife die or not remain my widow when the last installment becomes due, my said sons are to have three years after the said last installment becomes due, to pay the said one hundred and fifty pounds with interest. My two youngest sons are to have along with the old homestead, the cedar swamp on lot number eighty six in Woolwich, that lies between my sons Elias and Peter's Swamp. I also give and bequeath the remainder of the whole of my real estate the proceeds there from, and my personal estate which remains in the hands of my Executors after payment of debts and other charges, to be divided unto and equally between and among all my sons and daughters, share and share alike. As soon as any of my daughters shall stand in need of house furniture, my Executors shall give each and everyone of them to the same amount as I gave my eldest daughter.

Witnessed by Moses Springer, Elias Martin and David Martin
Will dated 21 May 1853
Will proved and insinuated 20 June 1853
No Inventory rendered at the time.

Wills of Waterloo County Register A 1853-1871, transcribed by Frances Hoffman

Henry — Catharine Miller. Catharine (daughter of Jacob Miller and Magdalena Bricker) was born 4 Nov 1803, , Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania; died 2 Oct 1870, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catharine Martin
• Eby ID Number: 00079-4773
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image

Notes:

Catharine Miller, "was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, November 4th, 1803. She was married to Henry Martin who was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 16th, 1794, and died in Woolwich Township, about three miles north of Waterloo, June 8th, 1853. She died October 2nd, 1870. To them was born a family of ten 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: 00085-5033.15

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27232276
• Historic Building: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Interesting: religion, pioneer, story
• Eby ID Number: 00106-6346
• Historic Building: 1807, 393 Queen Street South, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Site of first log cabin
• Historic Business: 1816, 113 David Street, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Sawmill
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 017W, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 023W, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Historical Event: 29 Aug 1839, Evangelical Association Church, Waterloo, Ontario; church founding

Notes:

Joseph Schneider, "was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 24th, 1772. On February 21st, 1798, he was married to Barbara, daughter of Christian and Catharine (Bricker) Eby. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, April 29th, 1774, and died in Berlin, Ontario, March 13th, 1843. On May 8th, 1807, Mr. Schneider with wife and family and a large company of others (See Vol. 1 pages 39, 40 and 41 for particulars) moved to Canada and settled where now is the town of Berlin, Ontario. Here he was engaged in farming. His first buildings were erected where now his grandson, Samuel B. Schneider, lives, a little west of the Walper Block, Berlin. Here he died October 27th, 1843, leaving 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.].

__________________________

Zion United Church

A Sunday School was established in Berlin in 1837, meeting in Jacob Hailer's carpenter shop which was located at the southeast corner of what is now King and Scott Streets. A mission was begun by Rev. Christian Holl shortly after his arrival in Berlin on May 9, 1839, and a class (or congregation) was organized several months later on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert of the Evangelical Association during a camp meeting held at David Erb's farm near Lexington. John Hoffman was the Berlin class leader; his brother, Jacob, was class leader for the Waterloo-Lexington congregation. The Berlin congregation met in the old Town Hall until their first church was built in 1841 on Queen Street South across from Church Street on land purchased as of August 24, 1841 from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schneider. The church was dedicated on September 25th of that year, with Rev. Christian Hummel of Buffalo, New York, officiating. Rev. Joseph Harlacher was pastor from 1840-1842. In 1842 the Waterloo Mission became a Circuit of the East Pennsylvania Conference. Two years later it was part of the New York Conference.

The second church building was built of brick on the same site in 1866, and dedicated in 1867; Rev. C.A. Spies was pastor at the time. The old frame church was sold and moved to Elgin Street where it was used as a dwelling. In the same year Berlin became a station.

The present church building was built in 1893 on Weber Street; dedication services were held on June 15, 16 and 17, 1894. This building was heavily damaged by fires in 1942 and 1965 but was renovated and restored each time.

The union of the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren in Christ Church on November 16, 1946 created the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The name of the church was to change again, to Zion United Church when the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined the United Church of Canada on January 1, 1968. Of interest: some maps of early Berlin show this church as a German Methodist church.


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

___________________________

SCHNEIDER, JOSEPH, settler and sawmill owner; b. 24 May 1772 in Lancaster County, Pa, son of Jacob B. Schneider and Maria Herschi; m. 21 Feb. 1798 Barbara Eby, sister of Benjamin Eby*, and they had seven children; d. 27 Oct. 1843 in Berlin (Kitchener), Upper Canada.

Joseph Schneider's father immigrated with his parents to Pennsylvania from the Palatinate (Federal Republic of Germany) in 1736. In 1806, three years after Jacob's death, two of his sons, Christian and Jacob, settled in block 2 (Waterloo Township), in the vicinity of present-day Kitchener. Joseph and a group of other Mennonites followed them, making the month-long journey in horse-drawn wagons. Schneider purchased and settled on lot 17 of the German Company Tract of block 2. It was the attraction of inexpensive land, as well as the desire to remain under British rule in the years after the American revolution, that brought many Mennonites to the area, among them Benjamin Eby and Samuel D. Betzner*. Geographical isolation allowed them to practise their religion and language freely, although at first it forced them to travel to such centres as Dundas for supplies and services.

Schneider was an active figure among the Mennonite settlers and, with Eby, is often regarded as a founder of Kitchener. He helped open the first local road, which ran from his farmstead to the Dundas road and was known as Schneider's road until the 1870s. In 1808-9 he and four other heads of families hired a teacher to open the first school in the area. He was involved four years later in the building of the first Mennonite meeting-house, headed by Eby; in 1834 Schneider participated in the construction of a new church. Perhaps as early as 1816 he had built a sawmill on what is still known as Schneider's Creek, and in the 1820s a blacksmith shop and tavern were erected by Phineas Varnum on land leased from Schneider. Together these enterprises formed the commercial nucleus of the developing village, known variously as Sand Hills, Ebytown, and, later, Berlin. In 1835 Schneider strongly supported the establishment of its first newspaper, Heinrich Wilhelm Peterson*'s Canada Museum, und Allgemeine Zeitung, of which he was a stockholder.

