John Nicholas Clare

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-346861
• Residence: 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tinsmith
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Tinsmith

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182840447
• Interesting: business, life story, politics, public service
• Name: Johannes Klaar
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-35004
• Residence: 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Moulder
• Occupation: 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Illegible
• Residence: 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Elected Office: 1862, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Reeve of Preston
• Elected Office: 1870, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Reeve of Preston
• Occupation: 1871, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Iron Founder
• Elected Office: 1876, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Reeve of Preston
• Misfortune: Abt 1881, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; hand torn off
• Occupation: 1881, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Founder
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

John Klarr later Clare, was born in Odenbach, Bavaria, Germany in 1823 and came to North America with his parents in 1834. The family first settled in Rochester, New York apprenticed in a foundry. In 1843 he arrived in Preston and in partnership he established a foundry with Jacob Beck and Valentine Wahn. The partnership dissolved in 1853 and he purchased the foundry previously operated by Erb and Guggisberg and made cast iron wood burning stoves, later building furnaces when central heating became available. He retired in 1881 sold his firm to his sons Frederick and George along with Henry C. Hilborn. He served on Preston council.


Cambridge Mosiac, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [abbreviated snippet from original text in book]

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John Clare, one of the oldest inhabitants of Preston, died on March 9th, of pneumonia, at the age of 64 years, 4 months, and 23 days. He was born in Odenbach, Rhine-Bavaria, came to America in 1834 as an 11 year-Old boy, first to Rochester, N.Y., later worked in an iron foundry in Hamilton, settled in Preston in 1844, where he carried on his business for 33 years.

In 1845, he married Margaretha Beck from Weiler in Baden (Margaretha Beck von Weiler in Baden) and the peaceful marriage produced 10 children, 5 boys and 5 in 1880, a dreadful misfortune befell him, in that his left hand was torn off as he attempted to start up his machinery. As a result, he retired from business in 1881. He was a good family man, an industrious business-man, a loyal and active member of the lutheran church, and a capable official of the town of Preston, which he served for several years as councillor and reeve in the town council, and more recently, in the county council.

Berliner Journal- March 15, 1888 (P.4 - Col.2) translated by Patricia Kauk for the Kitchener Public Library

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An enterprising young German came here [Preston] about 1838 by name of Mr. Jacob Beck. He had invented a peculiar kind of water-wheel, small in size but of great power, and its use in several small water powers gave young Mr. Beck quite a reputation. He commenced a small foundry near a saw-mill in the village of New Hope, and finding considerable encouragement came to Preston, where he erected a foundry upon the premises now owned by Peter E. Shantz in Fountain Street. Business increased rapidly, but unfortunately a fire broke out which completely destroyed his flourishing foundry and Mr. Beck, no insurance having been effected, stood once more poor and penniless; but, thanks to the liberality of his neighbors in and around Preston, a subscription was raised, men turned out to help with work and material and in a short time after the fire, Mr. Beck was again in possession of a foundry of considerably larger dimensions than the one destroyed by fire. He did an excellent business, and had men selling his stoves and other wares over a large part of Western Ontario. His means increased at a rapid rate, and he enlarged his premises according to the wants of his business. Some years later he took in as partners two of the young men in his employ, viz: John Clare and Valentine Wahn, and the foundry business continued to prosper for several years. Mr. Beck had in the meantime arranged with Mr. Robert Hunt of the Woolen Mills to improve his water power by heightening the dam and digging a canal from the dam alongside the (Speed River. This canal is still in existence except a small portion of its terminus which has recently been closed. Mr. Beck for the construction of the said canal obtained the privilege of erecting a saw-mill upon Mr. Hunt's premises. This saw-mill Mr. Beck carried on for some time but seeing that a grand scheme that he had in mind could not be carried out, he sold his sawmill to Messrs. Hunt & Elliott. This grand scheme was nothing less than extending the said canal, crossing King Street and Queen Street and erecting along the canal a number of factories and mills. The proprietor of the land positively refused to grant permission to construct such a canal and Mr. Beck was forced to abandon his cherished plan of making Preston a great manufacturing place, such as the Town of Galt is at the present day. Mr. Beck, notwithstanding the good business done in his foundry, became displeased with Preston. The partnership of Beck, Clare & Wahn was abruptly dissolved, the business closed and the affairs of the firm wound up. Each partner obtained his proper share of the assets, which were largely in excess of the liabilities, Mr. Clare a store and other property and Jacob Beck a large sum of money. He went in search of a mill property which he found in Wilmot. There he erected mills, foundry and other industries, and founded a village which he named Baden. The grist-mill built by him was the third grist-mill built with money earned in Preston.

Fifth Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society, 1917 pg 29

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The family name of John Clare, an astute and forward-looking industrialist of Preston who came to Canada from Germany, was originally Klaar.

In his late teens he learned the moulding trade in a foundry in Buffalo, NY, and in 1843 was hired by Jacob Beck of Preston. A short time later he became Beck's partner.

In 1853 when the Great Western Railway was being built Beck said: "We must locate on the railway." Clare replied: "They will have to come to us eventually." Both proved to be right for the railway did go through Preston. Beck sold his interest in the flourishing firm which became John Clare and Company.

Several sons succeeded him in the business, one of whom, George became a member of Parliament at Ottawa and a member of the Cabinet.

The Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

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Clare, John, iron founder and tinsmith ; manufacturer and wholesale and retail dealer in stoves. Is a native of Germany, and has resided here since 1845. Formerly held the offices of Reeve and School Trustee.

Illustrated Atlas of the County of Waterloo, H. Parsel & Co., Toronto - 1881 (Village of Preston entries)

John married Margaret Beck 28 Sep 1845, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Margaret (daughter of Georg Friedrich "Frederick" Beck and Barbara Mourloch) was born 15 Sep 1826, Weiler, Baden, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died 8 Mar 1906, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182840510
• Name: Margaret Clare
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-40734
• Immigration: 1830, , Canada
• Immigration: 1830, , Canada
• Residence: 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-412659

— Barbara. Barbara was born 1790, , Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-412660
• Residence: 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• House: Beck St., Doon, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Name: Frederick Beck
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-34518

Georg married Barbara Mourloch 8 Aug 1813, Weiler, Baden, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Barbara was born 10 Oct 1791, Sloan, Baden, Germany; died 1 May 1870, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182840169
• Name: Barbara Beck
• Name: Barbara Morlock
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-34519