Franklin Snider

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00106-5862

Other Events:

• Business: Union Mills - William Snider & Co., Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario; Union Mills
• Business: Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Waterloo Distillery & flouring mill
• Interesting: pioneer, story, mill, education, politics, business
• Name: E. W. B. Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5853
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Merchant Miller
• Business: 1887, Bricker & Co., Waterloo, Ontario; Waterloo Foundry
• Occupation: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Occupation: 1916, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; miller
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; President, ?
• Residence: 1921, 181 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Notes:

Elias W. B. Snider, "was born June 19th, 1842. On April 19th, 1864, he was married to Nancy Weber. Mr. Snider is a miller by trade. In 1865 he took possession of the German Mills where he was engaged in doing a well paying business. In March, 1871, he purchased the St. Jacobs Mills where he has been doing an extensive and successful business ever since. Some years ago he also purchased the New Dundee Mills and has since been conducting both mills with the greatest of success. Besides being the proprietor of the two large mills, he has large interests in various other lines of business. In politics Mr. Snider favors the principles of the Liberal Party whose representative he has been in the Local House from June, 1881, (after Mr. Springer's resignation) until the dissolution of that body in 1894 when he declined to be again the standard bearer of the Liberal Party. He resides in St. Jacobs, Ontario. His family consists of the following 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.].

_________________________

ELIAS WEBER BINGEMAN, miller, manufacturer, and politician; b. 19 June 1842 in Waterloo, Upper Canada, third son of Elias Snider and Hannah Bingeman; m. first 19 April 1864 Nancy Weber (d. 1912) in Preston (Cambridge), Upper Canada, and they had seven sons and four daughters (one son died in infancy); m. secondly 1915 Helen Shoemaker; d. 15 Oct. 1921 in Kitchener, Ont.

E. W. B. Snider left public school at the age of 12 to work on the family farm, but he shared his father's interest in milling and in 1860 began a two-year apprenticeship at the family's flour operation in German Mills (Kitchener). On its completion he became the manager of the mill and in 1864 he made an arrangement with his father to run it on a "shares" basis, which would allow him a measure of the profits. The Sniders expanded their holdings in 1868 to include a small mill at Berlin (Kitchener), but in 1871 Elias Jr set out on his own, purchasing a mill in St Jacobs. There he became the first Canadian to introduce roller milling to the industry. On the advice of John Braun (Brown), a former employee, he purchased a roller system from the Hoerde company of Vienna in 1875. This Walzenstuhle process replaced millstones with a slower but more efficient system of small rollers. The resulting product, which Snider called Walzen flour, represented a dramatic improvement in quality over traditionally milled flour and Snider was able to sell it widely, not only in Ontario but also in eastern Canada, the northeastern United States, and Britain. In 1876 he acquired a second mill, in New Dundee, where he also installed rollers. By the mid 1880s this operation and his Pioneer Roller Flouring Mill in St Jacobs were together producing 250 barrels a day.

The roller milling system was an early example of Snider's fascination with new technology and commercial opportunity. In 1884 he was attracted to the foundry business and purchased a works in Waterloo from Jacob Bricker, which he operated with Bricker's son Levi. Four years later the business was incorporated as the Waterloo Manufacturing Company Limited, with Snider and Absalom Merner, another foundry owner, as the major partners. This firm, of which Snider was president, would become famous for the manufacture of agricultural implements. The company expanded Jacob Bricker's line of threshers and retained his Champion trade mark. It also began to make steam traction engines under the Lion Brand trade name. The 1890s and the ensuing decade were good years for the company in the very competitive agricultural machinery business in Canada. By 1908 it employed 150 men and had 15 travelling salesmen, as well as branch offices in Winnipeg and Regina. Developing technology would restrict its success, however. The introduction of the gasoline tractor led to the replacement of steam as the motive power in agriculture by about 1925. Snider and his firm experimented with a gasoline tractor, but the expense, and American competition, caused them to abandon the project. In the early 1920s, after Snider's death, the introduction of an effective, reasonably priced combine harvester on the prairies threatened the company's future even more; it replaced both the tractor and the thresher, and thereby eliminated Waterloo Manufacturing's main markets. Snider's sons, now in control of the company, sold the firm to Playfair and Company of Toronto in 1927.

From 1881 to 1894 Snider had sat as a Liberal for Waterloo North in the Ontario legislature. He concentrated on expanding municipal powers through his work on municipal assessment and a municipal fire insurance act. Later in his term he became interested in forest preservation and lobbied for the creation of reserves. He would maintain this interest long after leaving politics, publishing an article on the depletion of forests in Waterloo County in the report of the Waterloo Historical Society in 1918. In the federal election of 1896 Snider ran against Conservative Joseph Emm Seagram* in Waterloo North. This was an industrial riding and Snider, though himself a protectionist, bore the cross of the Liberals' free trade policy. The local Conservative paper called on him to "be a man." "Declare that you will either support [Wilfrid Laurier*] and Free Trade or Joseph Seagram and Protection." The voters preferred Seagram.

Snider experienced success in the manufacturing and milling fields. He also dabbled in railway promotion, with the Waterloo Junction Railway, and the sugar-beet industry. Among his other interests were the Toronto Foundry (later the Anthes Foundry), the Snider Lumber Company of Waterloo Limited, which operated mills at Gravenhurst, and the Canada Felting Company Limited of St Jacobs.

Snider is best known for his role in the introduction of public electricity to Ontario. An early convert to the benefits of electricity, in 1894 he had installed a generator at his mill in St Jacobs which also provided power to homes in the town. In 1900 he joined with Daniel Bechtel Detweiler and Joseph Bingeman to form a company to generate power for mines north of Lake Superior. The Michipicoten Falls Power Company Limited was an early success and convinced Snider of the importance of hydroelectric power for industry. In February 1902 he called upon business and community leaders in the area around Berlin to meet and discuss the most effective way to ensure that power generated at Niagara Falls would be made available to businesses and homes in the province. A subsequent meeting in June struck a committee, chaired by Snider, to consider the matter. Snider and Detweiler, the publicist, researcher, and jack-of-all-trades for the venture, spoke to many municipal and business leaders as well as to the Niagara power companies. At a further meeting in February 1903 it was decided to lobby the provincial government either to build transmission lines as a public work or to authorize the municipalities to do so. The government of George William Ross* responded with legislation enabling local governments to proceed. On 12 August Snider became the chair of the Ontario Power Commission, which represented seven municipalities and whose members included London mayor Adam Beck and other leaders. Its report in March 1906 recommended that a cooperative of municipalities construct and operate both a generating and a transmission system for Niagara hydroelectric power. The report was, however, superseded by that of a second commission, appointed in 1905 by the new government of James Pliny Whitney* and chaired by Beck; its recommendation in April 1906 of a provincially owned system carried the day. Four years later Premier Whitney went to Berlin to throw the switch that launched Ontario's hydroelectric system. Snider's role in this development faded from public memory, replaced in great measure by Beck's. In the early 1930s his son William Weber began to lobby the provincial government of George Stewart Henry* to recognize Snider's contribution. This campaign eventually resulted in 1956 in a monument to Snider at St Jacobs and in official recognition from the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.

