Henrietta Brubacher

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00028-2082.5
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Brubacher, Henrietta, daughter of Dilman and Louisa (Cressman) Brubacher, died at the K-W Hospital, Kitchener, Ont., June 3, 1979; aged 93 y. Surviving are one sister (Ida-Mrs. Enoch Bauman) and 2 brothers (Stanley C. and Shannon W.). She was preceded in death by one brother and 2 sisters. She was a member of First Mennonite Church. Funeral services were held at the Edward R. Good Funeral Home on June 5, in charge of Glen Brubacher; interment in First Mennonite Cemetery

Gospel Herald - Volume 72, Number 27 - July 3, 1979 --- page 54

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00018-1403
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Tilman Brubacher, "was born August 27th, 1855. He is married to Louisa Cressman. They reside two miles west of St. Jacobs where he is engaged in farming. To them are 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

_____________________

DEATH OF DILMAN BRUBACHER

The death of Mr Dilman Brubacher occurred on Friday morning at his home about two miles west of St Jacobs. Deceased was 44 years of age. Death was due to an abcess in conjunction with an attack of cholera morbus. Mr. Brubacher was a gentleman of many sterling qualities and his demise will be a decided loss to a very large circle of friends. He leaves a widow and a family of small children who have the sincere sympathy of the community in their sad bereavement. The funeral was held on Sunday to the Old Mennonite Church and burial ground at the East End of Berlin, and was one of the largest seen in Berlin for a long time. Revs E Bowman of Woolwich and J Woollner spoke impressively in English and German respectively from the text "Prepare to meet thy God".

Waterloo County Chronicle 27 Sep 1900, p. 5

Dilman married Louisa Cressman 22 Sep 1880, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Louisa (daughter of Henry Cressman and Sarah Woolner) was born 1 Jun 1860, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 6 Jul 1934; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Louisa Brubacher
• Eby ID Number: 00028-2082
• Residence: 1891, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Louisa Cressman, "was born June 1st, 1860. She is married to Dilman Brubacher. They reside near St. Jacobs, Ontario, where he is engaged in farming. 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.].

_____________________


Brubacher. - Louisa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cressman, was born at Natchez, Ont., June 1, 1860; died July 5, 1934; aged 74 y. 1 m. 5 d. She was married to Bro. Dillman Brubacher, Sept. 22, 1881, who predeceased her 34 years ago, as did also 1 son and 2 daughters. She is survived by 2 daughters (Henrietta of Canton, Ohio; Ida of Kitchener), 2 sons (Stanley of Roseville; Shannon of Waterloo), 5 grandchildren, and 1 sister (Mrs. John K. Devitt, Didsbury, Alta.), and one like part of the family (Miss Margaret Baird of Fort Smith, Ark). She united with the Mennonite Church in her youth, and was a faithful and consistent member all through the years. She was an ideal mother and grandmother. She is to be appreciated for her untiring perseverance in the midst of hardships, consequent on the passing of her husband 34 years ago. She was a woman of abiding convictions, which she intelligently passed on to others. She reached sunset, with many friends. The home, the Church, and the community will miss her, and will remember her with fragrant memories. The services were conducted at the First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, Ont., by C. F. Derstine, 0. Burkholder, and V. K. Weber. Theme, "The Broken Alabaster Box - The Fragrant Life."


Gospel Herald - Vol. XXVII, No. 18 - August 2, 1934 - pages 386 to 388

Other Events:

• Historic Building: Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 025, Waterloo County, Ontario; The Schweitzer House
• Eby ID Number: 00018-1397
• Residence: 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Historic Building: 1850, Columbia Street West, Waterloo, 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: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Notes:

John E. Brubacher, "second son of John and Catharine (Sherk) Brubacher, was born August 9th, 1822. On February 6th, 1846, he was married to Magdalena, daughter of David and Esther (Martin) Musselman. She was born December 16th 1827, and died July 5th, 1877. After her deceased he was married, in December, 1882, to Esther Musselman, sister to his first wife. She was the widow of the late Amos Martin, and was born November 18th, 1842. To him and his first wife was born a family of fourteen 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.].

