Mayor Johann George "George" Rumpel

Other Events:

• Club Membership: Mason
• Historic Building: 38 Cameron Street, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Name: George Rumpel
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-36959P
• Immigration: 1870, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1870, , Ontario, Canada
• Naturalization: 1873
• Naturalization: 1873, , Ontario, Canada
• Business: 1880, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Berlin Felt Boot Co.
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Shoe Manufacturer
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Elected Office: 1898, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mayor - Kitchener
• Occupation: 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Business: 1912, 60 Victoria St. N., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Rumpel Felt Company
• Employer: 1912, Ecomonical Fire Insurance Company, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; director of Economical Fire Insurance Company
• Residence: Abt 1912, 38 Cameron Street, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Possessions: 1913, 247 Duke St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

George Rumpel, Mayor 1898.

Mr. George Rumpel occupied the mayor's chair very acceptably during the year 1898. The year previously he had been reeve. His term as Chief Magistrate was marked by the purchase of the water works system, which has proved Berlin's best public utility. Its purchase was opposed by many citizens and a heated compaign preceded its taking over. Mr. Rumpel has since served on both the Water Commission and the Park Board. He was born in Saxony, Germany and came to Berlin in 1871, and soon after established the Berlin Felt Boot Co. and has proved himself to be an able business man. As a citizen, he is esteemed for his many excellent qualities.

Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912, Berlin, Ontario, The German Printing and Publishing Co

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GEORGE RUMPEL.

George Rumpel, president of the Berlin Felt Boot Company, is numbered among the worthy Canadian citizens that Germany has furnished to the Dominion, his birth having occurred in Saxony on the 10th of May, 1850. His parents were Frederick and Fredericka (Rick) Rumpel, also natives of Germany, and the father was a furniture manufacturer of Saxony.

In accordance with the laws of his native land, George Rumpel attended school between the ages of six and fourteen years and then entered business life as an apprentice to the shoemaker's trade, serving a three years term of indenture. He afterward traveled and worked as a journeyman for three years, being employed in twelve different factories after becoming a master workman. Hoping to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, where wages were generally higher and competition not so great, he came to Ontario in 1871, settling in Hamilton, where he secured employment in the McPherson shoe factory. In 1875 he came to Berlin and for two years was in the employ of the Berlin Felt Shoe Company, while in 1879 he bought out the business, which he has since conducted. The enterprise is one of importance here, furnishing employment to about one hundred and seventy-five operatives. In this connection he carries on three factories and the plant covers an area of about ten acres, while the trade extends throughout the Dominion. The business has constantly grown and developed under the able management and keen discrimination of Mr. Rumpel, who has been watchful of every opportunity pointing to success and has utilized every means to the best possible advantage. He has kept his factory equipped with the latest improved machinery and he has always made it a point to pay good living wages, which has received from his employees faithful and valuable service.

In 1872 Mr. Rumpel was married to Miss Minna Hartman, a daughter of the late Hans Hartman, who was a native of Saxony, Germany. Four children grace this union: Oscar, Olga, Walter and Hilda. Mr. Rumpel is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Royal Arcanum, the Maccabees tent and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a Conservative and has usually refused the public preferment offered him. He has, however, filled some local positions, being a member of the council for eight years, while in 1897 he was reeve and in 1898 was mayor of Berlin. During his administration in the last named position he succeeded in securing municipal ownership of the water works, which prior to that time had been operated by private individuals. He is now chairman of the water works commission and is a member of the park board, on which he has served as chairman for several years. He is likewise a member of the Board of Trade and has done effective work in behalf of public welfare and progress for a long period. He belongs to St. Peter's Lutheran Church, in which he is serving as deacon, and his humanitarian spirit is frequently manifest in his liberal contributions to church and to charity. His beautiful residence called Forest Hill, situated on King and Cameron streets, is considered the finest home in Berlin, while Mr. Rumpel has gained a position of prominence and distinction that justly entitles him to a place in this publication. Although his career has not been filled with thrilling incidents probably no life history published in this volume can better serve to demonstrate to young men the power of honesty and integrity, of diligence and perseverance in insuring success. Aside from his business interests his life has been actuated by unselfish motives, prompted by patriotism and guided by truth and justice.

[Fraser, Alexander, 1860-1936; A History of Ontario; its History and Development; vol 2 Biography; Toronto; Canada
History Co; date of publication unknown; U of Toronto Collection AMY-0015; www.archive.org/stream/ ]

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The largest estate [in Berlin] was the Forest Hill property of Sheriff George Davidson. It consisted of 40 acres in the area bounded roughly by Cameron N, King, Stirling & Courtland Sts. Shortly after Sheriff Davidson's death in 1881 it became the property of Mr & Mrs George Rumpel. They enlarged and remodelled the house in colonial style, with a huge portico and massive, towering pillars. In my childhood I used to spend a lot of time there with my Godmother, Minna Rumpel. How well I remember the park, its creek, pond and island; the gardens, the fountain, the bowling alleys and the huge two-storey high conservatory with its towering palms and multitudes of ferns and plants.

Potter, Alex O ; "Let's Reminisce" reprinted from the Kitchener-Waterloo Record.

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Sheriff Davidson decided to develop 36 acres of choice land at the east end of town back in the 1850s, elevated property which had a fine view to the northeast. The owner soon made 'Forest Hill' one of the show places of the county with hedges, many paths, a pond, groves of maple and elm , well constructed out-buildings and gardens. When Sheriff Davidson died in the 1870's, the property was bought by George Rumpel, felt boot manufacturer and at one time mayor of Berlin. Under this owner the estate displayed a profusion of vines, shrubs, rustic arbors and statuary. Later, this piece of Kitchener became too valuable in the shape designed by its original owners. Oscar Rumpel sub-divided it, laid out curved streets and built a nmber of attractive homes, assuring the steady growth of the area into a very handsome reidential district. The Rumpel mansion, called Forest Hill Gardens, was a huge structure marked by a lofty portico standing on four massive pillars. Early pictures of the interior show rooms furnished in splendor, crowded with elegant tables, rich tapestry and lace, burnished metal lamps and graceful statues. There is even a tiger skin spread on the rich rug. Round pictures of stern men with firece beards stare from the walls.

"Former Rumpel Estate" Kitchener-Waterloo Record; 11 Feb 1966

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Elected Office:
Years Served: 1898 (Mayor)

Johann married Wilhelmine "Minnie" Hartman 2 Jul 1872, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. Wilhelmine (daughter of Hans Hartman and Wilhelmine Jane Geisenheimer) was born 26 Mar 1853, Oppurg, , Thüringen, Germany; died 29 Apr 1919, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Rumpel
2. Ernst Oscar "Oscar" Rumpel was born 14 Mar 1873, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 12 Dec 1942, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. Ida Clara Rumpel was born 10 Jun 1874, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 6 Jul 1875, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
4. George Victor Rumpel was born 25 Feb 1876, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 21 Nov 1876, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
5. Bertha Olga "Olga" Rumpel was born 21 Jan 1879, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 30 Oct 1958, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
6. Otto Henry Miller was born 26 Apr 1881, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
7. George Walter "Walter" Rumpel was born 5 Jul 1885, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 20 Sep 1944, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
8. Louise Wilhelmina Hilda Rumpel was born 20 Feb 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 16 Nov 1967, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-102592

Frederick — Fredericka. [Group Sheet]