Snider died in 1921 in Kitchener, where he had gone to live after his second marriage. A member of the Evangelical Association, he was laid to rest in the St Jacobs cemetery. He had enjoyed great success in his life by embracing new technology: a new method of milling flour, new machinery for agriculture, and a new system for delivering electricity.

Andrew Thomson


E. W. B. Snider's article "Waterloo forests and primitive economics" appears in Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report (Kitchener, Ont.), 6 (1918): 14--36.
Kitchener Public Library, Rare Books Dept., MC 5.4 (Dan Detweiler papers); MC 6.17 (E. W. B. Snider papers); E. W. B. Snider file.
Ontario Agricultural Museum (Milton, Ont.), Waterloo Manufacturing Company coll.
Kitchener Daily Record, 17 Oct. 1921.
John English and Kenneth McLaughlin, Kitchener: an illustrated history (Waterloo, 1983).
Neil Freeman, "Turn-of-the-century state intervention: creating the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, 1906," OH, 84 (1992): 171-94.
F. L. Leung, Grist and flour mills in Ontario: from millstones to rollers, 1780s--1880s (Ottawa, 1981).
H. V. Nelles, The politics of development: forests, mines & hydro-electric power in Ontario, 1849--1941 (Toronto, 1974).
Elliott Richmond, "E. W. B. Snider," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report, 9 (1921): 183--88.
W. A. Schmidt, "The Waterloo Manufacturing Co. Limited," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report, 75 (1987): 16-23.
H. S. Turner and R. W. Irwin, Ontario's threshing machine industry: a short history of these pioneer companies and their contribution to Ontario agriculture (Guelph, Ont., 1974).
G. M. Winder, "Following America into corporate capitalism: technology and organization of the Ontario agricultural implements industry to 1930" (phd thesis, Univ. of Toronto, 1991)


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

_________________________-


E. W. B. Snider

Elias Weber Bingeman Snider was born in the town of Waterloo on June 19th, 1842. His parents were Rev. Elias Snider and Hannah Bingeman. His father was interested in farming, and in flour and saw mills in Waterloo town and township. He was a member of the Mennonite Church, in which he was ordained to the ministry in 1874, when quite an elderly man. Associated with Jacob Y. Shantz and others, Elias Snider took great interest in getting Russian Mennonites to settle in Manitoba, from 1872 to 1874.

A most interesting heirloom, now in the possession of Mr. W. W. Snider, an old Swiss Family Bible, printed in 1560, and purchased by Johannes Schneider in 1564 in Switzerland, records that a descendant, a Johannes Schneider, emigrated to Pennsylvania, then a British colony, in 1736. Mr. Snider's great grandfather was born in Pennsylvania in 1758, and emigrated to Canada in 1806, locating in Waterloo township, then nothing but a wilderness.

Mr. Snider received the rudiments of a public school education, but started to work on his father's farm, near Waterloo town, at the age of 12 years, and continued there until his 18th year. In 1860 he began his apprenticeship in his father's flour mill at German Mills, and made himself so familiar with the details of the business, that when he was 20 years old he was promoted to be manager of the mill. In October of 1864 he arranged with his father to run the German Mills on shares, which was continued for some seven years. In January, 1871, Mr. Snider ventured out for himself by purchasing the flour mill at St. Jacobs, where he removed his young family, and where he continued to make his home for some 44 years. Previous to moving to St. Jacobs, Mr. Snider had in his employ a miller by the name of John Braun, of German extraction, who furnished Mr. Snider with a great deal of information regarding milling processes then existing in Austria and Germany. From a business friend, Mr. W. M. Stark, of Toronto, Mr. Snider received further information, as also his first samples, milled in Hungary, of the roller process flour. With this knowledge the keen perception of Mr. Snider foresaw the great possibilities that were open to those who would lead in the transformation of the milling industry from the short process of grinding with mill-stones, to the gradual reduction system, as by the Roller Process, which patience, time, and hard work were to make possible.

Contributed by Mr. Elliott Richmond, of St. Jacobs.

With this object in view, Mr. Snider early in the year 1875 corresponded with the firm of Hoerde and Co., of Vienna, Austria, and on April 26th of the same year, placed the order for what was (as far as known) the first Roller Process machine which was imported into America. This machine was shipped on Sept. 22, 1875, via Hamburg, Germany, to Guelph, Ont., reached its destination on October 20th, 1875, and was installed in the St. Jacobs flour mill. The price of the machine was £114, 11s, ld, with freight charges of £16, 13s, 5d, and a duty of $57.64.

The German name for the machine was "Walzenstuhle," and from this name Mr. Snider appropriated the title "Walzen" for his choicest brand of flour, which for many years commanded the best prices in many markets. This flour proved of such good quality and so superior to the old stone process that an extraordinary demand was created, not only in Ontario and the Maritime Provinces, but also in the New England States, and for export.

It must not be assumed that the importation of this machine from Austria overcame the flour-milling problems. It only opened up greater possibilities. Improvements were the order of the day for years to come, and Mr. Snider, ever on the alert for further advancement, always installed the latest improved machinery. For this reason a staff of mil-wrights was constantly employed, and while the flour-milling industry was the nucleus of Mr. Snider's fortune, it can be truthfully said that many fortunes had to be sacrificed in the transition stages of the industry in the scrapping of machinery, as what was installed one year proved obsolete a year or two later.

