John Meredith

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-406620

John — Mary Elizabeth Johnstone. Mary (daughter of John Johnstone and Agnes Wright) was born 6 Oct 1863, , Ontario, Canada; died 14 Oct 1938, North Cypress, , Manitoba. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-164223

William married Maria Stauffer 24 Sep 1856, Kinloss, Huron Township, Bruce County, Ontario, Canada. Maria (daughter of Joel Eli "Eli" Stauffer and Lydia Ellenbaum) was born 3 Sep 1837, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 19 Aug 1913, Carberry, , Manitoba, Canada; was buried 22 Aug 1913, Carberry Plains Cemetery, Carberry, Manitoba, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Meredith
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7355.8

Notes:

Mrs. William Meridith - Another of the oldest settlers of the Carberry Plain passed to her reward on Tuesday evening in the death of Mrs. William Meredith, of Harte. Mrs. Meridith had been ailing with a stomach trouble for the last three months and under-went an operation at the Brandon hospital three weeks ago, but she gradually grew weaker till death released her of her suffering. Deceased, whose maiden name Maria Stauffer, was 75 years, 11 months and 16 days, came with her husband and family from Kinloss township, Bruce county, Ontario, thirty-four years ago and homesteaded on 34-11-15, near Harte. She was among the first women on the big plain and has lived here ever since; her husband predeceased her about six years. A grown family of four daughters and three sons are left, Mrs. Robt. Alliban, Mrs. Wm. Servant, Mrs. Wm. Switzer, Mrs. Alex Gould, John Meridith, all residents of the plain, Joseph Meridith, Dauphin, William Meridith, Biggar, Sask., Robert Meridith in the East. Deceased has a large number of friends in the district, especially among the older settlers, who will recall the many motherly and kindly acts performed in the pioneer days. The funeral will be held on Friday at two o'clock, from Knox church, Carberry to Carberry cemetery.

Unidentified Newspaper Obituary

Other Events:

• Name: Eli Stauffer
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7355

Notes:

Eli Stauffer, "is married to Lydia Ellenbaum. They reside at Lucknow, Bruce County, Ontario, where he followed farming for many years but now lives retired."

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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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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Joel Eli Stauffer was one of the first settlers in Kinloss in 1850 that settled on the "Free Grants". Stauffer is acknowledged as the first man to ever cross the Township of Kinloss.

Township of Huron-Kinloss, Ontario, Canada - Kinloss. (2016). Huronkinloss.com. Retrieved 11 May 2016, from https://www.huronkinloss.com/kinloss.cfm

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The number of settlers that came into the county in 1850 was largely in excess of the preceding year. As these settled principally on " free grant " lands, it is but fair to assume that the advantageous character of the offer made by the Crown was becoming widely known and realized. The greater portion of these settlers found farms to their satisfaction in either Brant or Kincardine, while a few passed into Kinloss, which in 1850 received its first inhabitants, who settled in the vicinity of "the Black Horse," among them being Joel Eli Stauffer, Thomas Hodgins, Thomas Smith, John and William Shel- ton and others. A fair number of settlers located on the Lake Ranges in Huron and Kincardine, largely attracted by the advantage offered of water communication, which gave ready access from the first. Arran received its first settler in this year in the person of Henry Boyle, a squatter who located on his lot in advance of the survey of the township

Full text of "The history of the county of Bruce and of the minor municipalities therein, Province of Ontario, Canada". (2016). Archive.org. Retrieved 11 May 2016, from https://archive.org/stream/countybruce00robeuoft_djvu.txt

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The name Joel Eli is given in the History of the County of Bruce and no where else. It is probably in error and should be just Eli.

Joel — Lydia Ellenbaum. Lydia (daughter of Samuel Ellenbaum and Maria "Polly" Gensemer) was born 1813, Tremont, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States; died 12 May 1874, House of Industry and Refuge, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , House of Industry and Refuge Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Lydia Stauffer
• Name: Lydia Stauffer
• Eby ID Number: 00117-7355.1
• Residence: 1861, Kinloss, Huron Township, Bruce County, Ontario, Canada
• House of Industry and Refuge: 1871, House of Industry and Refuge Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Inmate of Poor House
• Residence: 1871, House of Industry and Refuge, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• House of Industry and Refuge: 1874

Notes:

In "Descendants Meet Again, Two Centuries Later" by Deborah Gilbert in the Ontario Genealogical Society's Magazine "Families" Feb 2009, it states, Lydia was taken to an asylum in Berlin, Waterloo Co where she died. Her husband was Joel Eli Stauffer

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Lydia was the daughter of Samuel Ellenbaum and Polly Geismer

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00117-7354
• Historic Building: Abt 1815, 393 Tilt Dr., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; log house built
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Biehn's Tract Lot 06, Waterloo County, Ontario
• House: Bef 1851, 7 Fischer Court, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Log - 2 story
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Abraham Stauffer, "was born August 1st, 1788. When a young man he was married to Catharine, daughter of John and Barbara (Freed) Biehn. She was born in 1785 and died in 1869. They resided on the farm now owned by Mr. Bear, near Doon, Ontario, where they raised their family. He died about the year 1858. To them were born six 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.].

Abraham's birth is also given as 8th January, 1788.