___________________

Waterloo County lost another of its pioneers on Sunday evening, when Mr. John E. Brubacher passed away at his home, about two miles northwest of Waterloo. Deceased was 80 years of age and was one of the oldest settlers. A family of ten children survive. They are- David, St. Jacobs; Martin, Kansas; John and Benjamin, near home; Noah, at home; Mrs. Samuel Snyder and Mrs. O. S. Martin, Waterloo; Mrs. Levi Groff, Lexington; Mrs. David Martin, Elmira, and Harriet at home. The funeral took place at 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning to the old Mennonite church, Berlin.

Elmira Signet 28 Aug 1902

_______________

Death of Mr. J. E. Brubacher

This district lost another of its pioneers on Sunday evening when Mr. John E. Brubacher passed away at his home about two miles northwest of Waterloo. Deceased was 80 years of age and was one of the oldest settlers. A family of ten children survive. They are David, St. Jacobs; Martin, Kansas; John and Benjamin, near home, and Noah at home; Mrs. Samuel Snyder and Mrs. O. S. Martin, Waterloo; Mrs. Levi Groff, Lexington; Mrs. David Martin, Elmira; and Harriet at home. The funeral will be held at 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning to the old Mennonite church, Berlin.

Berlin News Record, August 25, 1902
__________

Death of John E. Brubacher

John E. Brubacher, one of the oldest pioneers of Waterloo County, passed away to the great beyond at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, the 24st inst., at his country home near Waterloo. Deceased had been ill for about three weeks with stomach trouble. This with the infirmities of old age gradually weakened him and his end was unexpected. He had reached the ripe old age of 80 years and 15 days. The funeral takes place at 9 o'clock Wednesday morning, August 27th, from his late residence, 2 miles northwest of Waterloo, to the Mennonite church, Berlin, for service and interment.

Berlin Daily Telegraph, August 25, 1902

Historic Building:
In 1846, John Brubacher married Magdalena Musselman, settling on Lot 25, German Company Tract. Their son John E. Brubacher married in the late 1800s and built a house on the farm.. John E. Brubacher had a daughter who married into the Groff family. The Groff family eventually inherited the house and lived there until it was passed on to their daughter, who married Stanley Schweitzer. In 1957 the Schweitzer family sold the farm to the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, which would soon become the University of Waterloo. In 1972 the Graduate Student Association leased the house. [from The Record, December 22, 2007]

Historic Building:
Beautifully situated on a hill overlooking Columbia Lake on the north campus of the University of Waterloo, the home was built in 1850 of granite fieldstone.
No two of the structure's four elevations are alike. The one to the south is the most interesting. A noteworthy feature is a large verandah spanning the length of the building on the south facade. The gables on both the east and west elevations exhibit return eaves and the attic, on each side, is lit by two small four paned windows. These features are typical of the Mennonite version of the plain Georgian style.
A fire in 1968 seriously damaged the structure's interior and prompted the restoration of the home. The generous financial support of the University of Waterloo, the Ontario Heritage Foundation and the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation allowed the restoration to be completed by 1975. The basement now contains a meeting room, the focal point of which is a large fireplace. The ground floor houses a furnished museum depicting the interior of a Pennsylvania-German farmhouse. The second storey provides accommodation for the Curator.1a

1aDesignated Properties List www.waterloo.ca

John married Magdalena Musselman 3 Feb 1846, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Magdalena (daughter of David Musselman and Esther Z. Martin) was born 16 Dec 1827, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 5 Jul 1877, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Magdalena Brubacher
• Name: Martha Musselman
• Eby ID Number: 00083-4922
• Residence: 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Magdalena Musselman, "was born December 16th, 1827. On February 6th, 1846, she was married to John E. Brubacher. They resided several miles north-west of Waterloo where she died July 5th, 1877. "

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: 00028-2078
• Occupation: 1851, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; joiner
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Retired: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Henry Cressman, "the youngest child of John and Esther (Wismer) Cressman, was born February 27th, 1825. On March 4th, 1851, he was married to Sarah Woolner who was born May 13th, 1827. Soon after their marriage they moved on the "Huber Farm" below Preston, where they resided three years. From here they moved to Bridgeport, on the farm now owned by Benjamin M. Eby where they resided three years, thence, on March 31st, 1857, they moved on the farm where they still reside, about three miles east of Berlin. To them were born five 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.].

