Louise Beck

Other Events:

• Name: Louisa Beck
• Name: Louise Dickie
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-34985P
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1875, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Louise married Rev. James Francis Dickie 23 Jun 1875, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. James was born 13 Nov 1845, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland; died 28 May 1933, Marine City, St. Clair, Michigan, United States; was buried , Hillside Cemetery, St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120782383
• Interesting: invention, story, pioneer, mill, foundry
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-34982
• Residence: 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Iron Foundry
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mill & Foundry
• Residence: 1861, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1870, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Foundry Man
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1875, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Business: 1878, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Baden Foundry and Engine Works
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Jacob Beck was born May 10, 1816 in Weiler, Baden, Germany son of Frederick Beck. His father brought the family to Buffalo about 1825. When about 12 years old began a seven year apprenticeship with a doctor in Troy, New York. In 1835 he followed his family to Doon and in 1839 moved to Preston. He developed a type of water wheel, also an iron works at the foot of Shantz Hill. He later moved to Baden, Ontario producing stoves and furnaces also was the postmaster there.

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

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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 waterwheel, 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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A master mechanical genius, Jacob Beck, born in Baden, Germany, came to Waterloo Township in 1837. He opened a smelting furnace at New Hope (Hespeler), and later established an iron works on Spring Creek, Preston. He invented a turbine water wheel and in partnership with John Clare and Valentine Wahn manufactured stoves at Preston.

In 1854 Beck located a good source of water power on Spring Creek in Wilmot Township and purchased 200 acres. He erected a gristmill and foundry. He subdivided his farm in 1856, sold lots and developed Baden.

Beck was a member of the first board for the 1839 school in Preston, village councillor, councillor Wilmot Township from 1860 to 1864 and Baden postmaster from 1854 to1879. In 1863 he gave the community the deed for land with the courthouse on it for one dollar. This building served as Wilmot Township Hall until 1867 and is now at Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto.

Waterloo Hall of Fame

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Jacob Beck (born Grand Duchy of Baden, 1816), an enterprising young German, came to Waterloo Township in 1837 from Schenectady, N. Y., having come from Germany the year before. He had invented a peculiar water wheel, described as of small size and large power, which soon gave him an enviable reputation. Starting a small foundry in the Village of New Hope he soon transferred to Preston and built a foundry on the premises later owned by Peter E. Shantz, where he did a rapidly increasing business. Unfortunately, a fire completely destroyed his foundry and rendered the proprietor penniless, as he had no insurance. Thanks to the liberality of neighbors a sufficient sum was raised by subscription to enable Mr. Beck to start anew and to have a larger plant than that destroyed by the fire. He soon had a large staff selling his stoves, etc., in Western Canada. With increasing success he enlarged his premises and took into partnership two of his assistants, John Clare and Valentine Wahn. For improving the water power of Robert Hunt, proprietor of the woolen mills in the village, Mr. Beck obtained the privilege to build a saw mill on Hunt's property, which he carried on for some time. Beck evolved a project for a water power canal leading from the Speed River dam and supplying power to mills and factories along it, such was the confidence in those days in the plentiful flow of the river. The scheme for the power canal did not find support. Beck became displeased with Preston, dissolved partnership with Clare and Wahn, Wahn continuing the foundry. He located a good water supply in Wilmot Township, at a place he called Baden, where, beginning in 1856, he soon established a foundry and a grist mill and did a flourishing business. Lovell's Canada Directory of 1857 gives Beck as postmaster at Baden, miller, founder and machinist. Mr. Beck died in 1906. One of his sons is the Hon. Adam Beck, Chairman 'Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, born in Baden, 1857.

First Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society, 1912 pg 12

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A Mechanic named Jacob Beck (Father of Sir Adam) who was married to Jacob Hespeler's sister had invented a waterwheel of revolutionary design, entirely different from the ones then commonly in use which had the merit of developing more power from less flow and head than the ordinary type. He found his new wheel was getting considerable public acceptance and he was looking for a place to make it himself instead of having them made for him by others.

In some way he and Bergey got together and Bergey built this foundry (It may have been built earlier) and rented it to Beck. Historians of the past say that Beck went from New Hope to Preston which statement I hesitate to question. However, one day when Mr. George A. Clare and I were driving along one of the Waterloo Township roads near Strasburg he stopped and tied the horse to a telegraph pole while he and I walked down through a field to the ruins of the old building, where he told me his father first worked when he came to Canada.

While on the spot, Mr. Clare told me how his father, John Clare, happened to come here. It seems that Mr. Beck was making plough shares in his moulding shop and they were not coming out very good and the farmers who bought them were complaining; More or less in desperation, Mr. Beck went to Buffalo and there called on a friend, a Mr. Jewett, I believe, who ran a foundry. He told him his trouble and asked for the loan of a moulder who could make good shares and plow points, for three or four months, till he could get a stock made up ahead.

The Buffalo friend recommended a young German named John Clare who accompanied Mr. Beck back to Canada and he was able to turn out articles that suited the farmers.

