Samantha Marilla Thoman

Other Events:

• Name: Samantha Marilla Devitt
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-23454

Samantha married Emanuel Devitt 8 Mar 1899, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Emanuel (son of Dennis K. Devitt and Caroline Schweitzer) was born 1877, Mannheim, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1928; was buried , Mannheim Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00122-7534
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Blacksmith
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carriage Dealer
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer, Farm
• Residence: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Albert Tohman, "is married to Nancy Stauffer. He resides in Berlin where he is doing a well-paying business in horseshoeing, carriage ironing, and general blacksmithing. His family consists of seven children"¹

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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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

Albert — Nancy Stauffer. Nancy (daughter of Jacob R. Stouffer and Maria Sanborne) was born 27 Feb 1857, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada; died 5 Feb 1925, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nancy Thoman
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7410.3
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128207203
• Name: Emanuel Tohman
• Name: Emanuel Toman
• Eby ID Number: 00122-7530
• Occupation: 1852, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Protestant
• Business: CA 1865, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; St. Jacob's Heading and Rake Factory
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Millwright
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mill Right
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Methodist

Notes:

Emanuel Tohman, "brother to William, was born April 19th, 1829. They reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he is engaged as a builder. About fifty years ago he was married to Anna Erb who was born November 6th, 1826. To them was born 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.].

Emanuel married Anna Erb 26 Nov 1850, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Anna (daughter of David G. Erb and Nancy W. Eby) was born 6 Nov 1826, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 3 Oct 1908, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Thoman
• Eby ID Number: 00032-2841
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Protestant
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Methodist

Notes:

Anna Erb, "was born November 6th, 1826. She is married to Emanuel Thoman. They reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and have had 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.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00117-7410
• Occupation: 1881, Pickering Twp., York Co., Ontario; farmer

Notes:

Jacob R. Stauffer, "was born August 8th, 1828. He is married to Maria Sanborne. They reside at Lincoln Falls, Washington, U.S., where he is engaged in farming. They have five 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.].

Jacob — Maria Sanborne. Maria was born 1825, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Stouffer
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7410.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00122-7530.2

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200542536
• Eby ID Number: 00032-2836
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer

Notes:

David Erb, "the eldest of the family, was born in Pennsylvania, February 21st, 1797. He was nine years of age when his parents moved to Canada and settled in this County. He was married to Nancy, eldest daughter of George and Barbara (Wenger) Eby. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, October 13th, 1801, and died March 4th, 1887. Soon after their marriage they moved a little north-east of the town of Waterloo, on the farm now possessed by Jacob Groff. Here they resided many years, but after their family was raised they sold the farm and moved to Bridgeport, Ontario, where they resided until his death which took place August 25th, 1883. After his death she had her home with her daughter, Susan, who resides in Thedford, Huron County, where she died a few years afterwards. 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.].

______________________________

Bridgeport United Church

The early Evangelical Association congregations in Berlin and Waterloo date back to August 1839 when a Camp Meeting was held over a number of days at David Erb's farm (Lot 7, German Company Tract) at Lexington. Classes (or congregations) in Berlin and in Waterloo were organized at that meeting by Bishop John Seybert - on August 29th. Twenty-six charter members were divided into the two classes. Class leader for Waterloo and vicinity was Jacob Hoffman. His brother, John, was class leader for Berlin.

The Waterloo class, along with classes at Lexington and Breslau, was connected to the Berlin Mission until the organization of the Canada Conference of the Evangelical Association in 1864. The Waterloo Mission was formed at that time. In 1866 the Breslau class was merged with the Lexington class and in 1876 the Lexington class, with 31 members, was referred to as the Bridgeport class for the first time.