______________

Cressman - Henry Cressman, youngest in the family of John and Esther (Wismer) Cressman, was born in Waterloo Co., Ont., Feb. 27, 1825; was married to Sarah Woolner Mar. 4, 1851. To this union were born five daughters, of whom three, together with a number of grandchildren, remain to mourn the loss of a kind-hearted parent. Bro. Cressman united with the Mennonite church in his youth and took an interest in the church work. He was identified with the first Sunday school organized in that neighborhood, which was held in the Natchez schoolhouse. He was interested in the welfare of young people and for many years took a leading part in the public school work of his district. He died in St. Jacob's, Ont., at the home of his daughter, on the 19th of March, 1906, aged 81 Y., 25 D. Funeral services were held on the 22d from the residence in St. Jacob's to the Breslau Mennonite church and cemetery.

Herald of Truth, March 29, 1906, pg 110 Vol XLIII. No. 13

Henry married Sarah Woolner 4 Mar 1851, Greenbush (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Sarah (daughter of William Woolner and Phyllis Grey) was born 13 May 1827, , Suffolk, England; was christened 9 Dec 1827, Beccles, , Suffolk, England; died 15 Aug 1899, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Breslau Mennonite Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Sarah Cressman
• Residence: Mennonite
• Eby ID Number: 000136-8370
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Sarah Woolner,"was born in Suffolk, England, May 13th, 1827. On March 4th, 1851, she was married to Henry Cressman. They reside on central part of lot No. 119, German Company's Tract, about three miles east of Berlin. Their family consists of five 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.].

____________________

On the 15th of August, 1899, about three miles from Berlin, Waterloo Co., Ontario, Sister Sarah Woolner, beloved wife of Henry Cressman, of congestion of the lungs. To this union were born five daughters, three of whom are living. She was born in Norfolk Co., England, on May 13th, 1827, aged 72 years, 3 months and 2 days. She has been a member of the Mennonite Church for many years. Of late years she had been a sufferer occasionally, especially the last few weeks of her life she endured much, but bore her sufferings with "patience." She was laid to rest at the Cressman burying ground near Breslau, where services were held by E. S. Hallman, text, 1 Cor. 15: 57, and David Sherk of the U. B. Church. Text, Phil. 1: 21.

The Herald of Truth , Vol. XXXVI, No. 18, September 15, 1899 - page 286

Other Events:

• Interesting: pioneer, story
• Eby ID Number: 00018-1389
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 057, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 059, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 006, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Gentleman
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

John Brubacher, "the youngest son of Jacob and Susannah (Erb) Brubacher, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, July 11th, 1793. In 1815 he came to Canada (See pages 45, 46 and 47) and selected his lot, No. 57, German Company's Tract, township and county of Waterloo, Ontario, a little to the east of Berlin. Here he had a small clearing made and a log shanty erected thereon. Late in fall of the same year Mr. Brubacher returned to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to make arrangements for moving to Canada the following spring. Early in 1816, he, in company with his mother, moved to this country and had their home with Bishop Benjamin Eby. As soon as the log shanty on his large farm was finished he started housekeeping for himself. His mother proved to be his female assistant for one year. On March 6th, 1817, he was married to Catharine, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Betzner) Sherk. She was born February 11th, 1798 and died October 8th, 1882. He died October 10th, 1875. When quite a young man he was ordained as deacon of the Mennonite Church for the Eby field of labor. This position he held until his death. To them was born a family of fifteen 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.].