One instance of the pioneer miller's difficulties may be cited. The object of the miller was to produce more and more good quality middlings, or "grits" as it was called in the early days, from which the best white flour was made. In those days there were no elevators to lift and discharge the products from the various machines, and the product was caught in bags, and put through the same machine five or six times before the reduction was of the right fineness for the best quality of flour. In other cases the product was caught in bags in the basement of the mill and carried up several flights of steps, and poured into a hopper feeding the next machine. To transform the milling industry from this primitive stage through all its phases to present conditions, was a stupendous task, and many millers fell by the wayside in the struggle, but those whose vision was clear and efforts tireless were amply re-warded. That Mr. Snider made a success of his flour-milling operations is well known and needs no comment.

After the transition period from the stone to the roller process from about 1875 to 1895, milling machinery became more or less standardized, and the fundamental principles being laid only minor changes have been made since that time. In 1884 Mr. Snider embarked upon another enterprise when he bought the foundry in Waterloo from Jacob Bricker, and entered into a co-partnership with Levi Bricker, which continued to 1894. At this time arrange-ments were made between E. W. B. Snider and Absalom Merner and others to incorporate the Waterloo Manufac-turing Company, amalgamating the Bricker foundry and the Merner foundries in Waterloo and Elmira. Mr. Snider was chosen President of the new company and held the position continuously until his death. The business has been gradually concentrated on King St., Waterloo, where the Bricker plant has been greatly enlarged, and where from 150 to 200 men are employed in the manufacture and sale of engines and threshing machinery.

In the early days all the products of the St. Jacobs mill had to be teamed to Waterloo station, and to overcome that haul Mr. Snider promoted the Waterloo Junction Railway, now a part of the Grand Trunk System. Among other interests during his active career he was president of the Anthes Foundry, Toronto; president of the Snider Lumber Co., Gravenhurst; vice-president of the Ontario Sugar Co., Kitchener, in 1904; director of the Niagara Peninsula Power and Gas Co., St. Catharines; but perhaps the greatest achievement of which his friends are justly proud, was the part he had in originating our present hydro power system. He may well be termed "the Father of Hydro Power," for at the banquet of the Waterloo Board of Trade on Feb. 11th, 1902, Mr. Snider predicted that the majority of those present would see the day when our streets and homes would be lighted, and the machinery of our factories supplied, with power generated at Niagara Falls. The prediction was received with a skeptical smile by many present, but we have lived to see the vision more than realized. In the meantime Mr. Snider did a great deal of preliminary investigating regarding the developing, transmitting, and distributing of Niagara power, and the Ontario Power Act, passed June 4th, during the session of 1903, gave municipalities power to act along these lines. Accordingly representatives from some nineteen munici-palities met in Berlin July 9th, 1903, and after a thorough discussion they appointed a committee consisting of E. W. B. Snider, chairman, R. MacGregor, A. Beck, P. W. Ellis, C. H. Waterous, G. McLagan and L. Goldie. This com- mittee met in Toronto July 16th and decided to ask all municipalities interested to send delegates to meet them at the City Hall, Toronto, August 12th, 1903. This was really the organization meeting of "The Ontario Power Commission," of which Mr. Snider was chairman and J. C. Haight, secretary. Meetings were held from time to time during the next three years and the interest grew apace. The last meeting of the Commission was held at 7 to 9 King St. East, Toronto, Sept. 20th, 1906, when at its conclusion, on motion of W. F. Cockshutt and P. W. Ellis, a hearty vote of thanks was tendered the chairman, Mr. Snider, for the assistance and guidance which he had rendered to the Commission as its presiding officer, and for the very large share he had contributed towards making the work of the Commission a success. From that time the work was taken up by the Ontario Government, and "E. W. B." remained an ardent observer of the success it has been.

Being a very busy man commercially, Mr. Snider yet found time to be interested in the municipal affairs of his native county, and although never a member of a municipal board, we find him active in a wider sphere as Liberal member for North Waterloo in the Provincial Legislature for 13 years, 1881 to 1894, when he declined renomination. During his parliamentary term at Toronto his interests centered around a Municipal Fire Insurance Bill, an amendment to the Assessment Act and to Forest Reservation and Preservation. In the noted election of 1896, Mr. Snider upheld the cause of Liberalism in North Waterloo in a contest for the Dominion Parliament, against the late Joseph E. Seagram, in which he was unsuccessful.

Mr. Snider's varied interests often took him far afield, yet he was a real home man, fond of domestic and cultural accomplishments, sociable, and approachable on any subject tinged with human welfare. On the 19th of April, 1864, he married Nancy Weber at Preston and resided at German Mills until they moved to St. Jacobs in 1871. Of this there survive ten out of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters - Clara, Aldred, Cranson, Fernando, William, Edwin, Elias, Ada, Franklin (deceased), Lola and Amy. Mrs. Snider died in 1912. In 1915 Mr. Snider married Helen Shoemaker and took up his residence at 181 Frederick St., Kitchener, where he kept up an active interest in his business, social and religious relationships to the last. One of his last public contributions was an elaborate article on "Waterloo County Forests and Primitive Economics," which appeared in the 1918 Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, and during the last few months of his life he devoted considerable attention to the matter of erecting a suitable monument to the memory of the first pioneers of 'Waterloo County, who are buried near Doon. He died at his home in Kitchener on Saturday evening, October 15th, 1921, after about two weeks' illness, in his 80th year. A great concourse of friends and relatives paid tribute to his memory at the funeral services held in Zion Evangelical Church, Kitchener, on Wednesday after-noon, October 19th. Interment was in Calvary Church Cemetery, St. Jacobs, amid the scenes he loved best.

E. W. B. Snider had vision as well as courage, initiative and faith in his native land. He gave a large measure of valuable citizenship to Canada during a long term of 60 years of business and public life. Replete with good acts, and of sympathetic nature, his life was an inspiration to those who knew. him best; and to a wider circle it was the mainspring of a prodgious undertaking in behalf of the public.


By courtesy of Mr. W. M. Stark the substance of a letter from him, regarding Mr. Snider and the roller mill process, here follows:
Stark Bros. & Co., Flour and Grain Merchants, Toronto, January 12, 1922.