Beck, I think, probably went from New Hope to Strasburg (or nearby Aberdeen) and from there later to Preston. My reasoning is that had he gone first to Preston and later to Strasburg, the Clare Bros. Plant would have been at Strasburg instead of at Preston. At the expiration of the arranged period, when there was a big enough pile of shares and points made up ahead, Mr. Clare did not return to Buffalo as originally intended; and for a very good reason. He had fallen in love with a daughter of Mr. Beck and in due course led her to the Altar; and they remained in Preston.

That is the story Mr. George A. Clare told me that day. I have since learned that Mr. John Clare came to this country in 1844 and married Miss Beck in 1845.

Le Rue De Commerce, Other Times Other Customs Other Days Other Ways, Winfield Brewster 1954

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DEATH OF JACOB BECK

Mr. Jacob Beck who died in Detroit Iast week after a long and honorable life, was for nearly two generations the mainstay of the village of Baden, in this county, where he conducted a foundry and milling business. He was born in Germany about 92 years ago. When twelve years of age his family removed to the United Stated. At twenty Mr. Beck went to Preston and engaged in the stove and foundry business. Twenty-five years later Mr. Beck founded the present town of Baden, Ont., where he went into the milling business. Under the administration of Sir John A. McDonald, Mr. Beck was entrusted with many Important political issues. He went to Detroit in 1877, still following the milling business. He was successful and became rich. He retired from active business only six years ago. Of his children, Hon. Adam Beck, of London, a member of the Ontario Cabinet, is one; Jacob L. lives in London: Charles in Buffalo; George has been his father's business partner; and a daughter is the wife of Rev. Dickie, pastor in the American Church in Berlin, Germany. Interment was at Preston, where his wife is buried^.

Wellesley Maple Leaf, March 29, 1906

Obituary is supplied by the Wellesley Township Heritage and Historical Society Click here to go to their website.

Jacob married Charlotte Josephine Hespeler 19 Oct 1845, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Charlotte (daughter of Johann Georg "George" Hespeler and Anna Barbara Wick) was born 6 May 1822, Gernsbach, Gernsbach, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died 26 Jun 1895, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120782181
• Name: Charlotte Josephine Beck
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-34983
• Residence: 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., 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]

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

Other Events:

• Name: George Hespeler
• Name: John George Hespeler
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-86859
• Residence: 1809, Eningen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Notes:

It is reported that Johann George Hespeler was born 8 Nov 1784 in Eningen, Wurttemburg, Germany and married Anna Barbara Wick 27 July 1809 in Ehingen who was the daughter of Jacob Wick and Marie Ursula Wick. Anna was born 26 Nov 1791 in Eningen. Johann was employed as a merchant businessman with the house of Mayer Amschel Rothschild. Sources are needed to confirm.

Johann married Anna Barbara Wick 27 Jul 1809, Eningen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Anna was born 26 Nov 1791, Ehningen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died 21 Dec 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Babette Wick
• Name: Anna Barbara Hespeler
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-86860
• Residence: 1809, Eningen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany
• Residence: 1861, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christian
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Death of Mrs. Hespeler
From Galt Reporter

Obituary - We record this week the close of a very remarkable life, in the death of Mrs. Hespeler, aged 90 years and a few days, one of the oldest, if not the oldest, person in Galt. Mrs. Hespeler was one of the links connecting the present life with that of the last century. She was born at Ehningen, Wurtemberg, Germany, and witnessed there for many years most of the stirring events which occurred during the Napoleon wars. She frequently saw Napoleon 1, and many of the Crowned Heads of Europe at that time, as well as many of very celebrated Generals of the allied armies. In 1812 she witnessed the return of the French Army on its retreat from Moscow, and her description of their terrible sufferings and appearance from wounds, frost-bites and hunger, were most thrilling. Her description may be best appreciated when it is known that of the Wurtemberg contingent which accompanied Napoleon 1, in the Russian campaign, only five percent, ever again reached their homes.

Early in the present century Mrs. Hespeler and her husband were largely engaged in business with the House of Meyer Anschel Rothschild, of Frankfurt, the founder of the great Banking House. She often spoke of the little back parlor at Zion Rothen Schilde, and the quiet steadfast business manner of the great man who has since left his mark upon the financial dealings of all Europe. In 1840, her husband died, leaving her with all the responsibility of a large family to bring up and educate. In 1852 she decided to emigrate to Canada, where her children had preceded her, her two sons, the late Jacob Hespeler, and Mr. Wm. Hespeler, then occupying prominent positions as Millers, Merchants and Manufacturers at Preston, Hespeler and Waterloo. In 1872 Mrs. Hespeler returned to Germany, thinking there to end her days, but returned, we believe, within the year, finding, like so many under similar circumstances, that so far as her native country was concerned, she had outlived her friends and could no longer enjoy the changed features of the old home life. Possessed of a very retentive memory, and having been a most extensive traveler in that country and Italy, her reminiscence of scenes there were always powerfully described and very interesting, and when in her later years she met her old friends, nothing gave her greater presence than when talking over the eventful scenes through which she had passed her long life.

Guelph Mercury - Dec 24 1881 pg 1