An old log schoolhouse was purchased in 1879 for $500.00 on condition that it be used only for Sunday School services, not for preaching. The exterior walls were covered with lumber and the building was dedicated on November 9, 1879. A new white brick church was built ten years later, in 1889, when the old schoolhouse became inadequate for the growing congregation. This church was in use until 1934 when the present building was completed. A decision had been made at a congregational meeting in July 1933 to proceed with construction of a new church. The ground-breaking service was held on August 28, 1933 and on October 1 of that year the cornerstone was laid by Rev. W.J. Zimmerman. Dedication services were held in the new red brick church on Sunday March 18, 1934. In 1942 the old brick church was sold to Mr. Minnacker for $100. An addition which was built on to the west side of the church in 1958 provided additional space for the Sunday School, as well as offices and a kitchen. The new complex was dedicated on November 30, 1958 with Professor John F. Schaefer of Naperville, Illinois preaching the dedication sermon.

Bridgeport and Waterloo were a joint parish from 1876 until 1910, when Bridgeport was joined with Strasburg. This association lasted until 1914 when Bridgeport called its own full-time pastor. The Evangelical Church joined with the United Brethren in Christ Church on November 16, 1946 to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. On January 1, 1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren joined with the United Church, Emmanuel's name was changed once again - to Emmanuel United Church. In February 1987 the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Bridgeport United Church.

Rev. J. Kaechele (1864-1865) was pastor in 1864 when the Waterloo Mission was formed; Solomon Kraft was the Bridgeport class leader when the schoolhouse was bought in 1879 and Rev. S.R. Knechtel (1888-1891) was pastor in 1889 when the new white brick church was built.

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

____________________________

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

_______________________________


Emmanuel United Church

The first Evangelical missionaries arrived in the Waterloo area in 1837. The first Waterloo class (congregation) was formed on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert during a camp meeting at David Erb's farm near Lexington. Jacob Hoffman was the Waterloo-Lexington class leader; his brother, John, was class leader in Berlin. A brick building which was erected by Samuel Burkholder in 1849 on Church Street, near King, was offered to the congregation for their use as a church, rent free, provided that they agreed to finish and furnish the building. Dedication of the new church was in 1851. The house, known as Burkholder House, is still standing, but Church Street in Waterloo is now known as Central Street.

In the early 1890s Waterloo was in the North District of the Canada Conference of the Evangelical Association, and was ministered to jointly with Bridgeport. Pastors in those years were Revs. C.R. Knechtel (1890-1891), F. Meyer (1892), D. Kreh (1893), and W.J. Yaeger (1894).

A new church, which was built in 1871 at the corner of Cedar and Water Streets (now Bridgeport Road and Dorset Street), was replaced in 1905 by the present structure. Dedication was in May, 1906. Emmanuel Hall was built in 1938. Changes made in 1963 included an addition, a new front entrance and renovation of the former Christian Education area.

On November 16, 1946 the Evangelical Church joined with congregations of the United Brethren in Christ Church to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. When the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined the United Church of Canada as of January 1, 1968, Emmanuel became a United Church..

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

David — Nancy W. Eby. Nancy (daughter of George S. Eby and Barbara Wenger) was born 13 Oct 1801, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 4 Mar 1887, Thedford, Lambton Co., Ontario; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200542654
• Name: Agnes Eby
• Name: Anna Eby
• Name: Nancy W. Erb
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2675
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association

Notes:

Nancy Eby, "the eldest daughter of George and Barbara (Wenger) Eby, was born in Pennsylvania, October 13th, 1801, and died March 4th, 1887. She was married to David Erb who was born February 21st, 1797, and died August 25th, 1883. "

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: 00117-7407

Notes:

Christian Stauffer, "son of John Stauffer, was born February 17th, 1799. He was raised in York County, Ontario, near Stouffville, where he was married, April 15th, 1823, to Magdalena Raymer who was born June 8th, 1796, and died April 2nd, 1888. In their old age they moved to Oxford County, near Plattsville, where he died September 25th, 1868. To them was born a family of eight children"


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

Christian married Magdalena Raymer 15 Apr 1823. Magdalena was born 8 Jun 1796, Of, York Co., Ontario; died 2 Apr 1888; was buried , Blenheim Mennonite Cemetery, Blenheim Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Magdalena Stauffer
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7407.1