Grace Pequegnat

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-20793

Other Events:

• Name: Philman Pequegnat
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-130309
• Immigration: 1874, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1874, , Canada
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Watch Maker
• Residence: 1888, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada
• Naturalization: 1889, , Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Watchmaker
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; jeweller
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clock Maker, Clock Factory
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clock Maker, Clock Factory
• Residence: 1921, 21 Samuel St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Philmon married Emma Debus 25 Jan 1888, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Emma (daughter of George Michael Debus and Catherine Hemberle) was born 4 Dec 1864, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1932; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Emma Pequegnat
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138011
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1888, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1921, 21 Samuel St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-32655
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Watch Maker
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Jeweller
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; watchmaker

Notes:

Ulysse Pequegnat, an accomplished watch and clockmaker of Loveresse, Switzerland, procured clock parts from Swiss manufactures and assembled them in his home with the assistance of some of his eight sons. There were also six daughters. At the suggestion of his third eldest son, Pequegnat immigrated to Canada, arriving in Berlin in 1874. It was inevitable that the family should continue in the watch and clock business, and Arthur, the eldest son, started the first clock manufacturing plant in Canada, A The Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company. Pequegnat started a store of his own and the sons opened clock, watch and jewelry stores in Guelph, Stratford, Brantford, Waterloo, New Hamburg, Tavistock and Neustadt. The second and third generations of Pequegnats branched out from clock and watch making to various other fields of endeavor - the ministry, insurance, banking, industry, medicine and dentistry

Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

___________________


Edmund von Erlach died in Berlin of nervous fever at age of 23 years, 8 months and 1 day. He came here several years ago from Switzerland, attended high school for a time, in order to learn English, and when he was unable to find an occupation that corresponded to his knowledge, he did ordinary labour. Last fall and winter, he cared for people sick with fever, until he was taken ill with the sickness himself and was laid low with it in the home of Mr. Pequegnat, where he was cared for like a member of the family.

Berliner Journal 6 Apr 1882

___________________

Pequegnat Bros., Watchmakers and Jewellers, Berlin and Waterloo - The inhabitants of Berlin are well supplied not only with the necessaries but also the luxuries and adornments of life, and there can be no excuse for going out of town to make purchases, when the merchants here keep such excellent stocks, and sell the lowest possible prices. Among those engaged in the watchmaking and jewellery business must be mentioned Messrs. Pequegnat Bros., whose establishment is located on King St. East. This business has been established for over 11 years and since its inception has met with very favourable success, the development being very gratifying. The premises occupied are 11x50 feet, with a very nice stock of watches, clocks, chains, rings, brooches, scarf pins, and such other articles in this line as are usually to be found in a first-class jewellery establishment. The firm also make a speciality of watch repairing, of which they do a great deal. They give employment to three competent and skilled assistants, and their trade extends throughout the town and country. They also do a large jobbing trade, and give their customers the benefit of the lowest market prices, thus ensuring a continuance of their custom. Messrs. Pequegnat Bros. started with almost nothing, but by perseverance, thrift, enterprise and ability, have built up an excellent business; not only this, but they have started seven other parties in different places, who are now doing well. They have also another store of their own located in Waterloo, which is a branch of the Berlin house. Messrs. Pequegnat Bros. are natives of Switzerland, the land that produced William Tell. They are wide-awake business men, and have the esteem of the community in which they reside. They have been in this country over 13 years.

Industries of Canada Historical and Commercial Sketches Hamilton and Environs 1886

_______________


During the seventies a man and wife arrived in Berlin from Switzerland. Fourteen children walked with them from the station to the Town Hall to see the Mayor. The man carried over his shoulder a rifle, prepared to defend himself against wild beasts. He had less than $100 in his pocket that securely tied to his clothes but he had courage and a family to support. A watchmaker in his native land, he opened a small shop in the town. One by one his sons passed through the Canadian testing school, and shortly not only Berlin but also Guelph, Stratford and Brantford came to know the Pequegnats. One of the sons started Ontrio's first clock factory, and while conducting it served for 20 years on Berlin's and Kitchener's Board of Education.

Had present regulations, with regard to the admission of immigrants, been in force in the seventies the Pequgnats would have been shipped back to their native land branded as "undesirables." Such an act would. in addition to the loss of services named, have blocked the way of one Pequegnat to the post of actuary for one of this country's noted life insurance companies.