In the year 1871 I was sent out to this office from our London, England, firm to establish a flour business with Canada. About 1872, while on a visit to the Rev. Mr. Boyd, of Crosshill, I was introduced to Mr. E. W. B. Snider of St. Jacobs, where he was running a mill. As our London firm, Stark & Bruce, represented in Great Britain some half dozen of the big flour mills of Vienna and Budapest, I brought out to this country samples of their flour, which was the finest product known up to that date, and when I showed these samples to Mr. Snider he became so interested that he wanted to know from me what mills made the flours and what their process was. I mentioned that they were all roller mills, and gave him the address of several of them. Eventually he received a Milling Journal giving him the information required, wrote to the manufacturers of the milling machinery, and duly im-ported the machinery. He experimented with it for some time before he could get it to work and then succeeded in producing a flour very much superior to what he had hitherto been able to make on the stones, and I was able to get considerable of his product for shipment to our London firm. I believe he was the first miller on this continent to import rolls. I visited the big mills in Minneapolis a short time after and they had nothing of that nature; they still ground on stones.

I may say that I knew Mr. E. W. B. Snider for many years and thought him one of the most progressive business men in Canada. He seemed to be the first to take up any new scheme and invariably succeeded in his efforts. I considered him one of the most modest, unassuming and strictly honest men that I have met in this country^.

Ninth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, Kitchener, Ontario 1921 pg 183 - 188

____________________________

E. W. B. SNIDER, M.P.P., of St. Jacob's, is a son of Elias Snider. who was among the early residents of Waterloo Village, where the subject of our sketch was born in 1842. After arriving at manhood he spent a number of years operating the extensive milling establishment at German Mills, Waterloo Township; but about ten years since he purchased the large mills at St. Jacob's, which he has conducted with success ever since, in connection with other mills in New Dundee. Mr. Snider has spared sufficient time from business affairs to become familiar with the leading political problems, and to keep himself fully abreast of the times in his information on all public topics. Has taken a leading and practical interest in the various political campaigns the county, on the Liberal side of the question, and in June last was nominated and elected by that party to the seat in the Ontario Legislature rendered vacant by the resignation of Moses Springer, the former member.

Illustrated Atlas of the County of Waterloo, H. Parsell & Co., Toronto, Ont. 1881

_____________________

Waterloo Foundry, Bricker & Co., King Street, Waterloo - Was established by Mr. Jacob Bricker, father of the present senior member of the firm. It was started in a comparatively small way, and it required untiring exertions and a lively spirit of enterprise to build it up to important proportions; but those qualities were not wanting, as the result achieved testified. The business is now conducted by Messrs. Levi Bricker and E.W.B. Snider, under the firm title of Bricker & Co. The 38 years that have passed since the founding of the business have seen many extensions in the buildings to accommodate the increasing trade, until to-day their extent is as follows: Main building, 45x100 feet in dimensions and two stories in height; moulding shop and engine room, 50x80 feet, one story; blacksmiths' shop, 30x40 feet, one story; paint shop, 30x50 feet, one story frame; and implement shed, 34x100 feet, one story frame. In these employment is furnished to 40 skilled and competent workmen. The firm manufactures a general line of agricultural implements, including reapers, mowers, binders, threshers and hay binders, besides general job work and repairing. The work turned out at this foundry is of the very best description, superior in quality and perfect in finish, which has been the main cause in building up and retaining their extensive trade. The annual output of the concern is over $40,000. Both members of the firm are natives of Canada; Mr. Bricker, the senior member, being the practical man and supervising the work, while Mr. Snider attends to the financial and business affairs, the latter gentleman being a representative of the North Riding of Waterloo in the Local House. The industry they conduct is alike creditable to themselves and the town of Waterloo.

Industries of Canada Historical and Commercial Sketches Hamilton and Environs 1886

_____________________


E. W. B. SNIDER

This gentleman needs no introduction to the within the scope of The Chronicle circulation at least, for he is so widely identified with important industrial enterprise, and his long and favorable career as one of our provincial legislators in such convincing evidence of his popularity among his constituents, that any eulogistic remarks from the CHRONICLE scribe would seem superfluous. But regardless of the honors and success heaped upon him he is a plain every-day man and is the last person to court newspaper notoriety , consequently, this sketch goes out unsolicited by him. I simply wish to give The CHRONICLE readers a synopsis of this long business career. It is not in the spirit of vain flattery that I do this, but it is merely for reflection - what some men can accomplish, where others fail who have the same opportunities before them. The flouring mills of which Mr. Snider is sole owner, were erected in 1851 by the late Jacob Snyder for his son Jacob. The mills were acquired by the present proprietor February 1^st 1871, and it is now known as the Pioneer Roller Process flour mill. It received this name in 1875 when he imported a roller process mill from Messrs. Hoerde & Co. of Vienna, Austria, the first roller process machinery brought into and operated in the Dominion. Prominent millers from New York and Minnesota come here to see it work and soon afterwards adopted it also. But this also soon was out of date and Mr. Snider, ever on the alert to keep up in the race for improvement in mill machinery abandoned the old and introduced the new. The difference was, the old process consisted of one reduction on mill stones, while the new or gradual reduction system by making from two to four reductions to finish the product of the wheat. Mr. Snider was for about ten years in charge of the German Mills below Berlin where be attained practical ideas in flour making while under the instructions of a German miller by the name of John Brown. Ever since the old process was abolished he has kept on remodeling and improving his mill until to-day it is one of the best equipped country mills in the Province. The constant increasing patronage demanded new and more modern methods. There are now six double sets rollers, five 9x24 and one 9x30. Such extensive improvements were made in 1896 that the mill was actually rebuilt. In the same year he added the Plan Sifter for bolting. The mill has a capacity for grinding 150 barrels per day. While running on full time it is capable of grinding 150,000 to 175,000 bushels of wheat per annum. They have ground 35,000 bushels of wheat this season since September, and at this writing have about 30,000 bushels on hand. They have used thousands of bushels of Manitoba wheat for their Lower Province trade. The bulk of their shipments this year have been to Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast. Mr. Snider was the first miller in this section to export flour to the British Isles. The first export shipment was in February 1874, to London, England, when the freight was $2.07 per barrel at the present time 60 cts. per barrel is considered a stiff price. Their export trade has gradually increased. For the past two months they have exported to the old country 6,500 sacks of flour of 140 pounds each. This mill has abundance of power, there being from 65 to 70 horse power steam, and water sufficient for 100 horse power. The mill at present is in the hands of a first class miller, Mr. E F.Mielke who was for eight years in Mr. Snider's mills in New Dundee. The power of the St. Jacobs mille is also utilized in furnishing 100 electric lights for Mr. Snider's residence, the mill and the business men of the village. This feature was introduced in 1894. Besides being proprietor of this establishment Mr. Snider is a large stock-holder in and is President of the Waterloo Manufacturing Co. Limited, and President of the Snider Lumber Co., who have a saw-mill at Gravenhurst with a capacity of turning out from 35,000 to 40,000 feet of lumber per day. He also owns the New Dundee mills and has a large mill in Iowa . He also has part interest in the St . Jacobs glue factory and is owner of a foundry in Toronto. He has six sons who are valuable assistants to him in the management of his vest business interests. Aldred and Edwin are at Gravenhurst, Cranson, with the Waterloo Manufacturing Co, Fernando at New Dundee and William and Elias at home. Mr. Spider was born in Waterloo in 1842, and has followed the milling business since he was 18 years of age, commencing at German Mills. He was elected to the Ontario Legislature in June, 1881, and was a member of the same for thirteen sessions. He was returned by three contests and once by acclamation. He was the promoter and president of the railroad, and it was particularly through his instrumentality that the road was put through from Waterloo to Elmira

