Richard Eby Cowan

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00026-2009
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Joiner
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; ?, Furniture
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Notes:

Richard Eby Cowan, "is engaged with The Simpson Company, Berlin, Ontario, as chairmaker."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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

Richard — Rosa Fisher. Rosa was born Aug 1878, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00026-2002
• Immigration: 1848, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1860, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesley Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1881, Peel Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Annglican
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Notes:

Richard C. Cowan, "son of Thomas and Jane (Craigg) Cowan, was born near Drumshambo, Leitrim County, Province of Connaught, Ireland, March 5th, 1832. He served over nine years in the Royal Irish Constabulary. After receiving his discharge he emigrated to America and landed at Quebec, September 18th, 1857. He came to Berlin in fall of the same year. After residing in Waterloo County for some time he was married to Julia Ann, daughter of the late Henry and Elizabeth (Bowers) Eby. She was born August 15th, 1844. Shortly after their marriage they moved on a farm two miles north of Linwood, near the Macton Catholic Church where they resided from 1863 until 1885 when they sold the farm and moved to Masonville, Quebec. Not finding this a a very desirable place of residence they returned to Berlin in 1887 where they have since resided. During the summer time Mr. Cowan is engaged as a gardener for various parties in Berlin. Their family consists of nine children,(None of the children are married and are all at home with their parents save the two eldest)"


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.].

Richard married Julia Anna Eby 1 Jul 1860, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Julia (daughter of Heinrich "Henry" Eby and Elizabeth Bowers) was born 15 Aug 1844, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Julia Anna Cowan
• Residence: 33 Eby Street South, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2456
• Residence: 1860, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesley Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Notes:

Julia Anna Eby, "the eldest, was born August 15th, 1844. She resides in the town of Berlin, Ontario, is married to Richard C. Cowan, and has a family of nine children, namely: Robert Henry, William Craig, Charles Edward, Walter Richard (dead), Thomas Albert, Maria Louisa, Richard Eby, Frederick Harold, and Alice Olga."


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: Waterloo-24336

Thomas — Jane. Jane was born Abt 1800, Of, Drumshambo, Leitrim Co., Prov. Of Connaught, Ireland; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Jane Cowan
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-24337

Other Events:

• Name: Henry Eby
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2450.19
• Occupation: 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; printer
• Historic Building: 1850, 33 Eby Street South, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1851, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; printer
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; gentleman

Notes:

Henry Eby, "the fourth son of Bishop Benjamin Eby, was born January 25th, 1820. When a young man he received a fair school education. He was a printer by trade and for some time editor and publisher of the Deutscher Canadier, issued weekly at Berlin, Ontario. He also published many books and all kinds of English and German literature. His printing office and residence were situated on the west side of King Street, South Ward, Berlin, about 150 yards from the Market House. The property is now owned by Mr. A. S. Hallman, grocer, who resides in it, and the printing office has been turned into a dwelling house which is rented to a Mrs. John Stauffer. Henry Eby was married, August 22nd, 1843, to Elizabeth Bowers who was born November 12th, 1825. Mr. Eby died March 11th, 1855, leaving three daughters"


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.].

________________________

Henry Eby, proprietor of the German Canadian, died in Berlin, Waterloo County, the 11th inst.

The Christian Guardian 28 Mar 1855, pg 99

______________________

A-1-66 Henry Eby: Probate of Will, granted by William Miller, Esquire, Judge of the Court, 24 March 1855 on the prayer of and in favor to Elias Eby of Lancaster Mills, Miller, Joseph E. Schneider, and Jacob Y. Shantz, both of Berlin, Yeomen, all in the County of Waterloo, and by Henry Eby, formerly of the said Berlin, Gentleman, deceased, appointed Executors to his Last Will and Testament….on the said Executors giving proof and satisfaction that the said Henry Eby is dead, and he having died on or about the eleventh day of the same month of March, and they also giving proof that such Will, and of which the following is a true and faithful transcript, is the true Last Will and Testament of the said Deceased…

In the name of God, Amen - I, Henry Eby, of the Village of Berlin…being of sound and disposingh mind, memory and understanding do make, pubish and declare this my Last Will and Testament, hererby revoking and making null and void all former Last Wills and Testaments and writings in the nature of last Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made. First I give and devise in trust to my hereinafter named Executors and the survivors or survivor…to dispose of all and singular my real personal and mixed property of which I shall be seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my deceased (excepting that portion thereof herinafter given to my beloved wife Elizabeth Eby) entire or in parcels, by public auction or private contract…for the most money that can be obtained..to pay debts, dues, notes, bill, book accounts, obligations and charges against me…to give public notice in some public newspaper for all parties who are indebted to me to pay without delay and all persons to whom I be indebted to send in their claims forthwith, so that my Executors may know what amount to reserve for my debts and liabilities….I give devise and bequeath as follows, that is to ssay, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Eby, one acre of land, which consists of the rear or south end of the lot number twelve in the said Village of Berlin, where I now reside, commencing at the corner of Eby and Church Streets…and which said lot of land together with the month and other provisions for her hereinafter made I declare shall be taken in lieu and satisfaction of all her Dower and right to Dpwer in the lands of which I have been or may hereafter be seized…I also direct that my said Executors shall build and prepare for my said wife a suitable house and premises, the expenses whereof shall not exceed twelve hundred dollars on the said acre of land bequeathed to my wife, and that my Executors do reserve sufficient for her support, so that she may live comfortably so long as she remains my Widow., and in case of my wife's second marriage or upon her death, I direct that the said acre of land and all and singular shall be sold - the money to be put into a general fund for my children. It is my desire that my children shall live with their mother until they shall attain respectively the age of Eighteen years…If all my said children be eighteen years of age upon my wife's death or in case of her second marriage, all the said money under the control of Executors shall be equally divided among my said children…I nominate and appoint Elias Eby of Lancaster Mills, in the Village of Lancaster and County of Waterloo, Miller, Joseph Schneider of the Village of Berlin, Farmer, and Jacob Y. Shantz of the said Village of Berlin, Farmer, to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
The Inventory of the personal Estate of the aforesaid Henry Eby, deceased, is of the amount of One Thousand Four Hundred and forty seven pounds, fifteen shillings and five pence.

Witnessed by Johannes Hiller and James Potter
Will Dated 8 March 1855
Probate granted 24 March 1855
Inventory amount £1447/15/5
Died 11 March 1855

_________________________

King Street, Kitchener

Benton to Eby Street.-Successive occupation was as follows: From Benton Street easterward, before 1855, a one-story brick building with gable facing King Street was erected at the corner and used by Jacob Benner as blacksmith shop. Later Benner moved to West Montrose and the next occupant was Valentine Gildner and after him his son John Gildner . This blacksmith shop continued until comparatively recent years. A frame building painted white, with veranda in front, was Gildner s residence..

Vacant lot.

A tinsmith shop owned by Mr. Lehnen . This had a nice front with two good-sized glass windows on either side of the door.

A dwelling house built by Henry Rothaermel 1848-9. He was a carpenter and later was market clerk and tax collector.

A lane.

A one and one-half story building, with gable facing King Street and a verandah extending over the sidewalk, occupied by a Mr. Coleman 1855-1860. Adjoining it was a warehouse. The store passed to Coleman's son and then to John Kegel. Later John George Schmidt, shoemaker, occupied the building.

A lane.

A double, frame building about 50 feet along King St.; the east half used as a dwelling had a veranda; the west half was occupied by Charles Koehn, shoemaker.

Open space.

Dwelling of Gabriel Bowman, carpenter, who built the house.

A one and one-half story building occupied by Balzar Allendorf, a coverlet weaver, about 1840. Allendorf later moved to New Hamburg. There was a veranda at the front of the house and under it a well. Cattle ran at large in the streets at this time and one Sunday afternoon a steer got on the veranda floor, which was partly rotted, broke through, fell into the well and had to be pulled out by means of a windlass. The building was torn down later.

frame building ocupied by Henry Sippel, former employee of Allendorf, as a weaver's shop.

In 1855 there was a frame building one and one-half story high along King Street divided into two parts, one part a dwelling and the other part a hat shop, owned by John Kidder, who made felt hats and old-fashioned bonnets. The shop was a few steps above the sidewalk level.

A dwelling.

A one and one-half story frame building lengthwise with King street occupied by a widow, Mrs. Caroline Lehnen.

A driveway.

A two story brick building with gable toward King Street, occupied by J. J. Lehnen, son of the widow Lehnen, as a copper and tinsmith shop and a store. Lehnen made his own tinware. Later Jacob Doebler occupied this building as a bakery.

A one and one-half story frame building with gable toward King Street occupied by George Yantz, a cabinet maker. He had a tavern in this same building for a time, and lived there.

In the early years a garden.

A small shop with sloping roof used by Christian Enslin as a book store and book-bindery, the first book-bindery in Berlin Enslm arrived in Berlin about 1830. Jacob Stroh remembers going with his father to the store to buy school supplies. Enslin later was editor, for Henry Eby, the publisher, of the Deutsche Canadier which began publication in 1840.

Enslin's House, one-half story, frame, standing lengthwise with King Street and having a veranda over the door, was on the site of Dr. Hetts present office and house. At the rear there was an orchard.

About 60 feet back of King Street there was a house built by Henry Eby. Shubel Randall, brother of George Randall, lived in it later. In 1860 the building was destroyed by fire and a servant girl Dina Hertz, perished in the flames. The walls remaining standing, the house was re-built, and is still in use.

A brick building, abutting on King Street with gable facing the street, was Henry Eby's printing office. The main floor was she or seven feet above the sidewalk level. In 1860 this building was changed to a church and was the first Anglican Church in Berlin.

A frame building, one end of which was used by Henry Bowman as a general store; he lived in the other end. This was known as the Bowman building. Later William Stein had a tailor shop in it and after him William Thoms used it as a shoe repair shop.

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

Historic Building:
Built in 1850-1855 by Henry Eby, it is a frame house. In 1978 it was covered in insul-brick and was listed as being in fair condition.

Heinrich married Elizabeth Bowers 22 Aug 1843. Elizabeth (daughter of Samuel Bowers and Lydia Sauers) was born 12 Nov 1825, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was christened 13 Mar 1833, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 26 Mar 1903, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Cowan
• Name: Elizabeth Eby
• Residence: 33 Eby Street South, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00013-1159
• Residence: 1855, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesley Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lady
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

Elizabeth Bowers, "was born November 12, 1825, and was married first to Henry Eby, of Berlin, printer, and after his decease to Robert Cowan. She resided in Berlin until Mr. Eby's death, then she moved to the States, and after Mr. Cowan's death she returned to Berlin where she has since resided. She had a family of four daughters, three with her first husband and one with her second husband. Their names are III Julia Ann, III Harriet, III Adelaide (see Henry Eby's family), and III Lillie who is unmarried and resides with her mother."


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/19044067
• Interesting: pioneer, story, religion
• Eby ID Number: 00031-2423
• Immigration: 1807, , Canada
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 002, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1851, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite minister
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; minister
• Probate: 22 Oct 1853, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Benjamin Eby, "the sixth son and eleventh member of the family of Christian Eby and his wife, Catharine Bricker, was born on the old homestead on Hammer Creek, Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 2nd, 1785. Benjamin spent his boyhood days on the farm and in his father's cooper-shop making barrels for the mills. He received a fair common school education, and during the winter evenings he continued his studies. He had free access to his father's books, as well as to his brother John's library. He was not very strong and it used to be the common saying among the neighbors: "Aus'em Bennie gebts ka Bauer, er muss Schulmaster werre!" -- "Bennie will never make a farmer, he must become a school-teacher." On May 21st, 1804, he was baptized in the Conestogo Mennonite Meeting House by Bishop Christian Burkholder, and on the same day he was admitted as a member of that body. In 1806 he came to Canada for the first time. On May 24th of the same year he came to what is now Berlin. Here he remained with his cousin, George Eby, who then resided on the place now known as the Jacob Y. Shantz farm. He purchased his land (the farm now possessed by Mr. Moses Betzner), had a small clearing of about two acres made during August, then made preparations for the erection of a log-house which was put up and completed during the following winter. On November 4th he, in company with others, set out for home. The mode of travelling in those days was on horse-back. On February 25th, 1807, he was married to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Erb) Brubacher. She was born August 6th, 1789, and died of cholera August 18th, 1834.

On June 21st, 1807, the following party arrived at George Eby's, Berlin, viz: Benjamin Eby and wife, Joseph Schneider and wife, David Eby, Daniel Eby, John Eckert, Frederick Vogt, Peter Erb and wife, Daniel Erb, Samuel Eby and a few others. On the 30th day of the same month he took possession of his farm. On November 27th, 1809, he was ordained as a minister in the Mennonite Church, and on October 11th, 1812, he was ordained bishop in that body. No sooner was Benjamin Eby ordained as minister than he advocated strongly the building of meeting-houses. His idea was to have houses of worship built in which to hold regular services. Private houses, he said, answered the purpose very well as long as the membership was small, but since we have had such a large increase in membership it has become necessary for us to have churches. He found strong opposition at first, but the Erbs, Schneiders, Brubachers, Ebys, and a few others, agreed with him on this point, and the result was that a log church was erected in 1813. (See cut.) In this church Bishop Eby taught school during the winter months. The first regularly organized school in this section was held in a little log house situated near "Indian" Sam Eby's residence, now known as "Jacob Fry's old place", on the south side of the road leading from the "Two Bridges" to Mill Creek, near the former residence of Jacob Y. Shantz. This building, containing but one room, was erected for a private house, but the party ordering its erection failed to make his appearance, hence it was turned into a school house and utilized as such until the church was built in 1813. The school was first opened some time in October, 1809, by Mr. John Beatty, a native of Ireland, who came to the Eby settlement, as Berlin was then called, some time during the summer of the same year. After being convinced that Mr. Beatty had a fair English education, the following parties, viz: Benjamin Eby, Joseph Schneider, George Eby, Samuel Eby ("Indian Sam"), Jacob Erb and others, engaged him as their teacher for the winter months. School was generally closed the week before Easter. Among the first pupils who attended this, the first school opened in Ebytown, we find David Erb, George Eby, Catharine E. Schneider, Jacob E. Schneider, Elizabeth E. Schneider, Nancy Eby, John Eby, Peter Eby and others. Mr Beatty was re-engaged as their teacher in the fall of 1810, and according to the statements given me by some of the old pupils, he must have taught there three or four years in succession. After the erection of the Mennonite church in 1813 the school was moved to that place, where Bishop Eby taught for many winters in succession. In 1833 it was thought advisable to erect a new church, owing to the fact that the log church was too small to accommodate the large congregations that assembled here to worship. In 1834 the large church still standing was erected. (See cut.) This church is still known as Eby's Meeting House, or "'s Eby's versammlungshaus".

After the decease of Bishop Benjamin Eby's first wife he was married to Magdalena Erb, widow of old Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo. Bishop Eby died June 28th, 1853. To him and his first wife was born a family of eleven children"


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

_________________________

Eby, Benjamin (1785-1853)

Benjamin Eby (2 May 1785-28 June 1853) was a pioneer Mennonite bishop of the Mennonite Church (MC) serving in Ontario. The eleventh child of Christian Eby and his wife Catharine Bricker, Benjamin was born in the old homestead on Hammer Creek, Warwick Twp., Lancaster Co., PA, May 2, 1785. On Feb. 25, 1807 he married Mary Brubacher. That spring he and his wife immigrated to Waterloo Co., ON, arriving at what was later Berlin (now Kitchener) on June 21. He was ordained as minister (MC) on 27 November 1809 and as bishop on 11 October 1812. In 1813 his dream of having a meetinghouse was realized with the erection of a log structure of modest dimensions, the first building erected solely for religious worship in Waterloo County. The congregation had not fewer than 150 members. Possibly as early as 1815 Benjamin Eby built a frame annex to the log church, with a movable partition between it and the main building. This annex served as a schoolhouse of which he was for many years the teacher. At the same time he carried on his farming. His farm was lot 2 of the Beasley Tract, comprising a large part of the East Ward of the modern city of Kitchener. To Benjamin and Mary Eby were born eleven children. In August 1834, Mary died of cholera. Some time after her death Benjamin married the widow of Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo. On 28 June 1853, Eby died.

To sketch the life of Benjamin Eby is to consider the man, his work, his interests, and his influence. As a farmer he seems to have been successful. He was at least generous with his money, as the few remaining records of his financial transactions indicate. In 1816, when the church purchased an acre of land to add to its holdings, he donated an additional three quarters of an acre. All this is now part of the property of First Mennonite Church of Kitchener. Between 1825 and 1830 two men, John Hoffman and Samuel Bowers, wanted to establish a furniture factory. Appealing in vain to various sources for land, they came finally to Bishop Eby, who readily made land available to them. This too was a gift. The third transaction was in connection with the founding, in 1835, of the first newspaper in inner Canada, the Canada Museum, by Henry W. Peterson. Benjamin Eby not only encouraged this enterprise by word but purchased two shares of stock at $40.00 each, a larger risk than anyone else, apart from Mr. Peterson, was willing or able to take. Again, in 1836, he donated $16.00 toward the building of a cemetery wall, the next highest gift being $4.00. Relatively small as those sums are today they were important in those pioneer days. Judged in relation to his times and his contemporaries all these transactions establish Benjamin Eby as a substantial farmer in his community. Of his occupation as a preacher only a few recorded comments survive. H.W. Peterson, publisher and Lutheran lay preacher, says in his diary: "Stayed all night at Benjamin Eby's, went with him and his family to the meeting or church. He prayed and preached well. He is a good man." An anonymous writer in the Berlin Daily Telegraph for May 19, 1906, says: "His sermons were full of good sense, very intelligible, lying parallel with the understanding of attentive hearers." A tradition has it that there were invariably tears in his eyes when he entered the pulpit on a Sabbath morning. For many years, from 1818-19 to the early 1840's, he was also the community schoolmaster. In this period he wrote two spelling or reading books, Neues Buchstabir- und Lesebuch (1839) and Fibel (1843). He also wrote a work on Mennonite faith and history entitled Kurzgefasste Kirchen-geschichte und Glaubenslehre der Taufgesinnten Christen oder Mennoniten (1841). He was most likely the compiler of the Gemeinschaftliche Liedersammlung (Berlin, 1836), which was long used in Ontario. Thus he was farmer, teacher, preacher, and author. As might be expected, his interests went beyond his own community. He corresponded with European Mennonites and published some of the letters received in Briefe an die Mennonisten Gemeine in Ober Canada (1840) and Zweyter Brief aus Dänemark (1841).

The physical man must be noted briefly. There was a tradition that he was frail. Aus 'em Bennie gebts ka Bauer, er muss Schulmester werre. (Bennie will never make a farmer, he must become a schoolteacher.) Yet he made two journeys to Canada on horseback through the wilderness, hewed for himself a home, prospered substantially, and was unusually active in church and community affairs. One of his coats, seen by the present writer, would indicate that he was about five feet, six inches tall, weighing possibly 150 lbs.

Up to 1833 the Waterloo County settlement was known as "Ben Eby's" or "Ebytown," thus establishing Eby as the leading citizen of his community. With the arrival of increasing numbers of German non-Mennonites, the name of the settlement was changed in 1833 to Berlin. The record of his influence and activities bears eloquent testimony that he had both a keen sense of civic and denominational responsibility. In his account of Benjamin Eby's funeral, written for the July 7, 1855 issue of the Guelph Advertiser, H.S. Peterson calls him "an Israelite in whom there was no guile, and that he was sincerely pious, humble, exemplary, practical, and non-sectarian, and eminently successful in his day and generation." The anonymous friend in the Daily Telegraph (Berlin, ON, 19 May 1906) says: "He was a person of unblemished character. Naturally of a sweet and gentle disposition, friendly and obliging, always ready to serve his friends in any way that he could by his interest and authority. This he did freely and generously, not proud or haughty, but serious in giving good counsel, and greatly esteemed for his integrity by all ranks and denominations. All very much desired his company and wholesome conversations."

Cressman, J. Boyd. "Eby, Benjamin." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 Nov 2005

__________________________________________

Breslau (Cressman) Mennonite Church

Services were begun in Breslau in 1815. In 1834, Benjamin Eby's log meeting house, which had been built in Berlin in 1813, was moved to Breslau to the Cressman farm. Preaching services which were held every four weeks began in the reconstructed meeting house in 1837. A new brick church was built in 1856, at which time the old log meeting house was moved to Frederick Schaefer's brickyard. The old building may have been used for storage or an office until approximately 1880 when it was clad with white "Breslau Brick" from the brickyard, and used as a home by Frederick Schaefer and his family. The address of the house is reported to have been 18 Woolwich Street; it was still standing in 1985, according to Alder 1985, with the original log walls possibly preserved within the brick ones.

A summer Sunday School was begun in June of 1872. It was held in the Breslau schoolhouse until 1877 when it was moved to the church. Sunday School continued on in the summers only until 1889 when Sunday School classes began to be held all year.

The 1856 white brick church was taken down in March 1908, and was replaced with a new white brick church. In 1968 the name of the church was changed from Cressman Mennonite Church to Breslau Mennonite Church. Major renovations were made to the church in the same year. It is of interest to know that land amounting to approximately three acres was deeded to the congregation by Christian C. Snyder in three parcels, in 1837, 1859, and 1870.

Joseph Hagey, the first minister at Cressman's, was ordained on February 10, 1839. He was ordained bishop in 1851. Ministers who followed him in serving the church at Breslau were Jacob Woolner Sr., Elias Weber, Isaac A. Wambold, Jacob S. Woolner, and Oscar Burkholder. Services were held every four weeks from 1837-1867, and bi-weekly from 1867-1894 when weekly services were begun..

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

___________________________

Wanner Mennonite Church
Begun: 1829

A small wooden meeting house was built in 1829 on a corner of the farm belonging to Samuel Bechtel which was located in the vicinity of the present-day regional headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources near the intersection of Highways 24 and 401. The site for this community meeting house, as well as a school and a burial ground, had been chosen on August 8, 1829. The land was donated by Samuel Bechtel and his wife Barbara (Baumann) on March 15, 1830. A new meeting house, of white brick, was built in 1837 on the east side of Henry Wanner's farm, somewhat north of the first meeting house. Meetings at first were held every eight weeks. The deed of land for the meeting house known as Wanner's was dated October 15, 1837. Early preachers were David Sherk, who had been ordained by Benjamin Eby in July 1837, Jacob Bretz, Jr., and Joseph Hagey.

Joseph Hagey was ordained bishop in 1851. During his time divisions occurred in the church by a surge of enthusiasm for a Methodist form of revivalism. Solomon Eby of Port Elgin, who announced his own conversion in December 1869, was leader of a group which believed that members could be converted through participation in revival meetings. John Baer of Wanner's became associated with Solomon Eby, and was compelled to leave the church in the spring of 1874, as were Eby and his other followers. The new church movement resulted in organization conferences which culminated in the conference on March 23, 1875 at Bloomingdale where New Mennonites and Reforming (or Reformed) Mennonites joined together as United Mennonites. The United Mennonites favored revival meetings, Sunday Schools and prayer meetings, and were opposed to the use of alcohol and tobacco.

The date of construction of the meeting house which replaced the one built in 1837 is somewhat in doubt. It is possible that a new building was erected in the early 1870s; it is also possible that the 1837 building only underwent extensive renovations at that time. There is no doubt, however, that a new brown brick church was built in 1938. An education wing was added in 1969.

The earliest Mennonite Sunday School in North America was begun in 1842 and was held jointly by the Wanner and Hagey Meeting Houses. It was discontinued after a short time because of a division of opinion within the congregations. An attempt was made later, in the mid-1860s, to begin another Sunday School, but this, too, did not last long. Many years later, on June 10, 1896, a meeting was held to organize a Sunday School. Anson Groh was appointed superintendent..

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

__________________________

First Mennonite Church

The first church built in Waterloo County was erected in Berlin in 1813, and was known as Benjamin Eby's Meeting House.
Benjamin Eby had come to Canada in 1807 and in 1809 was ordained preacher. Three years later, in 1812, he was ordained bishop. His "parish included sections of Waterloo, Wilmot and Woolwich" (Uttley 1937: 27). In 1818 a frame addition, which was to be used as a winter school, was built on to the church. The log meeting house was replaced in 1834 by a larger frame church, and the old building was taken to Breslau to become the first meeting house in that community. (The Breslau church was known as Cressman Meeting House, a name which was changed in 1968 to Breslau Mennonite Church.) A Sunday School was opened in the church in 1841.

Benjamin Eby died in 1853. He was followed by Abraham C. Weber who served the congregation until his death in 1874. In that same year, a division in the church brought about the departure of a group who organized a congregation of Reforming (or Reformed) Mennonites, to become United Mennonites in 1875 and then Mennonite Brethren in Christ in 1883. Their church is the present-day Bethany Missionary Church on Lancaster Street East. Christian Eby was the next minister of the Berlin Mennonite Church, until 1879. The church was known over the years as Benjamin Eby's Church, Christian Eby's Church (from 1854-1904), and the Berlin Church (from 1904 until 1917.) The name of the church became First Mennonite Church in 1917.

A new brick church was built in 1902. A Bible Study School was begun in 1907, and in 1928 a separate brick Bible Study School building was erected. Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church was formed by some members in 1924 as a result of a division in the church.

Of interest: when the new church was built in 1902, the 1834 frame church was bought by D.B. Betzner who moved it to Cedar Street where it became a woodenware business and then a furniture factory. It was destroyed by fire in 1937.

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

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EBY, BENJAMIN, farmer, Mennonite minister, bishop, educator, and author; b. 2 May 1785 at a homestead on Hammer Creek, Lancaster County, Pa, son of Christian Eby and Catharine Bricker; m. first 25 Feb. 1807 Mary Brubacher (d. 1834), and they had eight sons and three daughters; m. secondly Magdalena Erb, widow of Abraham Erb*; they had no children; d. 28 June 1853 in Berlin (Kitchener), Upper Canada.
Benjamin Eby, the sixth son and eleventh child of German-speaking Mennonites, "received a fair common school education" while working on the farm and in his father's cooperage. He was among the minority of Mennonites in Pennsylvania who were unhappy at the prospect of remaining under American rule in the aftermath of the revolutionary war, and in 1806 visited Upper Canada to inspect the land in Waterloo Township that fellow Mennonites Daniel Erb and Samuel Bricker had purchased from Richard Beasley* on behalf of the German Company. After claiming lot 2 of the Beasley Tract he went back to Pennsylvania to marry and then, in the company of other settlers, returned to Upper Canada, reaching his homestead on 21 June 1807. The role he played as a founder and leading citizen of the community was reflected in its being named Ebytown, or Ben Eby's, in his honour.

Although farming was always to be the chief source of Eby's livelihood, soon after his return to the province he became involved in the affairs of the pioneer settlement. After being ordained first as minister (27 Nov. 1809) and then as bishop (11 Oct. 1812) at ceremonies presided over by his brother Peter, a bishop from Pennsylvania, he was instrumental in erecting in 1813 the village's first meeting-house for religious worship, and two years later a frame annex to serve as a schoolhouse. Ben Eby's Church, as it was known during the bishop's lifetime, began with a membership of some 150. As the years went by he donated some of his own land to expand the church's holdings, including its first cemetery. As bishop he left his mark not only on the town but on the whole county, where all Mennonite congregations were under his supervision. He was a leader of the church conferences which emerged in the province during his lifetime. When the Niagara and Markham districts were without bishops he presided over the election of new ones and officiated at their ordinations. A family tradition that Benjamin's parents had decided he should become a teacher seems to have been fulfilled in the winter of 1818-19 when he began a teaching career that, with some interruptions, was to last until the early 1840s.

Eby made a major contribution to the Mennonite church and to the preservation of German-language education in the province through a number of published works. In 1836, in an effort to enrich the church's worship and congregational life in general while respecting the various traditions of its adherents, he compiled a hymn-book called Die Gemeinschaftliche Liedersammlung. Reprinted several times in both Canada and the United States, it was in use until the end of the century. His first original work was a primer, Neues Buchstabir- und Lesebuch, published in 1839. Other works of a religious and educational nature followed, including his most important book, Kurzgefasste Kirchen Geschichte (1841), a study of the Mennonite church's history and doctrine.

Apart from his roles as family man and farmer, and as preacher and teacher, Eby was a promoter of the general good. He was frequently called on to offer his counsel and he occasionally adjudicated community disputes. Business involvements included the donation of some of his own land to two men in need of a property on which to establish a furniture factory, generous support of the printer Heinrich Wilhelm Peterson, and the sale of land in 1833 to Friedrich Gaukel for an inn. That sale was among the first on record to refer to the town as Berlin, a change of name traditionally attributed to the bishop.

Eby also found time to look beyond his community by corresponding with church leaders in Europe, as well as in America, and thereby establishing and cultivating international connections. His biggest contribution, however, was in his own community where he raised a large family (his son Christian succeeded him as minister), promoted a diversified economy, established a broadly based religious worship, introduced elementary school education, and inaugurated a literary tradition which served many generations.
Frank H. Epp

[Benjamin Eby's work as educator and clergyman is reflected in his publications. He wrote Neues Buchstabir- und Lesebuch . . . (1st ed., Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.], 1839); a speller entitled Fibel zu den ersten Lese-Uebungen (Berlin, [1839?]), a second edition of which was published there in 1843; Kurzgefasste Kirchen Geschichte und Glaubenslehre der Taufgesinnten-Christen oder Mennonisten (Berlin, 1841); and a second primer, ABC- Buchstabir- und Lesebuch, zum Gebrauch fuer Deutsche Schulen in Canada (2nd ed., Berlin, 1842). In addition to compiling Die Gemeinschaftliche Liedersammlung . . . (1st ed., Berlin, 1836), he published an edition of a popular German Mennonite catechism, [Gerhard Roosen], Christliches Gemüths Gespräch . . . (Berlin, 1839). He subsequently arranged for the first English edition of this work, which was published under the title Christian spiritual conversation on saving faith . . . (Lancaster, Pa., 1857), and may even have been the translator. His correspondence with churchmen abroad resulted in the publication of some of their letters to him in Briefe an die Mennonisten Gemeine, in Ober Canada, mit einer Zugabe (Berlin, 1840) and Zweyter Brief aus Dänemark an die Mennonisten Gemeine in Canada (Berlin, 1841). f.h.e.]

AO, RG 22, ser.211, Benjamin Eby. Guelph Advertiser (Guelph, [Ont.]), 7 July 1853. E. E. Eby and J. B. Snyder, A biographical history of early settlers and their descendants in Waterloo Township, with Supplement, ed. E. D. Weber (Kitchener, 1971). The Mennonite encyclopedia: a comprehensive reference work on the Anabaptist-Mennonite movement (4v., Hillsboro, Kans., 1955-59). F. H. Epp, Mennonites in Canada, 1786-1920: the history of a separate people (Toronto, 1974). J. B. Cressman, "Bishop Benjamin Eby," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report, 1941: 152-58; "History of the First Mennonite Church of Kitchener, Ontario," Mennonite Quarterly Rev. (Goshen, Ind.), 13 (1939): 159-86. Daily Telegraph (Berlin), 19 May 1906: 1-2. M. [L]. Gingerich, "Mennonite leaders of North America: Benjamin Eby (1785-1853)," Gospel Herald (Scottsdale, Pa.), 58 (1965): 178. I. D. Landis, "Bishop Peter Eby of Pequea, 1765-1843," Mennonite Quarterly Rev., 14 (1940): 41-51.

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

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As has been seen, Benjamin Eby bought Cot 2, G.C.T., and came to Upper Canada in 1807. Before leaving Pennsylvania, he and Marie Brubacher were united in marriage. A good word is due the wives of the pioneers. Stanch as maples, they left comfortable homes in Pennsylvania, faced the difficile trail. and in a wooded wilderness bore the hardships of life without a murmur.

Benjamin Eby was of the leader type. Although just of age. he took thought of the settlers spiritual welfare. The pioneers at first worshipped God in their home. He had them gather together at a particular clearing, one Sunday here and the next there, until all had been visited. He was appointed preacher in 1809. Besides promoting the building of a church, he interested himself in prim-ary education.(1)

His log house stood west of the Mennonite Church. In 1814 he sold Samuel Eschelman 56 acres adjoining the church lands. So far as known he was the first settler to sell incoming townsmen plots of land. He sold his son-in-law, David Weber, 219 acres at the upper part of his big lot. His son Elias became the owner of the remaining part on the north side of King Street. The son sold his holding to John Brubacher and Menno Erb who in turn sold his land to William Moyer and Moses Betzner. As the history un-folds other activities of Ben Eby will come to light.

In 1834 a circus employee carried the Asiatic cholera to Galt. Nearly one-fifth of the inhabitants died of the scourge. Many persons from Waterloo Township attended the performance and numerous individuals, catching the disease from one another, died also, including Mrs. Ben Eby.

The Rev. Eby carried on his spiritual labors until his own death in 1853. He had then been the servant of the Mennonite Society for forty-four years.

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

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Kinagaghig Creek (1806) [Canagagigue]
How the creek in Woolwich Township got its name...

This creek was so named by George and Benjamin Eby after Conococheague creek, a little creek which drains Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and flows through Washington county, Maryland, to the Potomac [the area where from many Pennsylvania-Germans travelled by foot and Conestoga wagons.] One historian says the name Conococheague is from the Delaware Indian language and signifies "long indeed, very long indeed," while another says the original word also refers to the winding course of the stream. Eby spelled the name as Kinacachic; another as Canagaguige and others as Kanakijige, Cinacaghic. On an early map of Woolwich Township in Belden's Atlas, it appears as Kinacaghig. There are many more early spellings, as one can imagine!

The Fifteenth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society 1927 ,pg 375.

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A-1-17 Benjamin Eby: The Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Eby, of the Township of Waterloo, Minister

…I Benjamin Eby, of the Township of Waterloo, Minister, do make and constitute these presents, dated the second day of April 1853, my Last Will and Testament….
(1) I hereby desire and empower my hereinafter name Executors, to collect, ask, demand, draw and receive all and singular my outstanding debts, dues, accounts, notes, bonds, obligations and charges whatever of right belonging to me, in due time or times, and this also to pay and discharge my own debts and charges, lawfully brought against me and my estate, and I specially desire, order and direct them to pay and discharge to my beloved widow Magdalena, a born Erb, and afterward widow of the late Abraham Erb, deceased, that sum, of money which I do owe her, in accordance with my Bond to her, dated the thirtieth of March 1855, viz: two hundred pounds

(2) This my said beloved widow Magdalena is further to have for and in place and stead of her widow third and dowry, as long as she shall and may live, all and singular the articles, goods, chattels, rights, privileges and benefits, which are mentioned and She also is to have all and singular the articles, goods, chattels, rights, privileges and benefits, which are mentioned and secured to her, in and by a certain articles of agreements between myself and my son Christian Eby, who holds our place, bearing date the third day of February A.D. 1848 and I hereby desire and enjoin my Executors, and each and either of them, to see and care that such articles be duly fulfilled. As her own property for ever, and left to her own final disposal, she is to have and use all and singuler the goods and chattels mentioned and put on the last page of my common housebook or account book. She is further to have for her own proper use and benefit during her her[?] life time all the notes, bonds and obligations, drawn in favor and name of herself, but after her demise, all that is left of such notes, bonds and obligations, in principal and interest is to fall back upon my own Estate, to be dealt with by my Executors as my own property left by myself in accordance hereinafter [rocided.[?]

(3) My son, Christian Eby is to have the farm, on which both of us do now live and dwell, it being lot number two of the German Company Tract of Waterloo Township, at the price and charge of seven hundred and fifty pounds… he is to pay to my executors - fifty pounds to be paid to the Executors one year after the day of demise of the last surviving part of myself and my wife, and thence the remainder in annual installments of fifty pounds each, until the whole be paid…

(4) All my own personal property and estates, except that belonging to my widow as herein before, provided, shall be sold by my Executors, amongst my children to the highest bidders, and the proceeds thereof be added to the general stock, consisting of the proceeds of my outstanding debts, notes, obligations and other dues. When debts, notes, obligations and other dues and such stock of proceeds of notes and other dues shall, as they shall and will be and become available from year to year, and be collected, and thus from year to year be divided and portioned and paid over by my Executors in equal shares and portions to my sons Isaac Eby, Elias Eby, Benjamin E. Eby, Henry Eby, Christian Eby, Abraham Eby, Jacob Eby and Peter Eby and my son-in-law David Weber, and their respective representatives. My son-in-law and my daughter William and Maria Bamberger shall share in the same dividends, but they, or the surviving part of them shall in the whole receive not more than fifty pounds.