Waterloo Chronicle 13 Dec 1928, p. 19

Ulysses married Francoise Verpillot 1851, , Switzerland. Francoise was born 1 Aug 1829, , Switzerland; died 20 Sep 1917, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Church Membership: Benton Street Baptist Church, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Name: Frances Uerpillot
• Name: Francissca Uerpillot
• Name: Francoise Pequegnat
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-32666
• Immigration: 1874, , Switzerland
• Immigration: 1874, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Notes:

Death of an Aged Resident; Mrs. Francoise Pequegnat Passes Away in Her 89^th Year. Came here in 1874.

One of Kitchener's oldest and most highly respected residents passed away Thursday evening in the death of Mrs. Francoise Pequegnat, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Oscar Schneider, at 18 Samuel street. The deceased was in her 89^th year and was born in Switzerland on August 1, 1829. Mrs. Pequegnat with her husband Ulysses Pequegnat, who predeceased her in 1894, came to this country in 1874, locating immediately in this city, where she had since resided. In 1851 she was married to Ulysses Pequegnat and was the mother of 16 children, two of whom died in infancy in Switzerland and one in this city. She is survived by 13 children, 50 grandchildren. Her surviving children are Arthur, Paul, George, and Philemon Pequegnat, of Kitchener, James of Stratford, Leon of New Hamburg, Joseph of Guelph, and Albert of Brantford, Emma, Mrs. George Heimbach, of Colville, Washington; Lena, Mrs. William Fleischer, of Hamilton; Rachel, Mrs. Oscar Schneider of Kitchener; Lea, Mrs. R. W. Chamberlain of Calgary, and Dina, Mrs. B. F. Stumpf, of Kitchener. Mrs. Pequegnat during her long residence in this city built up many friendships. She was a devoted member of the Benton Street Baptist Church and her activities in the early days of the church's history in this city did much to help the growth of the church. She was beloved by all who knew her for her genial disposition and sterling Christian character. Her bereaved sons and daughters will have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. The funeral was held from her late home on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock and at 2: 30 from the Benton Street Baptist Church. Interment will be made at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Waterloo Chronicle, September 2, 1917

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43045
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Hairdresser & Dentist
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Barber

Notes:

King Street , North Side

Foundry Street (now Ontario Street).

Jacob and John Hoffman, brothers, who came from Pennsylvania, erected a furniture factory on the corner about 1840. It was a two story frame building extending along King St., had 25 to 30 employees and a 15 h.p. engine brought from Buffalo.

Eby's history gives John Hoffman as having come from Pennsylvania in 1825; Jacob, almost two years older, seems to have come before. They both worked at carpentry, etc., for a number of years before starting the factory in which enterprise they were assisted by Benjamin Eby. On the ridge of the factory roof there was a belfry with the only larger bell in Berlin. This bell served not only the factory but the village as well, pinging at 7 in the morning, at 12, at 1 and at 6 o'clock in the evening. It was used also as a fire bell and was tolled for funerals.

By some prank or spite the bell was stolen in 1850 before there was a night watchman at the factory, and disappeared for two or three years. Eventually it was found in a well at the comer of Duke and College Streets, put back in place on the Hoffman factory and later was taken to a belfry on the Simpson factory spoken of, where it was used until this factory was discontinued. It was then taken to the pavilion in Victoria Park and was melted down when the pavilion was destroyed by fire.

Behind the Hoffman factory there was a pond, about three feet deep, fed by a spring, the water being used for the factory boiler, etc. About 1860 a frame building, used by the firm for a warehouse, covered the site of the spring. Further back there was a saw mill, also a planing mill, the first of its kind in Berlin. A two story frame building extending along Foundry Street was later added to the factory and used as a turning shop. At the rear of this building was the factory boiler house.