Schneider died on 27 Oct. 1843. Among the possessions he left to his family were traditional objects valued by Pennsylvania Germans, including a tall case clock, the works for which he had brought with him in 1807. The clock still stands in the house he built about 1820, Kitchener's oldest structure and now a museum. In other local collections are two family bibles: one, in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario, a rare edition published in Zurich in 1560 by Christoph Froschauer and brought to Upper Canada by Schneider; the other, in the possession of a descendant, printed in Lancaster County in 1805 and containing striking examples of fraktur (ornamental writing), executed by teacher-artist Jacob Schumacher in 1821.

Schneider's farming and milling operations were continued by his youngest son, Joseph E., who in 1849 had the family's history printed in Berlin in a small booklet, possibly the earliest published genealogy in Canada. In 1874 he was a charter member of the Reforming/Reformed Mennonites (later the Missionary Church) .
E. Reginald Good and Paul Tiessen

Toronto and York Land Registry Office (Toronto), "Old York County," deeds, 5, no.1839 (mfm. at AO). Waterloo South Land Registry Office (Kitchener, Ont.), Waterloo Township, abstract index to deeds, German Company Tract, lot 17 (mfm. at AO). 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), 136. John English and Kenneth McLaughlin, Kitchener: an illustrated history (Waterloo, Ont., 1983). Hannes Schneider and his wife Catharine Haus Schneider, their descendants and times, 1534-1939, ed. J. M. Snyder (Kitchener, [1940]). Herkommen und Geschlechts Register der Schneider Familie (Berlin [Kitchener], 1849). P. G. Klassen, "A history of Mennonite education in Canada, 1786-1960" (d.ed. thesis, Univ. of Toronto, 1970), 73-74. W. V. Uttley, A history of Kitchener, Ontario (Kitchener, 1937; repr. [Waterloo, 1975]), 17. M. [H.] Snyder Sokvitne, "The Joseph Schneider house, 1820," Waterloo Hist. Soc., [Annual report] (Kitchener), 1966: 20-27. W. V. Uttley, "Joseph Schneider: founder of the city," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report (Waterloo), 1929: 111-19. G. K. Waite, "Joseph Schneider sawmill operations, 1848-1859," Waterloo Hist. Soc., [Annual report], 1985: 57-65.

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

____________________

JOSEPH SCHNEIDER
Founder of the City

The first stones in the city's foundation were laid in South Queen Street, in 1807, by Joseph Schneider. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa, in 1798, and married Barbara, sister of the Rev. Benjamin Eby.

On Lot No. 17, Pioneer Schneider built a log cabin. It stood on the east side of Queen Street, where John McKay's former home rests. Next he cut a roadway from the house to the Walper House corner and easterly to No. 57 East King Street, where he built a barn. South Queen Street was the first thoroughfare in the city and until the eighteen-eighties was called Schneider's Road.


A History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937 pg 16

Historic Building:
Joseph Schneider's house is the oldest surviving in Kitchener dating from 1820 and has been made into the Joseph Schneider Haus Muesum.

Historic Building:
Now on this site is Barra Castle a 15 unit apartment building, due to be renovated for other purposes (2009).

Historic Business:
Joseph Schneider's Saw-Mill

The pioneers had then begun to replace their log-houses with frame homes. To meet a demand for lumber Joseph Schneider built a saw-mill in 1816 on Schneider's Creek. It rested on the easterly side of David Street, opposite Victoria Park. The mill dam was above the railway, and the mill-race crossed David Street between Schneider Avenue and Roland Street. The up-and-down or "muley" saw was run by an overshot waterwheel.1a

1aA History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937 pg 17

Historical Event:
A Sunday School was established in Berlin in 1837, meeting in Jacob Hailer's carpenter shop which was located at the southeast corner of what is now King and Scott Streets. A mission was begun by Rev. Christian Holl shortly after his arrival in Berlin on May 9, 1839, and a class (or congregation) was organized several months later on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert of the Evangelical Association during a camp meeting held at David Erb's farm near Lexington. John Hoffman was the Berlin class leader; his brother, Jacob , was class leader for the Waterloo-Lexington congregation. The Berlin congregation met in the old Town Hall until their first church was built in 1841 on Queen Street South across from Church Street on land purchased as of August 24, 1841 from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schneider.<sup>1a

1a</sup>Ambrose, Rosemary. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide to Churches Established Before 1900. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. [used the kind permission of Rosemary Ambrose 2011]

Joseph married Barbara Eby 21 Feb 1798, , Pennsylvania, USA. Barbara (daughter of Christian Eby and Catharine Bricker) was born 29 Apr 1774, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 13 Mar 1843, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27232187
• Name: Barbara Schneider
• Residence: 466 Queen st., S., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2422

Notes:

Barbara Eby, "the third daughter of Christian Eby and his wife, Catharine Bricker, was born April 29th, 1774. On February 21st, 1798, she was married to Joseph Schneider who was born May 24th, 1772, and died October 27th, 1843. She died March 13th, 1843. In 1807 they, in company with some of the Ebys and Erbs, moved to what is now Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario. They settled on lot No. 17, U. B., of the Township of Waterloo, now forming part of the town of Berlin. The old homestead is now owned by a grandson, Samuel B. Schneider. Here they raised 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.].