Valentine Wahn

Other Events:

• Business: Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wahn & Newton - manufacturers of Threshing machines, reapers, mower, separators and stoves
• Interesting: foundry, business
• Occupation: Neustadt, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada; Iron Foundry
• Occupation: Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Iron Foundry
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52691
• Occupation: 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Foundry
• Residence: 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Calvanist
• Occupation: 1871, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Iron Founder
• Retired: 1881, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1883; foundry man
• Residence: 1883, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; German Reformed

Notes:

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

______________________________

VALENTINE WAHN

c.1820-1883

Valentine Wahn was a native of Oberaula, Hessen, Germany. It is uncertain when he immigrated to Preston but it was probable that he was among the wave of German immigrants who arrived in the area in the 1830's. In the early 1850's Mr. Wahn, along with John Clare, was taken into partnership by Jacob Beck in ownership of an iron foundry that Mr. Beck had started in 1839. Mr. Beck became disenchanted with business prospects in Preston and, in 1856, dissolved the partnership. He left Preston for a mill site in Wilmot township where he founded the town of Baden. It appears that Mr. Wahn then took control of the foundry which continued to do a prosperous business producing cast iron stoves. In 1875 the factory site was purchased by Abram Z. Detweiler and Peter E. Shantz who then formed the Preston Agricultural Works, later the P. E. Shantz Foundry. Mr. Wahn died on April 8, 1883 and is buried in the Preston Cemetery.

Sources:
1. Alfred Pautler, Preston, A Friendly Welcome Awaits You, Preston Golden Jubilee and Old Boys' Re-Union Committee, Preston 1947.
2. W.H. Breithaupt "Some German Settlers of Waterloo County", Waterloo Historical Society Journal Vol. I, 1913.


Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [used with kind permission of Jim Quantrell]

Valentine married Johanna Christina Goldschmidt 15 Mar 1848, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Johanna (daughter of John Goldschmidt and Maria K. Loewe) was born CALC 4 Jul 1830, , Germany; died 22 Mar 1925, Neustadt, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried 25 Mar 1925, Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Margaret "Maggie" Wahn was born 1848, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Mena Wahn was born 20 Sep 1851, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 25 Mar 1942, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. Eliza Wahn was born 1852, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
4. Carolina Wahn was born CALC 18 Dec 1853, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 28 Apr 1922, Neustadt, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried 2 May 1922, Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
5. Mary Wahn was born 1855, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1932; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
6. Carl "Charles" Wahn was born 1856, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
7. Valentine Wahn was born 1859, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
8. Victoria Georgina Wahn was born CALC 25 May 1861, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 26 Sep 1871, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
9. William Wahn was born 1862, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
10. Frederick William Wahn was born CALC 3 Apr 1863, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 5 Jun 1918, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.