(5) Concerning my son Abraham Eby, I do however direct and ordain and give it entirely over into the power and decision of my hereinafter mentioned Executors, as they shall and may deem it proper and will for him, either to pay over to him any, or either, or all such dividends, or put them, or any, or either of them, out in good and sure use for said Abraham Eby's children, to be paid to them as hereinafter mentioned. Concerning the landed property now in his possession, (but the right and title being in my own hands) the same consisting of four acres of a party of lot number fifty nine if the German Company Tract in the Township of Waterloo, aforesaid, situated in Lancaster, and as more particularly described in the Deed of Conveyance thereof from Elias Eby and wife to myself, he, my said son, Abraham and his wife and family are to have, retain and enjoy full and free possession, use and benefit there of during the whole lifetimes of both himself and his wife, but after the demise of both of them, and as soon thereafter as it conveniently can and may be, the same shall be sold, by my Executors, and the proceeds thereof, and also the aforesaid dividends, coming to Abraham Eby, or his children, be divided in equal shares amongst them - when the sons reach twenty-one year and the daughters, eighteen years. Should Abraham Eby die before his wife, and she marries again, then she is to draw her regular widow third, computed according to circumstances, and the property be sold and divided amongst his children.

(6) Concerning my daughter Maria Eby, now married to William Bamberger, I do ordain, that they shall continue to have and enjoy free, full and undisturbed possession, use and benefit of the property they now occupy, during the whole lifetime of both and either of them, but after the demise of both of them, and as soon thereafter as it conveniently can and may be, it shall be sold by my Executors, and the proceeds to be divided in equal shares between all my other children or their representatives, my son Abraham's share, however, as just before directed, such property consisting of a part of lot number nine of the German Company Tract of Waterloo, on the Waterloo and Arthur Road, and containing twenty four acres, two rods and eight perches. In case my said daughter Maria doth outlive her said husband, I hereby direct and enjoin my Executors, and also empower them to rent away such property for her benefit and use, and otherwise take proper interest and care in her well being; In case she then intermarry again, and have still no children, then after her demise the said property is still to revert upon my estate again and be divided as above directed….But if she then, or yet from her present husband, shall have issue out of her own body, then such her child or children shall have, drawn and receive the proceeds of said property, to be equally divided amongst them.

(7) I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved son Christian Eby and my trusty friend Joseph E. Schneider, both of the Township of Waterloo, Yeomen, my Executors.

Witnessed: Thomas Sparrow and Christian Schantz
Will dated: 2 April 1853
Received and insinuated 22 Oct 1853
Inventory £2,087/2/3
Died 28 June 1853

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

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King Street, Kitchener

Cameron Street eastward.-A fine large holding extending along King Street to almost opposite the Mennonite Church, was Sheriff Davidson's place, Forest Hill, with square Colonial brick house, still standing, although materially changed, on a commanding hill.

Benjamin Eby's farm, occupied and owned later by his son, Elias Eby. J. Y. Shantz's farm, originally the Eby farm, with a large dam and saw mill. The pond was westerly of the present Doon Twines factory, was of good size, was fed by two creeks and gave water power for Shantz's saw mill for many years. There was no steam power. The ice supply for Berlin was largely taken from this pond in the earlier years.


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

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King Street , North Side

Pandora Street

Pandora Street and next to it the site of Bishop Benjamin Eby's buildings and farm. A fine lawn surrounded a large frame house with spacious veranda between the house and King Street. There was a large barn and east of it a cider mill operated by Ely Eby, son of the Bishop. In later years the place was occupied by Rev. Moses Erb and his son Menno Erb, the cider mill long continuing. There was a large orchard between the farm buildings and the Mennonite Meeting House and cemetery. The Mennonites had at first no shed adjoining their church. Posts joined by a chain led along the King Street front, for tying horses. The sheds came later. In 1834 a frame building was erected for this Church. It was moved to Cedar Street in 1902 when the present brick Church was erected and is still used as a woodenware factory.

Eby school house was located at the easterly corner of the cemetery. A frame building, painted red, before 1830. In the rear and to the east of the cemetery was William Moyer's farm with his brick house still standing at the top of the slope from King Street.


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

Benjamin married Maria "Mary" Brubacher 7 Feb 1807. Maria (daughter of Jacob Brubacher and Susannah Erb) was born 6 Aug 1789, Elizabeth Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 18 Aug 1834, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19043926
• Name: Maria "Mary" Eby
• Name: Mary Brubacher
• Eby ID Number: 00018-1387
• Epidemic: 1834, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Cholera

Notes:

Maria Brubacher, "was born August 6th, 1789. On February 25th, 1807, she was married to Bishop Benjamin Eby who was born May 2nd, 1785, and died June 28th, 1853. In 1807 they moved to Canada, and settled at Berlin, Waterloo County, Ontario, where she died August 18th, 1834. To them was born a family of eleven children"

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

Other Events:

• Name: Samuel Bauers
• Eby ID Number: 00013-1146
• Immigration: 1825, , Canada
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 019, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Samuel Bowers, "was a native of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. In 1815 he was married to Lydia Sauers, and in 1825 they moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario, near the town of Berlin. Their old home is now owned by the heirs of the late Mr. Richart. To them was born a family of eleven children"

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

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Samuel Bowers Sr. was born County Berks, Penn., and came to Canada in 1825, settling in Waterloo Twp. He died there, the 17th ult., in his 64th year, and was buried in Berlin; survived by his wife and children.