Waterloo Chronicle 9 Dec 1897, p. 2


Business:
Also known as Waterloo Foundry and Waterloo Manufacturing Company

Elias married Nancy Weber 19 Apr 1864, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Nancy (daughter of David B. Weber and Mary "Polly" "Pauline" Lyons) was born 11 Nov 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 28 Nov 1912, Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, USA; was buried , Calvary United Brethern Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Agnes Weber
• Name: Nancy Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7800
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1864, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association

Notes:

Nancy Weber," was born November 11th, 1842. On April 19th, 1864, she was married to E. W. B. Snider."

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.].
__________________


....… passing away of another of the loved and respected residents of this place. On Nov. 18th Mr. E. W. B. Snider, daughter Ada and her mother left here for Rochester, Minn., where Mrs. Snider intended taking a course of treatment of cancer. Upon the advice of relatives and friends they changed their point of destination, going to Battle Creek, Mich., where one of the best hospitals is located. Upon examination by the specialists, an operation was decided upon and was preformed about a week before her death. At first there seemed hopes for prolonging her life at least a short time. But a turn for the worse set in and on Thursday morning, Nov. 28th, the deceased passed peacefully to her reward. The late Mrs. Snider was born near Strasburg, where she was united in marriage to her bereaved husband 48 years ago. She had been a resident of St. Jacobs ever since. The husband, six sons and four daughters, mourn her sudden demise. The children are: Alfred, Brantford; Cranson, Fernardo and Edwin of Waterloo; William, Elias, Mrs. Alfred Snyder, Misses Ada, Lola and Amy, St. Jacobs. The deceased was of a retiring and kind disposition and was loved by all who knew her. The funeral, which took place on Monday to the Evangelical cemetery, was largely attended by near friends and relatives. The service was conducted by Rev. W.O. Hehn. Five of the (word missing in original) and the son-in-law acted as pallbearers.


Elmira Advertiser 5 Dec 1912

Other Events:

• Interesting: pioneer, story, religion
• Land: Waterloo Township - Bechtel Tract, Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 007, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 012, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Name: Elias Schneider
• Residence: German Mills (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5819
• Historic Building: Abt 1812, 172 King St. S., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Erb Kumpf House
• Occupation: 1835, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; miller
• Historic Building: 1849, 36 Young St. W., Waterloo, Ontario; Dr. Voelker House
• Elected Office: 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; coucillor - Waterloo Township
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; miller
• 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
• Occupation: 1874, Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo, Ontario; Minister
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Rev. Elias Snider "was born September 3rd, 1815. In his boyhood days he took great interest in his father's business. By the time he was twenty-one years of age he was not only a practical miller but also a thorough business man. In 1851 he purchased from the late Barnabas Devitt the large farm containing 310 acres of land, for Ð1500 and in 1853 he purchased the large grist mills now in possession of Wm. Snider & Co., together with 320 acres of land for Ð3500 In 1854 be again sold the large real estate in the town of Waterloo and purchased the "Musselman Farm" about one mile north of Waterloo, to which place he then moved. In 1860 he purchased the German Mills together with 669 acres of land. The same year he, in company with Samuel S. Schneider, regained possession of the Waterloo Mills and continued in business until 1879 when they sold out to the present proprietors. Mr. Snider now retired from business. On November 10th 1835, he was married to Hannah, daughter of John and Hannah (Bergey) Bingeman. She was born August 1st 1815, and died December 23rd, 1893. In 1874 Mr. Snider was ordained to the ministry of the Mennonite body which position he held until his death which took place April 24th, 1890. His family consisted of twelve 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.].

_______________________

Erb Street (David Eby) Mennonite Church

Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929).

Due to a difference of opinion in the David Eby congregation, Sunday School classes were held at first in a private home, that of Levi Groff, beginning in 1887. The dissension which resulted culminated in a division in the church in 1889; the minister, Elias Schneider, and the deacon, Menno S. Shantz, left the church and joined with the Old Order Mennonites of Woolwich Township. The following year, 1890, saw the commencement of "Edification Meetings", which were held in the homes of members of the David Eby congregation. These meetings later became the Young People's Bible Meetings.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, it was recognized that the church building was either in need of repair or in need of complete replacement. Consideration was given to building a new church on the same site or on a site on King Street North. A decision was made to accept from Samuel S. Snider the donation of a parcel of land which was also on Erb Street, but nearer town. Excavation of the foundation for the new church began in the Spring of 1902. A dedication service was held on August 17, 1902. A parsonage was built in 1929 on land donated by Herbert Snider, the son of Samuel Snider. The church building was renovated and enlarged in 1949-1950; a dedication service was held on April 9, 1950. Further renovations were made in 1974..


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

____________

SNIDER.-In Waterloo township, Waterloo county, Ontario, on the 24th of April, Pre. Elias Snider, aged 74 years, 7 months and 21 days. Buried on the 27th at Martin's church, Waterloo township, where a very large concourse of relatives and friends had gathered, and on which occasion Paul Martin and Bish. Abraham Martin spoke from Psalm 126: 5, 6: and Luke 2: 29,30.