________________________________________________


October 10th, in Berlin, Canada, John Brubaker, one of the first settlers in this section, aged 82 years and 3 days.


Death Announcement - Herald of Truth, November 1875

_____________

JOHN BRUBACHER

John Brubacher came to Canada in 1816 and was accompanied by his widowed mother, Mrs. Susanna (Erb) Brubacher. She was a plucky woman and whatever she did was done aright. On the way over Mrs. Brubacher rode on a horse and killed a rattlesnake with her whip. Her son drove a heavily-laden Conestoga. Among other articles he brought in a churn. When they reached this settlment, their first meal was eaten off a pine stump. Mother and son then threaded their way through the woods to her son-in-law, Ben Eby's place,

John Brubacher made a clearing on Lot 57 and erected a log home. His mother kept house for him until 1817, when he married Catherine, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Betzner) Sherk. Ezra Eby said that Mrs, Susanna Brubacher sold her son 896 acres for $672 and then returned to Pennsylvania. Later on John Brubacher. as has been said, bought the Elias Eby farm in the East Ward and built a home in Brubacher Street that is still in use. Eventually John is said to have acquired 3,000 acres of land and to have given each of his fifteen children a farm.

John Brubacher was a short, dark man, and could lift a barrel of cider to his shoulder and take a drink out of the bunghole. His favorite saying was: Truth lasts the longest. His great-grand-father, also named John, when urged by his neighbors in Pennsylvania to build a gristmill declined, because he feared he might he tempted to take too heavy tolls.

Mrs. John Brubacher dressed plainly and wore a white cap. Her descendants treasure the heirlooms she handed down. There were no locks on their doors and often at night Indians entered her kitchen and slept on the floor. Once she was alarmed at breakfast time when a squaw fed a young papoose a piece of liver-sausage.

Fire was hard to make, for the settlers had no matches. A handful of dry cedar-bark was shredded and sparks struck from a flint with a piece of steel. Some families kept their fire burning the year round.

One night an Indian buck rapped on John's window and pleaded for a drink of whisky, but the pioneer did not give him any. Wild animals were all too plentiful and wolves a menace. Occasionally he heard the squeal of a pig as it was dragged from its pen by a black bear.

The Mennonites loved music. Once, while revisiting his old home in Pennsylvania, John Brubacher called on a man who owned a medodeon and had him play a hymn often sung in Ben Eby's church. As he listened tears of joy rolled down his cheeks. The pioneer walked with his head bent Ward Bowlby once met him in East King Street and said, "Mr. Brubacher, when walking you should keep your head up" John responded, "Mr. Bowlby, yonder is a field of wheat. Some of the stalks stand with their heads up those are empty; the bent heads only are filled with grain."

Mr. Brubacher's youngest daughter, Veronica (Mrs. Moses Betzner) died in 1936, when in her ninety-second year. She was an early riser; ate whole-wheat bread and until her fortieth year never tasted tea nor coffee after that she drank milk or butter-milk. "Sunrise," said she, "has a virtue no other part or the day has. Work is a blessing. Without it He would not be worth living."

"This community," she added, "was based on practical Christianity. The people were honorable and in business matters no writings passed among them It was all done by word of mouth and a man's Yes was binding."

A History of Kitchener, W. V. (Ben) Uttley, Kitchener, Ontario 1937, pg 23, 24

John married Catharine Shirk 6 Mar 1817. Catharine (daughter of Joseph Sherk and Mary Betzner, daughter of Joseph Schoerg and Elizabeth Betzner) was born 11 Feb 1798, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 8 Oct 1882, near, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 11 Oct 1882, First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catharine Brubacher
• Name: Catherine Scherich
• Eby ID Number: 00101-5638
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Catharine Shirk, "was born February 11th, 1798. She was married to Deacon John Brubacher. They resided near Berlin where they both died. She died October 8th, 1882"


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:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37030080
• Interesting: pioneer, mill, story
• Eby ID Number: 00083.4908
• Birth: CALC 25 Apr 1799
• Occupation: 1852, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Musselman, "The two old pioneer settlers of this numerous family were David and Frederick who were no relatives to each other. They came to Canada in 1819 and settled in Waterloo County. The former, Mr. David Musselman settled in Woolwich Township, near Conestogo, on the farm now possessed by David Koch, while Frederick Musselman settled on the farm known as Rev. Elias Snider's place a little north of Waterloo. We shall first five the family of David and then of Frederick."