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A-2-70 Abraham Stauffer The Last Will and Testament and Codicils of Abraham Stauffer the elder, late of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman, who died on or about the 29^th April 1860 at the Township of Waterloo, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at the Township of Waterloo, was proved and registered in the said Surrogate Court, a true copy of which said Last Will and Testament and codicils are hereunder written, and that the administration of all and singular the personal estate and effects rights and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will was granted…to David Gingrich of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman, and Jacob Hagey of the Township of Waterloo, Yeoman, Executors named in the said will and codicils…

…I, Abraham Stauffer Senior…I will and order that my funeral, testamentary and other expenses and all my just debts be paid by my Executors hereinafter appointed, out of my estate so soon after my decease as practicable, and all the money and other effect due and payable to my Estate be collected and all my personal or other property that I may be possessed of at my decease shall be sold and made into money as soon as conveniently can be done and to the best advantage of my estate by my Executors…I will and order that all my children shall be made alike and equal in accounts in my Family Book, as may be seen reference being had thereto. I give, devise and bequeath all the rest and residue of my estate, real, personal and mixed of which I shall be seized and possessed, or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease to all my children and their heirs share and share alike, as follows, that is to say to my son Eli and his heirs one equal share thereof, to my son John and his heirs one equal share thereof, to the heirs of my son Joseph deceased one equal share thereof, and to the heirs of my daughter Katherine deceased late the wife of Joel Good, one equal share thereof. I will and order that my Executors shall pay to my heirs as above stated their several shares (in part) at the time or times my Executors shall collect and receive the same. And I do hereby constituted, nominate and appoint my son-in-law David Gingrich and my friend Jacob Hagey, Executors of this my Last Will and Testament…

Codicil (1) : I, Abraham Stauffer, named as the Testator in the will within contained do hereby make this present Codicil which I do order and direct, shall be taken as a part of my written Last Will and Testament, and which will, in all respects excepting wherein it is altered or changed by this Codicil do hereby republish and confirm I hereby give and bequeath to my Grandson William Stauffer, the son of my son Eli Stauffer, the sum of two hundred dollars which I have this day paid to him, without interest, and which said two hundred dollars I will and order shall be deducted out of and from the share of my son Eli Stauffer…

Codicil (2) I, Abraham Stauffer named as the Testator in the Will to which this is attached or annexed do hereby make this present Codicil which I do order and direct shall be take as a part of my annexed Last Will and Testament, and which Will, in all respects, excepting wherein it is altered or changed by this Codicil, and another Codicil bearing the date the 20^th November 1855, do hereby republish and confirm; I will and order that the share given to my son Eli Stauffer shall not be paid to him as mentioned in my will but my Executors shall retain his share in their hands and pay him so much thereof from time to time out of said share, as they, my Executors shall in their wisdom see that he actually stands in need of and at the decease of my said son eli, the share or part of share as shall there be remaining in the hands of my Executors, shall be equally divided among the children of my son Eli, share and share alike. I will and order that my Grandson William Stauffer shall pay the two hundred dollars mentioned in my first Codicil as shall be hereinafter mentioned that is to say, it shall be divided into as many shares as my son Eli has lawful children and my Grandson William Stauffer shall pay to each of the said respective children one share, commencing to pay the eldest one year after my decease and so on down to the youngest child, one share yearly and every year until they are all paid in full without interest. But I further will and order that should my son Eli make a Will and deduct two hundred dollars out of the share of my Grandson William, and that in such case he is debarred from receiving from his Father's estate his full share. Then I will and order that he shall not pay the said two hundred dollars as aforesaid to his brothers & sisters…

Witnessed by Abraham Gingrich and William Tilt
Will dated 14^th March 1855
Proved 22^nd May 1860
Died 29^th April 1860
Codicils witnessed by Abraham Gingrich and William Tilt
First Codicil dated 20^th November 1855
Second Codicil dated 14^th February 1859

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

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Beside the many hardships, labors and sufferings in getting here and making themselves homes, quite a few settlers along where Blair is now situated were visited by a fire this spring of 1806.

On the 6th of May fire was set to a Job [a tract of land with timber slashed down ready to be burned so that the land could be farmed later] of 10 or 15 acres, soon after which a great wind arose, and swept through the new clearings and destroyed fences, houses and barns.

Abraham Stauffer had his barn burnt.
Abraham Bechtel had his house and barn burnt.
Jacob Bechtel's house was saved but his barn and everything else were consumed.
Nathaniel Dodge who was the last of the settlers along the river, had two barns with all their contents burnt.

The fire went on making the most fearful destruction of all kinds of valuable timber. Thus those settlers who were probably the most advanced with their new homes were suddenly left without house, food or clothing, and were obliged to go below Dundas through mud, water, swamp and forest for provisions and other necessaries, which were not obtainable from their neighbors.

MENNONITE IMMIGRATION TO WATERLOO COUNTY - THE MOYER JOURNAL

Attributed to Samuel S. Moyer 1849 - 1941

Historic Building:
Research on the house as home of Abraham Stauffer, built about 1815 and therefore the oldest house in Kitchener, Ontario<sup>1a

1a</sup>Nicholas Hill, Heritage Impact Assessment, Wildwood Neighbourhood, Doon South Community, City of Kitchener, Hill, Architect Planner, and Green Scheels Pidgeon Planning Consultants. November 1996.

Residence:
Lived with son Joseph B. Stauffer.

Abraham — Catharine Biehn. Catharine (daughter of John Biehn and Barbara Fried) was born 1785, , USA; died 1869. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catharine Stauffer
• Eby ID Number: 00008-975
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Catharine Biehn, " was born in 1785. She was married to Abraham Stauffer who was born August 1st, 1788. In 1800 they with others came to Canada and settled near the village of Doon, on the farm now owned by John Bear, Jr., where they raised a 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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In the will of her husband Abraham, Catharine is not mentioned which is would be uncommon unless she was previously deceased. The only reference to her death is from the Biographical History of Waterloo Township giving it as 1860. In the absence of other proof this date is the being used.

Residence:
Lived with son Joseph B. Stauffer.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-46900

Samuel — Maria "Polly" Gensemer. Maria was born 13 Nov 1791, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 1873, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria "Polly" Ellenbaum
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-202196