The Christian Guardian 16 May 1855, pg 126

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A-1-71 Samuel Bowers: Probate of Will of Samuel Bowers, formerly of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman, deceased, granted by W. Miller, Esq., Judge, the first day of May One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Five, Executors in such Will, the same reading in words following:-

I Samuel Bowers of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman… First: I give and bequeath to me beloved wife any whole household and kitchen furniture, my Buggy and Harness, one cow, and two Pigs, to have and to hold for ever as her property, all but the Kitchen clock and family bible is to belong to my youngest son, Samuel, after her decease, with the use of the dwelling house at present occupied by us, and the use of the yard, and fruit as specified in the article of agreement made between me and me son William, and an annuity of twenty-five pounds ten shillings current money of Canada, payable yearly during her widowhood. Second: I appoint my Executors after mentioned, to pay to my son Levi the sum of three hundred pounds, as the full amount of his paternal inheritance, when becoming to the age of twenty-one. Third: I authorize my Executors to furnish means necessary to my youngest son Samuel to complete his studies properly and then to pay to him out of my Estate the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, as the balance of his paternal inheritance. Fourth: I leave and bequeath to each of my daughters unpaid the sum of two hundred and twenty five pounds out of the installments for land sold by me when they become due according as they most stand in need. Fifth: I leave and bequeath to my Grandson Isaac Barber the sun of one hundred and twenty five pounds when becoming of the age of twenty-one. Sixth: I request my Executors to pay to my oldest son Cyrus Bowers the balance due to him on three hundred pounds as soon as my son Samuel provides for and the installments become due. Seventh: In the event of my son William selling the property where we at present reside, I appoint and authorize my Executors to furnish and to provide for my beloved widow Lydia Bowers with a comfortable dwelling house and all necessary accommodations during her widowhood at the expense of my estate, and at her decease or departure from her widowhood the property is to be sold and equally divided among my children now living, and in case any should die it is to be divided among their children. Eighth: My three sons Isaac, William and Jacob have already received their portion of three hundred pounds each in land sold to them by me, also my son in the Law Jacob W. Bowman, has received the sum of two hundred pounds currency in land sold to him by me which is the full amount of my daughter Mary Ann's paternal portion, and also my said son-in-the-law Jacob W. Bowman is due to my estate one hundred and twenty-five pounds, which sum is to remain in interest as long as my said widow shall live or remain in her widowhood, which said interest is to be paid up yearly as specified in an article of agreement, the sum of seven pounds ten shillings is to form part of my said widows yearly dower, and at her death, or departure from her widowhood the sum of one hundred and twenty five pounds is to be equally divided among my children as aforesaid. Ninth: In case of the death of either of my said children under age, leaving no lawful issue, the portion falling to them is to be divided as aforesaid among their brothers and sisters. Tenth: My said son Jacob Bowers is due to my estate the sum of three hundred pounds for land sold to him by me, which sum is to remain on interest as long as my said widow shall live, the said interest shall be paid up yearly…as part of her yearly dower, and at the decease of my said widow the interest is to cease and the sum of three hundred pounds is to be paid up in three equal yearly installments, the first one year after her death till paid up, for which my said Executors shall be authorized and empowered to execute a lawful Deed of conveyance to my said son Jacob. Eleventh: I do hereby authorize and empower any two of my said executors to execute lawful Deeds of conveyance for all lands sold by me and un-deeded and also for all land and tenements yet unsold, all my moveable property belonging to me not specified in this will is to be sold, and the Eighteen acres of Woodland lying back of my son William's farm is to be sold, and all my just and lawful debts are to be paid out of it… And I do hereby appoint my good friends Jacob Kilborn, Esq of Blenheim Township, Charles G. Tisdale of Waterloo Village and Jacob S Bowers, of Waterloo Township, aforesaid Executors of this my last Will and Testament…

Witnessed by Moses Heist and George Jones
Will dated 1 December 1854
Proved 1 May 1855
Inventory £2602/16/9
Died 17 April 1855

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

Residence:
He lived beside his son Cyrus.

Samuel married Lydia Sauers 1815. Lydia (daughter of Jacob Sauers and Elizabeth Kolb) was born 8 Oct 1797, , USA; died 4 Jul 1869, Oakfield, Kent, Michigan; was buried , White Swan Cemetery, Oakfield Township, Kent Co., Michigan. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Lydia Bowers
• Eby ID Number: 00146-5536
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lady
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W.
• Residence: 1864, Oakfield, Kent, Michigan

Notes:

Lydia Sauers, "was married to Samuel Bowers. They resided near Berlin where they had a large family. "

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

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"...Friday, March 11, 1864: ...Just before sundown Father and Mother made their appearance with quite a load!! Grandmother's parlor stove, cane bottom chairs, and what is more - a cradle, which by the way seems to be a great favorite with Melinda. But what pleases me most is that Father bought Grandmother's Side-Board - the old family relic, and a most a splendid one it is too. I am glad it is going to be mine, it is just the one I was always wishing to have when I set up housekeeping, which I intend before many months if all is well"

"...Tuesday, March 22, 1864: We have been expecting Uncle Bowman's and Grandmother for some days. This evening they all came with the exception of Louisa. She could not come because Grandmother and Aunt Ann came in a buggy with Washington, and Nelson had such a load of things to bring down that she did not get a seat. I am extremely sorry that this is the case. Now that they are going so far away that we don't know when we will see each other again, if ever . . . They have one car loaded. Uncle and Nelson intend leaving with the tomorrow night train. The rest intend going with the Thursday Express . . ."

"Wednesday, March 23, 1864: This morning Father drove Grand....and Aunt Ann to Berlin with their team. . . We have seen them for the last time, no doubt, before they bid Goodbye to Canada and all their friends and acquaintances. I hope they may find Michigan all they expect - that they may make a fortune in the land of their adoption. They seem glad to go, and still with a degree of reluctance, and how could it be otherwise - the land of their birth . . ."

Per grand daughter Matilda Bower's diary, on file at the Kitchener Public Library, Kitchener, Waterloo Co., Ontario, Canada:

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Mrs. Lydia Bowers, relict of the late Samuel Bowers of Berlin, Ont., was converted in Berlin 32 years aog, and died July 4, 1869, at the residence of her son-in-law, Jacob W. Boroman, Oakfield, Kent County, Michigan, where she had been living for 5 years; aged, 71 (0.) or 73(D.N.) predeceased by her husband 14 years ago.

Christian Guardian Newspaper 28 Jul 1869, pg 11 & 11 Aug 1869 pg 127