Elizabeth "Bessie" Sherk

Other Events:

• Name: Bessie Sherk
• Name: Elizabeth "Bessie" Hibner
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5619
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Bretheren
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Dressmaker
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Brethren
• Residence: 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, 14 Edward St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Zion Evangelical
• Residence: 1935, 19 Ellen St. E. Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Elizabeth Sherk, "was born January 1st, 1855. She is married to Daniel Hibner. They reside in Berlin where he is engaged in manufacturing furniture. Mr. Hibner has been mayor of Berlin for the years 1894 and 1895."


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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

Elizabeth married Mayor Daniel Hibner 6 Nov 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Daniel (son of Jacob Hibner and Margaretha "Maggie" Schneider) was born 9 Mar 1853, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 31 Oct 1935, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Abraham Sharick
• Name: Abraham Sherrick
• Name: Abram Sherrick
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5613
• Residence: 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1989, 15 Samuel St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Abraham Sherk, "was born July 7th, 1817. He was married October 30th, 1845, to Lucy Buckler who was born February 9th, 1828. Soon after their marriage they moved on a farm near Blair where they resided until lately when they moved to Berlin where they now reside. To them was born a family of thirteen 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.].

_______________________

THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE

An interesting meeting took place the Saturday before last in the old log cabin in Waterloo Park.

This house was, of course, the first schoolhouse in this area and stood originally on the school-house square at the corner of King and Church Streets in Waterloo. It was built in 1820 and served its purpose until 1842, when it was torn down and a 1-storey stone house was constructed on the site. The dismantled log house was erected again in Greenbush and served as a residence for a long time for the coloured man, Mr. Carroll and his family. In the course of this year, the Waterloo Park Commissioners purchased the house, moved it to their park and furnished it again as it was when it was a school-house.

At this gathering, in addition to many other ladies and gentlemen, the following (male and female) former pupils attended, took their places on the benches, and were called to order by the 82-year-old teacher, Benjamin Burkholder, who held the scepter, or rather, the switch, from 1831 to 1842 in the old log-house: Joel Guth, 80 years old; Abraham Scherk, Blair, 79; Jakob Bricker, Waterloo, 77; Sarah Burkholder, nee Erb, Bridgeport, 75; Amos Weber, Berlin, 73; John C, Bricker, Hawksville, 71; Maria Erb, nee Quickfall, Norwich 69; David B. Eby, Waterloo, 69; Wendel Baumann, Woolwich, 68; Henry Stauffer, Erbsville, 67; Simon Beatty, Elmira, 67; Jakob Ratz, New Hamburg, 67; Israel Baumann, Berlin, 65; George Elbert, Moorefield, 63; George H. Baumann, Elmira, 63; John Devitt, Waterloo, 62; Richard Quickfall, Bridgeport, 62; Isaak Hoffmann, Waterloo, 61; Robert Barkwell, Peel, 60; Diana McMahon, nee Dekay, Berlin, 60; Thomas Quickfall, Floradale, 60; Benjamin Devitt, Waterloo, 60; Isaak Devitt, Floradale, 58; John Longmann, Peel, 57. In addition, to these, the teacher read the names of 25 pupils from the roll; they were, however, absent.

Mr. Burkholder gave an interesting talk about the history of the old school-house, and after him, Rev. J.A. MacLachlan, Rev. J. McNair, Mr. J.E. Baumann, M.P., and Mr. Jakob Ratz spoke about the old days which brought many things out of the past to mind again. School was, as a rule, only in session in winter and the costs were borne by the parents of the children. There were few subjects taught, namely: Reading, Writing and Sums. The children heard little about language, and geography; no child had more than 2 or 3 books. The predominant language was German. The pupils learned to read and write English, but didn't understand a word of it. Among the teachers in the old school-house from 1820-1842, with the exception of Mr. Burkholder, were the following whose names are still recognized: Jephtha DeKay, Joseph Guth, John Herringer, Peter Otto, John Dobbin, Elias Eby, Robert Barber, & Joseph Eby.