Herald of Truth pages, Vol. XXVII, Number 10, May 15, 1890, p. 157 and 158

Historic Building:
The original portion of the Erb-Kumpf House was built around 1812 by Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo, making it one of Waterloo's oldest homes. It was a three-bay structure facing a mill situated near the south-west corner of King and Erb Streets.
Abraham Erb came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1806 and settled on Lots 14 and 15 of the German Company Tract, land which now comprises the central business district of Waterloo. He established a sawmill on Beaver (Laurel) Creek in 1808 and a grist mill in 1816. In 1828, he sold his mills and a considerable quantity of land to Jacob C. Snider.
Magdalene Erb sold the home to Barnabas Devitt, her adopted son, in 1835. His son Benjamin served as Mayor of Waterloo from 1881 to 1883.
An addition to the house was probably built by Devitt in 1849. A slight hump in the roof on the north side indicates the location at which it joins the original structure. The application of a vertical board and clapboard which does not align is further evidence that it was added at a later date. The second addition, probably built by Hoffman around 1855, included the two-storey verandah at the front.

Elias Snider acquired the home and later sold it to Christian Kumpf in 1869. Kumpf was a newspaper owner, Mayor of Waterloo from 1879-1880, as well as Postmaster for 42 years. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Dominion Life Assurance Company in 1889. His son Ford, who became affectionately known as "Mr. Waterloo", was born in the home in 1877 and assumed ownership in 1899. One of the community's most public-spirited citizens, he served as Treasurer of Waterloo and Clerk/Manager of the Water and Light Commission. He was President of the Waterloo Red Cross Society and The Dominion Life Assurance Company.
At present, the house demonstrates a mixture of architectural styles. Among its Georgian characteristics is the six-over-six window pane arrangement. The facade, with its two wings, treillage, Gothic barge board and Doric columns, reflects the Regency influence.
In 1979, the home was sold to a law firm which has maintained the integrity of the exterior. A third addition in keeping with the style of the building has since been constructed.<sup>1a

1a</sup>Designated Properties www. waterloo.ca

Historic Building:
Constructed by Barnabus Devitt in 1849 and sold to Elias Snider in 1851.

Occupation:
Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929).<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]

Elias married Hannah Bingeman 10 Nov 1835, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Hannah (daughter of Johannes "John" Bingeman and Hannah S. Bergey) was born 1 Aug 1815, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 23 Dec 1893; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Hannah Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00009-1050
• Residence: 1835, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Hannah Bingeman, " was born August 1st, 1815. On November 10th, 1835, she was married to Rev. Elias Snider who was born September 3rd, 1815, and died April 24th, 1890. She died December 23rd, 1893. They resided in the farm now possessed by their son Jonas. Their family consisted of twelve 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.].

___________________

Mr. E. W. B. Snider's mother was buried at the Martin church cemetery on Tuesday.

Elmira Signet 4 Jan. 1894 p. 8, Col. 2

Other Events:

• Interesting: story, building, religion
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7766
• Historic Building: Abt 1820, 69 Biehn Dr., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

David R. Weber," was born November 2nd, 1800, and emigrated to Canada when quite a young man while the others of the family remained in Pennsylvania. Here he was married to Mary Lyons who was born May 19th, 1803, and died July 10th, 1871. They resided on a farm near Strasburg, now in possession of their son Noah. Their family consisted of fifteen 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.].

________________________

Pioneer Park (Weber/Strasburg) Christian Fellowship Mennonite Church

Early services were held in the homes of the first settlers, perhaps as early as 1833. Services often were held at the home of David Weber who lived across from where the church would be located. David Sherk was ordained deacon to serve the group in 1837, and in the next year, 1838, he was ordained minister. He was followed in 1840 by John Steckle (Stoeckle).

In 1842, David Weber donated one acre of land for a meeting house and burial ground. The deed was dated March 23, 1854, although the meeting house had been built in 1843. A new yellow brick church was built in 1894 on the same site. Noah Stauffer, who had been ordained in 1876 to assist John Steckle, was minister at the time. A Sunday School was organized in the 1890s; Sunday School records date from 1898. In 1899 the first Bible Conference to be held in an Ontario Mennonite church was held in the Weber church.

In 1971-1972 the church was enlarged and completely renovated. During that time - from October 17, 1971 to January 23, 1972 - the congregation met in the Herbert Feick home on Doon Village Road. On September 24, 1872 the congregation celebrated the 130th Anniversary of the building of the first meeting house. The name of the church was changed to Pioneer Park Christian Fellowship Mennonite Church in 1972.

In 1951 the congregation had purchased from Clifford Snider an additional acre of land located behind the church. In 1976, for the sum of $1, the congregation acquired a sixty-five foot strip of land along the south edge of the church property from Major Holdings & Development Co. A new church was built within several feet of the old yellow brick one which was removed; the date on the cornerstone is 1980. The 150th Anniversary of the construction of the first meeting house is to be celebrated in 1993.

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

Historic Building:
Built about 1840, it has stone walls and a stencilled ceiling in the home's main room. The stencilled ceiling has been identified as the work of John Moser and 1860's era painter who died similar work in a house restories in the 1970's in Cobourg.<sup>1a

1a</sup>The Kitchener-Waterloo Record 11 May 1981

David married Mary "Polly" "Pauline" Lyons , Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Abraham Lyons and Mary Biehn) was born CALC 17 May 1803; died 8 Jul 1871; was buried , Pioneer Park Mennonite Cemetery, [formerly Weber Mennonite Biehn Drive Cemetery] Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Lyons
• Name: Mary "Polly" "Pauline" Weber
• Name: Pauline Lyons
• Name: Polly Lyonett
• Name: Polly Lyons
• Eby ID Number: 00008-971.2
• Birth: 19 May 1803, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Death: 10 Jul 1871, Strasburg (Kitchener) Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• Name: Jacob C. Schneider
• Eby ID Number: 00106-5817
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image
• Occupation: 1835, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; miller
• Residence: 1845, 194 Forsyth Dr., Waterloo, Ontario
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Jacob C. Snider "was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, February 19th, 1791. On July 21st., 1812, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Anna (Schowalter) Cressman. She was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, June 10th, 1791 and died in Waterloo, Ontario, January 12th, 1879. Soon after his marriage he moved on his farm a little to the west of the town of Waterloo where he resided until his death. Not many years after his arrival in Waterloo County he purchased the mill property belonging to the estate of Abraham Erb. Here he was engaged, besides farming, in the milling and saw-mill business and later erected the distillery. He died June 19th, 1865, leaving a family of nine children

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

__________________________

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church

The congregation was founded in 1837 by Rev. F.W. Bindemann, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Kitchener; early services were held in homes or other suitable meeting places. Property for the first church building was purchased from Jacob C. Snider for 5 shillings (approximately $1.25). The cornerstone was laid in the spring of 1838 and dedication services in the new church at 72 King Street North in Waterloo were held in the fall of the same year. Rev. Bindemann was pastor. He was replaced in 1841 by Rev. Jacob Huettner of Preston who then ministered to both congregations. When the church's first membership list was compiled on October 24, 1841, the congregation numbered sixteen persons.