Next to the factory on King Street there was a three story brick building. The ground floor was used as a store, called the Berlin Warehouse. Jacob Hoffman, who by this time was alone in the business, John having gone to Waterloo, announced himself as dealer in dry goods, groceries, hardware, china, glassware, crockery, and paint and oils and manufacturer of all kinds of furniture, also sash doors, etc., selling low for cash. An overhead passage way on a bridge connected the second stories of the factory and brick building. Over the store was the paint shop and in the rear a warehouse. Hoffman's store was later occupied by William Schmidt, son of Rev. Wm. Schmidt, an early minister of the Evangelical Church. Schmidt had a dry goods store only, known as the Golden Lion store because of a large gilt lion over the entrance. Isaac Hoffman, son of Jacob, carried on the factory and store for several years; later John S. Anthes was in possession while Hoffman went to Waterloo and continued the furniture business there with Adam Klippert and Martin Wegenast as partners. Jacob and John Hoffman erected a number of houses in Berlin.

Jacob Hoffman was very stout, weighing over 300 pounds. He was a member of the Evangelical Church. For a time he served on the village council. He resided on Foundry Street in the rear of the Canadian Block in a square, hip roof, two story, frame house, until it was destroyed by fire, when he moved to the west side of Foundry Street, south, where now is the Robe & Clothing Co. building. Here he had a one and one-half story frame house with a large two story addition at the rear where were lodged apprentices and other factory employees. There was a small portico over the front door and a porch extending along the northerly side of the house.

Next to the Hoffman warehouse there was a saloon and restaurant occupied by a Mr. Unger. He served, among other things, oysters which came in small wooden, 1-gal. kegs. Adjoining Hoffman's store there was the tailor shop of H. J. Nahrgang, later occupied by Henry Glebe, an early band master; next a store differently occupied at various times and next the shoe store of Wm. Niehaus. A three story brick building occupied by Wm. Young as a grocery. Mr. Young eventually went to the Canadian Block and the store was used for various purposes, among them auction sales in the evening. Here there was sold the first white crockery offered in Berlin. Later the building was occupied by the Berliner Journal.

A one and one-half story frame building with gable toward King St. and a veranda, occupied by Mr. Fuchs, a tailor and shoemaker, whose wife assisted her husband as expert in repairing clocks. The family lived in the building. About 1865 the frame building was moved to the rear and Fuchs' block erected on the street. The ground floor had three stores, the west one occupied by Mr. Fuchs, the middle by John Kayser, dry goods merchant, and the third one by Tindall Simpson and Sons, shoemakers and tailors. The first building on part of the Fuchs' block site was a rough frame structure used by one Susand, colored, who was the first barber in Berlin.

A two story brick building with gable facing King Street, occupied by Christian Garman, harness maker, who later moved to New Hamburg and started a tannery. This building was later occupied by Levi Gaukel, son of Frederick Gaukel, after his father's death. He had a small hotel known as The Red Lion. In 1860 Urban Prinzer succeeded Gaukel and continued the hotel for a short time.

A two and one-half story brick building with gable facing King St. was occupied by Levi Gaukel, as a butcher shop after he gave up the hotel next door. Jacob Gaukel was associated with Levi. Later George Debus occupied this shop.

A building with gable and porch facing King Street, later occupied by George DeBus as a barber shop.

On the corner of King and Queen Streets there was first a driving shed for the Gaukel hotel opposite, until the Bowman block was erected in 1860. This was a three story brick building lengthwise with King Street. Joseph Bowman the noted violinist occupied the third floor of this building. Half of the ground floor of the building was occupied by Henry B. Bowman with a partner Heins as general dry goods store. This was on the corner. The other half was a brick store occupied by Cole and Graf, druggists, and later by Wm. Bowman in the same business. On the site of the Bowman block is the handsome Bank building built by the Merchants Bank and now occupied by the Bank of Montreal.


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

________________

It seems that men of the sixties were bearded. G. M. DeBus, Sr., hairdresser, said nothing of shaving but advertised that he was prepared "to dye whiskers a permanent color." Mr. DeBus was also the village dentist and extracted teeth without the use of an anaesthetic, unless it was a nip of old rye.

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

George — Catherine Hemberle. Catherine (daughter of Ludwig Hemberle and Magdalena, daughter of Ludwig Hemberle and Maggie) was born 1834, , Germany; died 1904; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Debus
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-46077
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-36175
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Blacksmith
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist

Ludwig — Magdalena. Magdalena was born 25 Apr 1815, , Germany; died 1903; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Magdalena Hemberle
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-36173
• Immigration: 1848, , Canada
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baptist
• Residence: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada