Harry Beck

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-53028

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-53023
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weslyan Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer

John married Ada Vrooman 2 Jul 1900, Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada. Ada (daughter of James Samuel Vrooman and Mary Connor) was born 2 Jun 1878, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

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• Name: Ada Beck
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-53024

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154270075
• Eby ID Number: 00039-3130.8
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Labourer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weslyan Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gardener
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer, Gardner
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian

Notes:

Jacob Beck, 88, Dies at Doon

Jacob Beck passed away on Saturday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Marshall at the age of 88, following a brief illness. Mr. Beck was born in this community, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beck. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. William Marshall, one sister, Miss Elizabeth Beck of Doon, one brother Charles of Blair, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Mrs. Beck predeceased him 15 years ago, also one son. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon from Ratz-Bechtel funeral home, Kitchener to Doon cemetery for interment. The funeral was largely attended.

Waterloo Chronicle 23 Jul 1936, p. 3

Jacob married Sarah Burkholder 16 May 1872, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada. Sarah (daughter of Samuel G. Burkholder and Magdalena Rosenberger) was born 19 Mar 1842, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 5 Jun 1916, Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Doon Presbyterian Cemetery, Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204331018
• Name: Sarah Beck
• Eby ID Number: 00095-5336.2
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; --
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weslyan Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-53025

James — Mary Connor. Mary was born 1847, , Ireland; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

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• Name: Mary Vrooman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-53026

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-91866
• Immigration: 1820, , 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; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

VILLAGE OF DOON

The Old Graveyard-A Startling Revelation-The Ferry Bros., Estate-Fred Beck, the Father of Doon.


In my notes on the old Kinsey graveyard, last week, I neglected to mention a thrilling episode connected with it some forty years ago. A grave, which had contained the remains of one, Abraham Stauffer, for many years, was found to have sunk down several inches. The discovery caused quite a sensation throughout the neighborhood, and the supposition at once gained currency that graveyard ghouls had been at work. A number of neighbors assembled at the graveyard and proceeded to open the grave for the purpose of ascertaining for certain whether the abode of the dead had actually been invaded by body-snatchers, and the diabolical theft committed. As the exhumers reached bottom the horrible fact was revealed. Nothing remained but a few locks of hair and particles of the burial garments. The theft of the skeleton was evidently the ghastly work of some ambitious doctor, who sought to adorn his office closet with the necessary material for anatomical demonstration. Another incident connected with this burying ground that formed an exciting topic of neighborhood gossip, was the interment of several victims of the cholera, which visited this section in 1828. The deadly epidemic was brought in by a circus. that pitched its tents in Galt some time during that year.

FERRY BROS.' BIG ESTATE.

It is probably not generally known in this section that the Ferry Bros.' land estate was about five hundred acres in extent. It included the farms of Aaron Good, John Slee, Frederick Beck and the site of the village of Doon. At that time Robt. Ferry was a prominent figure in Canadian politics. He represented the South Riding in the Legislature of United Canada in the Parliament which first convened in 1854. His brother Adam was also prominent, being a moving spirit in financial circles. It was his duty to superintend the farms, and it was his custom to frequently drive over the estate in a two-wheeled cart, drawn by a yoke of oxen. The firm dealt extensively in livestock, and during the summer season large herds of Devonshire cattle could be seen grazing upon the bills and in the meadows of the estate.

The vicinity of Doon was known as a paradise for tillers of the soil by the Indians, long before the advent of the white man. In the case of Samuel Betzner, and Joseph Sherk we have convincing evidence of this fact. When they arrived at what is now the site of Ancaster, they were informed by the red men that there was a locality a day or two's journey distant toward the setting sun, where the soil was surpassingly rich and water pure and abundant. They moved on, and in the time mentioned reached the banks of a beautiful river, a section teeming with animal life, and its waters alive with schools of the finny tribe. They were on the banks of the GRAND RIVER. This was in the spring of 1800. Mr. Betzner located on what is now the site of Blair, and Mr. Sherk settled on the north side of the river, directly opposite Doon. The latter farm was occupied until a few years ago by Mr. Benjamin Sherk, when it was purchased by Jacob Gingerich, Betzner and and Sherk were soon followed by Dilman Kinsey and John Bean, Sr., and others, who settled a short distance further west. The advent of Betzner and Sherk proves that this was a particularly inviting region, as their settlement, if not the first, was among the first in Waterloo County.

THE FATHER OF DOON.

Positively the most unique and picturesque figure of western Ontario, and the Father of Doon, is the venerable Fred Beck, the well known oatmeal vendor. His name is a household word from Waterloo to Hamilton. For more than an average life time, almost daily, through sunshine and through rain, often facing the blinding storms of winter, he has travelled some portion of this route. He has on many an occasion driven through the dismal Beverly Swamp in early days at a time when an attempt to penetrate that dreary barrier to settlers bound for the west, was equivalent to suicidal intent. When a mere lad, Frederick came from Germany to this vicinity in company with his parents. They lived for many years in a small frame house which stood a short distance east of the waste gate, the site being now entirely submerged by the waters of the dam. At that time the embankment of the dam was some distance further back, in the vicinity of the rear of the Red Lion Inn. A tail race, conveying the water to the old saw mill, passed near the house. The father engaged as sawyer was in this mill, and many of the old frame buildings throughout this section were constructed of lumber and heavy timbers he sawed out.