The frame church was destroyed by fire and replaced by a new, larger one in 1883. This, too, was destroyed by fire - on October 31, 1959. The congregation then built a new stone church at a new location on Willow Street, with dedication taking place on October 14, 1962.

Early pastors except for Rev. Bindemann (1837-1841), who was asked to resign in 1841, were Revs. J. Huettner (1841-1849), F.A. Peifer, Immanuel Wurster (1851-1855), and Jacob Hoelsche who began his ministry in 1855. Rev. Wurster ministered to St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Preston jointly with St. John's for one year until assuming charge of only Preston in 1855.

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

_______________________


On the 19th of June, in Waterloo Co., C.W., of liver complaint and dropsy, Jacob Schneider, aged 74 years, and 4 months. He was born in Franklin Co., Pa., in 1791, emigrated with his father to Waterloo Co., C.W., in 1805; married to Elizabeth Kressman in 1812, and leaves an aged widow and 5 children to mourn their loss. He was calm and composed during his sickness and we hope he has gone from this weary world to rest in his Father's house in heaven. He was buried on the 21st, followed to the grave by a large concourse of relatives and friends, on which occasion the brethren Geo. R. Schmidt and Joseph Hegey preached a funeral discourse from Rev. 3: 21. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I I(sic) also overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne." E.S.

Herald of Truth July 1865 - Vol. II, No.7 Page 56

______________________

On September 1st, 1829, Abraham Erb transferred 240 acres of land including his saw-mill and flour-mill to Jacob C. Snider, who had moved from Pennsylvania to a farm a little west of the present town, and Mr. Snider, great-grandfather of Frederick W. Snider, who is now, with his partner, the owner of the same flour mill, carried on business here for many years.

As the waterpower was not sufficient for his purposes, he installed a steam plant. As he then had more power than he required, he added a distillery to his other lines, and this branch of the business was carried on actively for a long time.

His son Elias then rented the mill, and, as he objected to having the still, his father removed it to his own farm. Jacob C Snider transferred 320 acres to his son Elias in 1853, (see County Records), including the mill property and much of what is now the central part of town. A landmark for many years was a tall poplar tree which stood near the mill. It was said that early in the century a poplar switch was used to drive a team of horses from Pennsylvania, and, on his arrival, the driver planted the switch near the mill. It grew to be a very large tree, five feet or more in diameter, and for many years a heavy cable circled it several times as an anchor for a tall iron smokestack, the bark finally growing over the cable. The tree was cut down in the 90's to make way for street improvements, the tree having been planted before there was a street.

The community had a very slow growth for three decades or more after Abraham Erb first located in the cedar swamp, for Jacob C. Snider, like his predecessor, was not anxious to sell his land in small lots to intending settlers. He had a large family and preferred holding his lands as an inheritance.

....In the year 1854, Elias Snider sold most of his holdings of land to John Hoffman and Isaac Weaver, retaining the mill property, the dam and various lots. The price obtained was said to have been $32,000. The land was surveyed by Mr. Schofield, a well known Berlin surveyor of that time, staked off into lots, and the lots sold.

Sixteenth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, 1928, A Historical Sketch of the Town of Waterloo, Ontario, Clayton W. Wells, L.D.S., D. D. S.

________________________

Snider - Forsyth - Home
194 Forsyth Dr, Waterloo
Part of Lot 22, German Company Tract


The Germany Company, originating in Pennsylvania, was initially comprised of 26 shareholders. These shareholders raised 10,000 pounds to purchase 60,000 acres of property which came to be known as Waterloo Township. The property was bought from Richard Beasley. He, along with two partners, had purchased a total of 94,012 acres from the Crown who held the land in trust for Chief Joseph Brant of the Mohawk or Five Nations Indians. This transaction took place in 1798.

Lot 22 of the German Company Tract originally comprised 448 acres stretching between boundaries now defined approximately by streets Erb and Glasgow. It was sold by David and Jacob Erb, agents of the German Company, to Abraham Gingrich in 1805. In 1815, David Gingrich, Abraham's son, sold the lot to John Binkley of Ancaster. Binkley, in turn, sold the entire 448 acres to Jacob C. Snider in 1842.

Jacob C Snider was a Mennonite. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1790 and worked as a yeoman. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1791. The house at 194 Forsyth Drive was built by Jacob C. Snider in 1845. This fact is recorded in the census records of 1861. The original house was a two-storey, typical Georgian frame with walls 15 - 16 inches thick. These walls were made of concrete and brick, and were covered by a clapboard exterior. The entire house, at that time, was comprised of the present day living room and centre hall.

In 1853, Jacob C. sold the property to his nephew, Samuel S., a farmer. In 1864, Samuel took out a mortgage for $6,000 from the Canada Permanent Building Society. The mortgage was discharged in 1863 according to the 1861 census. Samuel and his wife Anna had 8 children - Cyrus, Elizabeth, Catherine, Hiram, Samuel, Menno, Susanna and Titus. With a family of this size it is speculated that the money was used for very needy additions. These included four second floor bedrooms, a third floor attic, a dining room, and the present-day kitchen. The architectural design of the addition was Gothic rather than the original Georgian. This is evident in the pointed cathedral window, the centre peaked roof, and the decorative mouldings above the east and west entrances to the centre hall.

One of the interesting additions to the house involves a separate building of brick construction which may be entered from the living room of the main house. The date of this addition is unclear according to some reports. It was used as a laundry prior to 1936. In a recent interview with Mrs. Howard Snider, who moved into the house as a new bride in 1929,[Howard and Linda were married in 1919] this addition was referred to by her as the "milk house," for the farm was still operational in those years. Mrs. Snider's daughter recalls, "my sister was old enough then to do the selling [of milk] to the townspeople. We would bring the milk from the barn, and use the milk house as our dairy." It is quite possible, however, that this building had been constructed prior to 1851 as "the doddy house" of Jacob and Elizabeth, for the census records of that year described their home as a "one storey brick." It was a very common Mennonite practice in those days for parents to have an add-on building constructed to the home of a son or daughter. Housed in this room is an enormous Dutch oven which was used for cooking. It remains uncertain whether this was the original location, or whether it had been relocated from another area of the house. While the large metal doors used to close the oven have been removed to expose the hearth, the cranes for supporting huge cooking pots remain.

Of the 448 acre property, Samuel sold 117 acres to his son, Titus, in 1903 for $8,000. In 1908, the executors of Titus Snider sold the property to George H. Hahn for $10,550. Six years later, the land was returned to the Snider family, this time to Jacob S., a ninth child of Samuel S., born after the 1861 census. The cost was $17,550. For the same amount Jacob sold the land to his son Howard S. in 1929. Jacob and his family then moved to the farm house now designated as 131 William Street West [Waterloo]. Howard sold various parcels of his land off, including a sizeable portion to the Westmount Golf and Country Club, and 56 acres, a
at a cost of $16,782 to John Derby C. Forsyth.

The Forsyths, who purchased the property in 1936 never lived at 194 Forsyth Drive, the street which now bears his name. It was purchased as a guest house. Shortly after they acquired the property, the old barn was torn down and an elaborate new one was built. Pine beams from the old were salvaged and sawed into mellow panelling for the livingroom and master bedroom of the house. "He didn't want to leave the land empty," said Mrs. Forsyth, "so he put in grain and bought a herd of purebred Jersey cattle. He lost money every year."

In 1947, the house was sold to Dominion Life Assurance Company. They planned a housing development and put the house up for sale. While the tender of Dr. Archie Case was not the highest submitted, his plans for the house most appealed to the company, and the property became his the following year. In his renovations, three-quarters of the house was replastered, and the old fashioned closed stairway was opened onto the centre hall. Part of the livingroom was put up on jacks, and garages were constructed under it at basement level. Adverse to change of any sort in the refurbishing, Dr. Case contracted for copies of the rotting window sashes, interior trim; and clapboard for exterior repairs was specially milled.

In 1963, the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. J. Askin. Subsequent owners to the Askins included Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Epp in 1978 - 1980, and a Ms. D. Crossan and a Mr. D. Zimmer, 1980 - 1982.

Much of the research for the history was done by Marg Rowell, Waterloo. This was printed with permission by Marion Roes from the framed history hanging in the hall of the 2008 owners.

Jacob married Elizabeth Cressman 21 Jul 1812. Elizabeth (daughter of John Cressman and Anna Schowalter) was born 10 Jun 1791, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 12 Jan 1879, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Snider
• Eby ID Number: 00028-2064
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image
• Residence: 1845, 194 Forsyth Dr., Waterloo, Ontario
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Elizabeth Cressman, "the third daughter, was born June 10th, 1791. She was married to Jacob C. Schneider who was born February 19th, 1791, and died June 19th, 1865. She died January 12th, 1879. To them were born nine children"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28023204
• Name: John Bingeman
• Eby ID Number: 00009-1044
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone of John Bingeman
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 114, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 05E, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 011, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer

Notes:

John Bingeman, "who was born in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, March 15th, 1783. On November 3rd, 1805, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Abraham and Esther (Shantz) Bergey. She was born December 16th, 1787. In 1825 they with their large family moved to Canada and settled near what is now Bridgeport, Ontario. The following summer they moved on the east side of the Grand River. This is now in possession of Moses Kraft, one of their grand-children. He died October 18th, 1854, and she died June 11th, 1868. To them was born a family of fourteen 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.].

_________________________

A-1-46 John Bingeman: Administration to the Estate of John Bingeman, formerly of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman, deceased, granted anede issued the 11 November 1854 to his widow Hannah Bingeman, after giving proof that her said husband was dead and dying intestate on or about the 18^th October next before, and on her giving surety herself and in the person orf Jonas Bingeman, of the aforesaid Township, Yeoman, and Elias Snyder, of the same place, Yeoman, each in the sum of £500/-. The Inventory of the chattels and goods left by said deceased at the time of his demise and the same delivered and on file in this office, amounting to £417/17/1 1/2d

Died October 18 1854
Letters granted 9 November 1854
Inventory £417/17/1 1/2

Surrogate Court Records Copybook Register A 1853-1871 transcript to 1863. Frances Hoffman transcriber.

Johannes married Hannah S. Bergey 3 Nov 1805. Hannah (daughter of Abraham Bergey and Esther Shantz) was born 16 Dec 1787, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 11 Jun 1868, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 13 Jun 1868, First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Hannah S. Bingeman
• Eby ID Number: 00004-857
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone of Hannah S. Bergey

Notes:

Hannah S. Bergey," was married to John Bingeman."


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 11th of June, in Waterloo Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, of apoplexy, HANNAH, widow of John BINGEMAN, aged 80 years, 5 months, and 25 days. Her maiden name was Berge. She was a native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She lived in wedlock forty-nine years and in widowhood nearly fourteen years, was the mother of fourteen children, nine of whom are still living, and leaves ninety-five grand-children and eighty-two great-grand-children. She was buried on the 13th in Ch. Eby's burying-ground. A funeral sermon was delivered by Pre. G. R. Smith from Eph. 2: 1, 5, and by Pre. Joseph Hegy from Rev. 14: 13.


Herald of Truth - Volume V, Number 8 - August, 1868, page 127, 128

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00127-7765

Notes:

Joseph Weber," seventh son of Christian and Magdalena (Ruth) Weber, was born in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was married to Anna Burkholder. They had a numerous family but names of children have not been handed to the writer. We know that one son was named IV David R."


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.].

(Joseph's mother Magdalena(Ruth) Weber, was Magdalena Rutt who married Christian Weber.)

Joseph — Anna Burkholder. Anna was born Abt 1765, Of, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Weber
• Eby ID Number: 00127-7765.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00008-971.1

Notes:

Weber Mennonite Cemetery: Abraham's stone reads Abraham Lyons/ Born 1774/ Died 1804/ Aged 30 years

Abraham married Mary Biehn 1799. Mary (daughter of John Biehn and Barbara Fried) was born 1766, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Lyons
• Eby ID Number: 00008-971

Notes:

Mary Biehn, " the eldest, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1766. She was married to Abraham Lyons in 1799. He was born in 1774 and died at Strasburg, Ontario, in 1804. To them was born one child named IV Mary who was married to David B. Weber.


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.].