After those present, on hearing the various speeches felt themselves transported back to the past, the school was closed at four o'clock and the pupils were gathered together in front of the school and photographed as a group. On their return into the school, they found it had been transformed into a dining room with heavily-laden tables, which the old-timers thoroughly enjoyed. After everyone had chatted cordially for a while longer, the gathering broke up. The company will not meet again in complete numbers, nor in such a way.

Berliner Journal September 26, 1895 Page 4 Column 4

________________

Abraham Sherk Passes Over to the Great Majority

At his home on Samuel St., Berlin, there died on Friday morning another of the early settlers, one who, at the time of his death was probably the oldest native born resident of this county. Mr. Abraham Sherk was born on the old Bechtel homestead just east of Blair (at present the home of Mr. Barclay) on July 7th, 1817. He was the eldest son of Jacob and Hannah Sherk. Joseph Sherk, the father of Jacob, was the first settler to arrive in the county with his family in the spring of 1800. Jacob Bechtel arrived during the same summer. The parents of Abraham Sherk were the son and daughter of these two first families in the county. They soon afterwards removed from the home in Blair, to a farm adjoining the Grand River west from Breslau - for many years occupied by Mr. Noah Betzner. At that time Berlin was not yet a village. Here Abraham Sherk grew to youth, when his father and one brother were suddenly cut off by cholera in 1834. About a year afterwards he was apprenticed to the late Wm. Moyer, father of the late P. E. W. Moyer. Mr. Moyer did a large business as contractor. A very common mode of housebuilding at that time was known as "roughcast". The old Commercial Hotel of this town, was one of the buildings constructed by Mr. Moyer. The village of Preston had a considerable number of them. The subject of this notice, however, preferred farming to housebuilding, and on his release at the age of 21 years, he hired out to his uncle, the late Henry Bechtel. At the age of twenty-two, with the assistance of his mother, he bought a farm, in what was then designated the "English Settlement" about two miles west of Carlysle near Blair. In 1845 he married Lucy Buckler, and resided on the farm until 1865, when he sold the place and bought the Schlichter farm near Blair. On this farm he continued to live until 1893, when he sold it and removed to Berlin. He had not the privilege of attending school when a boy, and feeling the lack of an education he took great pains to give his children a good common school training. He was in religion a Mennonite and in politics a staunch Reformer, journeying from Blair to Guelph to poll his first vote. He was 80 years and 9 months of age, and leaves the companion of his life for over 52 years and a family of twelve children, viz: William, Berlin; Hannah, Toronto; Moses, Michigan; Jacob, Victoria; Wendell, Waterloo; Thomas, Chicago; Mrs. Foreman, Berlin; Samuel, Berlin; Caleb, Detroit; and Mrs. Gehman, Dumfries. One child died in infancy.
The funeral takes place on Sunday, 10th, at 1.30 p.m., from his residence, No. 15 Samuel street, to the New Mennonite church for service, thence to Mennonite cemetery at the east end for interment.

Berlin Daily Telegraph, April 9, 1898

_____________

Death of an Aged Pioneer
Abraham Sherk has Passed Away

There died on Friday morning at 15 Samuel str. Berlin one of the few living members of the sturdy group of pioneers who hewed out the early settlements of Waterloo county - in the person of Abraham Sherk.

He was born on the old Bechtel homestead, below Blair on July 7th 1817, and his grandfather and father were among the very first among the advance guard from Pennsylvania, to set foot in what is know the banner county of Ontario. He lived to see a great transformation effected in this district in the 80 years, 9 mos and 1 day of his life, and died full of years and much respected by a wide circle of relatives and friends.
Over fifty years ago he married Miss Lucy Buckler and to them were born thirteen children of whom she and twelve survive the father and husband. The children are: William of Berlin; Miss Hannah, of Toronto; Moses of Brown City, Mich., Jacb and Abraham of Victoria B.C.; Mrs. D. Hibner, Berlin; Wendell B., of Waterloo; Thos W., Chicago; Mrs. H Foreman, and Samuel B of Berlin; Caleb of Detroit and Mrs Gehman of North Dumfries

Mr. Sherk has lived a retired life in Berlin for four years and enjoyed good health up to within a few months ago. On Tuesday he was confined to his bed and sank rapidly.