The subject of this sketch was an active and ambitious lad from the time he was old enough to discard dresses in the land of his birth, always avoiding to be entirely dependent upon parental support. He was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1817, being now in the 81st year of his age. From the time he reached manhood's estate he frequently nursed schemes of gigantic proportions, and often they proved to be "castles in the air." During his earlier years he managed to accumulate valuable property in Doon and Blair, and at one time owned a fine farm in Norfolk county, and a share in the Clare foundry at Preston. But through unfortunate speculations and endorsing other people's paper, he has been reduced to a bumble position.

In his younger days Mr. Beck was a great horse fancier, and has produced some of the finest teams that ever came down the pike. He is also an admirer of the opposite sex and even in his old age he has a keen eye for fine- looking women.

Some are inclined to charge the old gentleman of being eccentric at times, and that he has been known to be interested in dog breeding, having had as many as a dozen on hand at one time. The same authority also states that he has been known to give his home the appearance of a goat farm by keeping many goats, and then take a sudden turn from that industry to dealing in watches, clocks, spectacles and music boxes, and that he has had as many as thirty or forty time-keepers on hand at one time in his residence, where his neighbors and friends would frequently congregate to make a deal, in which case they were invariably made welcome

One night recently the writer had the pleasure of visiting his home which is to-day one of the oldest and most conspicuous landmarks of the village. Here I found a rare and valuable collection of match boxes, tobacco boxes, spectacle cases, etc., of exquisite workmanship, which he brought over from Germany. A music box, a minutely perfect figure of a bear carved out by hard from ebony is a novelty that would be priceless in the collection of one who admires the curious and rare. But the most interesting figure for study that I noticed on this visit was the venerable owner himself who is yet hale and hearty in the evening of life. On this occasion he was in a talkative mood and the plans then whirling with- in his brain caused us to imagine that if they could be brought into effect Doon would again be a busy hive of industry.

Once upon a time Mr. Beck had one of his characteristic plans suddenly nipped in the bud. He had decided to build a large store in Doon, the style of the building to be entirely different from any other structure of the kind in the country. In 1876 he visited the Centennial at Philadelphia for the purpose of procuring plans and specifications for the proposed building. After walking in his shirt-sleeves through the streets of the Quaker City and examining the numerous costly buildings therein he came across a building which suited his fancy precisely. Upon inquiry be was stunned to learn that the front alone cost $20,000. This so dampened his ardor that he immediately returned home and disposed of all the building material he had already procured for the purpose. Mr. Beck is especially partial to light grey cloth, most invariably some part of his wearing material, if not all, being composed of that color. Even the male members of his family are often attired in the same material, and he even experiences delight in holding the ribbons behind a span of light grey, many fine specimens of which he has owned and driven in his time.

The old gentleman is at times inclined to think that he will soon be a candidate to pass "over the hills to the poor house," and thus end his struggle in old age to keep the wolf from the door. But it is very unlikely that his children, or other well-to-do relatives, would ever to permit him to take this humble step in the declining years of his long and active career. Despite the fact, however, of his being now over eighty years of age, he is still in the ring, and makes his usual daily trips to Galt and Berlin supplying his patrons with oatmeal or pot barley. On these trips he is usually accompanied by his son John. The fiercest, blizzard of winter has no terrors for him, and if he thinks there is fifty cents or a dollar in an oatmeal deal in Berlin or Waterloo, he will make the trip, when John has flatly refused to face the storm to accompany him.

Mr. Beck has been a widower for a number of years, but his daughter Lizzie is keeping house for him. Of his two daughters he is fond, and once when he had matured plans for building a fine mansion his idea was to lay out a room for each, and to be sumptuously furnished. In his barn are now two handsome parlor stoves which he had already purchased for the purpose. I designate him as the Father of Doon, he being the oldest and about the only one left who was identified with the early development of the village.

H. N.

Waterloo County Chronicle 17 Mar 1898, p. 8

Frederick — Emma Charlotte Lawson. Emma was born 3 Jul 1816, Delhi, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada; died 6 Aug 1889, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Doon Presbyterian Cemetery, Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154241203
• Name: Amalie Lawson
• Name: Emma Charlotte Beck
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-139615
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian Canada

Other Events:

• Birth: , USA
• Birth: Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62776728
• Eby ID Number: 00039-3130.2
• Birth: 1815, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• House of Industry and Refuge: 1890, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Samuel — Magdalena Rosenberger. Magdalena (daughter of John Rosenberger and Margaret Pannebecker) was born 23 Jun 1823, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 17 Jan 1857, Near New Dundee, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Blenheim Mennonite Cemetery, Blenheim Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62776775
• Name: Lena Rosenberger
• Name: Magdalena Burkholder
• Eby ID Number: 00095-5336

Notes:

Magdalena Rosenberger, "was born June 23rd, 1823. She is married to Samuel Burkholder. They resided in Blandford Township, Oxford County, and afterwards moved near New Dundee, Ontario, where they died, leaving a family of eight 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.].