His remains will be interred in the Eby cemetery (east end) Berlin, on Sunday afternoon at 1.30 p.m. The funeral will leave his late residence for the New Mennonite church at that hour and after service proceed to the cemetery. Friends and acquaintances please accept this intimation.

Berlin News Record, April 9, 1898

Abraham married Louisa Ann "Lucy" Buckler 30 Oct 1845, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Louisa was born 9 Feb 1828, , England; died 22 Oct 1905, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Louisa Ann "Lucy" Sherk
• Name: Lucy Buckler
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5613.1
• Residence: 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1989, 15 Samuel St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Sharick - At Breslau, Sunday, Oct. 22, Lucy Buckler, relict of the late Abraham Sharick, aged 27 years, 8 months, 13 days. Funeral on Wednesday, Oct. 25th, at 1 p.m., from the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Henry Foreman, Breslau, to Mennonite chapel, Lancaster street, Berlin, thence to Eby's cemetery for interment.

Berlin Daily Telegraph, October 23, 1905

Notes:

Married:
The marriage record recorded by Rev. Strang gives Oct 3rd not 30th as recorded by Ezra Eby.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00101-5612
• Epidemic: 6 Aug 1834, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Cholera

Notes:

Jacob Sherk, "was born August 18th, 1795. He was married to Hannah Bechtel (No. 753). They resided on the farm now in possession of Noah Betzner on the west side of the Grand River, near Breslau. Here he died of cholera, August 6th, 1834. His family consisted 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.].

Jacob — Hannah Bechtel. Hannah (daughter of Deacon Jacob Bechtel and Elizabeth Gabel) was born 24 Oct 1799, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 25 Sep 1874; was buried , Breslau Mennonite Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Hannah Sherk
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0753
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Hannah Bechtel "the fourth member of old Jacob Bechtel's family, was married to Jacob Sherk. They resided on the farm now the property of Noah Betzner, where he died of cholera, August 5th, 1834. She was born October 24th, 1799, and died September 25th, 1874. They had a family of ten 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.].

Residence:
Lived with her son Abraham.

Other Events:

• Name: Joseph Schörg
• Name: Joseph Sherk
• Name: Joseph Shurick
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5597
• Residence: CONSTRUCTED 1830, 381 Pioneer Tower Rd., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 11, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Joseph Schorg, "was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, February 3rd, 1769. He came to Canada in fall of 1799, and in spring, 1800, he with his wife and family of five children settled on lot No. 11, B.F. Beasley Block, S. R., on the banks of the Grand River, opposite Doon. Here they raised a family of ten children. He died February 17th, 1853."


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.].

_____________________________


February 17, 1855 - Joseph Schorg. The first settler of Waterloo township. 86 years, 14 days.


Death Announcement - Deutsche Canadier, March 1, 1855

___________________________

Joseph Sherk

It was 100 years on Monday since the first settler came to Waterloo County. His name was Joseph Sherk; after he visited the area in 1799, he and his family settled on Lot 11, Beasley Block, on the banks of the Grand River opposite Doon. He died February 17, 1853.

Berliner Journal 3 Mar 1904 Translated by: Patricia J. Kauk October 28, 2005 for the Kitchener Public Library

_________________________


A-1-60 Joseph Sharick: Last Will and Testament of Joseph Sharick of Waterloo, Yeoman, ..

I Joseph Sharick the Elder, of the Township of Waterlooo, Yeoman, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, but being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament, in manner following, that is to say : I will and desire that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expensees be paid by my Executors hereinafter named, as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, and as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to blessw me, I give and dispose of the same as follows, that is to say, I give and devise to my beloved wife the Bedstead and bedding and the bureaus which she brought with her at her marriage with me, and my will is, that my executors do support and maintain my said wife Barbara out of my estate hereinafter named in such manner as shall be ample and sufficient for her proper maintenance during the time of her natural life. And my will is further, that all the proceeds out of my real and personal estate hereinafter named shall be divided unto and among my hereinafter named children, viz: Catharine, the wife of John Brubacher, John, David, Elizabeth the wife of Peter Woods, Joseph, Magdalena the wife of David Codlin, Susanna the wife of John Thornton, Lidia[sic] the wife of Morgan Thompson, share and share alike, subject nevertheless to the following conditions, that is to say that Magdalena shall have the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars in addition to the different sum and articles which she already has received, over and above her equal share as aforsaid, and said one hundred and fifty dollars and the different sums and articles which she already has received, shall be in lieu of wages for the time she has worked for me over age, and the said Susannah shall have the said one hundred and fifty dollars less than her equal share as aforesaid. And my will is further, that the said Magdalena shall only be entitles to draw one half of the amount of her share and the one hundred and fifty dollars, and for the other half the Executors shall pay her the lawful interest, provided always that if it shall appear to said Executors that the said interest shall not prove sufficient at any time for the support of the said Magdalena, the said Executors then shall have power to pay over to the said Magdalena such sums out6 of the said remaining half share, as they may think sufficient, and my will is further that if my said daughter Magdalena should die without leaving lawful issue, that then my Executors shall divide the remainder of her share unto and among the other of my above named children share and share alike. And my will is further that my Executors in dividing the proce3eds of my estate, shall take my Book wherein I have made charges to my said children as and for their guide and divide accordingly to said charges already made, and before any of my heirs shall receive his full share, my will is that all the above named heirs are placed on an equal footing according to the above named charges in the book, and none of my heirs shall have any right to demand their respective shares of my Executors during the lifetime of my said wife Barbara….I nominate my trusty and worthy friends Jacob Hagey of the said Township of Waterloo, Blacksmith, Abraham Kinsey, of the same place, Yeoman, and my son David Sharick of the same place Yeoman, to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament.

Witnessed by John Betzner, Aaron Biehn, Otto Klotz, Notary Public
Will dated 6 March 1852
Will proven 26 February 1855
No Inventory amount
Died 17 February 1855

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

Residence:
The Schoerg Homestead is a classic representation of the Mennonite Georgian style. The house is a two-and-a-half-storey dwelling, constructed of hand-made red-brick, with a two-storey wood frame wing to the rear. The structure is in sound condition and has been altered very little from its original appearance. The brick portion of the home is set upon a foundation of rough squared granite stone. The fieldstone foundation of the two-storey rear wing suggests an earlier farmhouse may have existed at this location.
The barn, constructed circa 1830, was a classic example of a Pennsylvania Mennonite bank barn and the remains of the granite and limestone foundations can be seen just west of the farmhouse.<sup>1a

1a</sup>381 Pioneer Tower Road, Heritage Property Report, City of Kitchener, December 7, 2004.

Joseph — Elizabeth Betzner. Elizabeth (daughter of Samuel Betzner and Maria Detweiler) was born Abt 1773, Of, Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown; was buried , Doon Pioneer Tower Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Schoerg
• Name: Elizabeth Schoerg
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0915

Notes:

Elizabeth Betzner "was born about 1773, and was first married to John Schörg who was born in 1761, and resided in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1792. After his death she was married to Joseph Schörg who was born February 3rd, 1769. They came to Canada in 1800 and settled near Doon where he died February 17th, 1853. She died many years ago. To her were born 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:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0737
• Residence: Abt 1817, 1490 Blair Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Old Survey Lot 03, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Old Survey Lot 03, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

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

Jacob — Elizabeth Gabel. Elizabeth was born CA 1775, Of, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown; was buried , Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Bechtel
• Eby ID Number: 00037-3022.3

Notes:

Unwilling participants in the War of 1812
About 20 Mennonite men were conscripted to haul supplies for an 1813 engagement

...No one was exempt from non-combatant duties, although some resisted at times. Some were fined heavily in court. Cornelius Pannebecker removed the wheels from his wagon to save it, although his horse and son were still conscripted. Elizabeth (Gabel) Bechtel was threatened at sword-point by an officer who knew she was hiding oxen, which he sought for a massive-scale transport operation to the Detroit River.

Waterloo Region Region 23 Jun 2012 Jonathan Seiling