David Musselman, "was a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he was born April 18th, 1799, and was married to Esther, daughter of Peter and Anna (Zimmerman) Martin. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 29th, 1803, and died July 31st, 1872. He died October 25th, 1870. To them was born a family of twelve 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.].

_______________________________

All lands in the early days was in the hands of large holders. Where the village now standing was part of a large holding belonging to David Musselman who himself lived on the western side of the village[Conestogo]. It was this man Musselman who started the wheels of Conestogo running by beginning the very important business of flour milling. This was urgent owing to the extreme distance that settlers had to hand for their supplies as all these were brought in on horseback from Dundas.

The Milling Industry

In 1845 the flour mill was built, also a saw mill, both run by waterpower, obtained from the waters of the Conestogo River diverted to these plants thru a raceway nearly a mile in length, the building of which was a colossal piece of work.

Mr. Musselman did not continue long as a miller, for in 1850 he sold the saw and grist mill with the property belonging to them to Henry Snider who conducted both for some years. The saw mill was finally abandoned and the mill taken away. More time was devoted to the flour mill which had attained wonderful proportions so much so that a new building on a far larger scale was put up equipped with more machinery.

About this time it was a common occurrence for farmers to come 40 and 45 miles with their wheat, so that very often from 20 to 30 teams stood waiting at this mill for their chance to unload. After a very successful term, Mr. Snider turned over his interests here to one of his sons Menno who remained at the head until about 1916. During this time he suffered reverses and a severe fire in 1904 wiped out the mill with its contents together with the storeroom for wheat all of which was lost.

Berlin Daily Record Apr. 26, 2008 typed by Marion Roes

______________________________

CONESTOGA

A pioneer named David Musselman is credited with having founded Conestoga. He first purchased 700 acres of forest in the vicinity. In 1830 he bought a parcel of land where the village stands from Abram Martin. It was watered by the Conestoga River and Spring Creek, on which he built a sawmill. In 1844 he built a dam across the Conestoga River and erected another sawmill and a flourmill. A hamlet sprang up. Among the first buyers of lots in Musselman's survey were: John Miller, Adam Heller, Stephen Washburn, John B. Eby, Christian Stuernagel, James Merrilees, H. von Trilera, Theodore Spetz, Henry Snider, Jacob Grosz, Philip Oswald, Joseph S. Weaver, George Davidson, Peter Eby, S. B. Eby, Peter Buchanan, Michael Oswald, Jacob Kuntz, Charles Hendry, Solomon Kaufman, and Jacob Lippert.

After their advent a cooper shop, blacksmithshop, a store, an hotel, and a post office followed. In time a brickyard, a school, and a church were added, and the place was called Musselman's Mills. Later Perine Brothers built a flaxmill on Spring Creek, while on the same stream Goodworth & Sills constructed a paint mill.

The hamlet was known as Musselman's Mills until 1852, when it was renamed Conestoga, after the Conestoga River or the town of Conestoga in Lancaster County, Pa., from which county many of the pioneers had come. David Musselman operated his mills until 1856 and then sold them to Henry Snider, who carried on the milling till his death in 1885. His executors sold the mills to Menno Snider, who operated the flourmill until his own death in 1916. During his closing years he was assisted by his son Walter J. Snider, who succeeded to the property. Walter Snider afterward purchased the flour-mill at St. Jacobs from W. W. Snider and operated the two mills as the Snider Flour Milling Company, Limited. After his decease, his son Russell became head of the industries..

Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1933 pg 16 - Woolwich Township - Its Early Settlement by W. V. Uttley

David — Esther Z. Martin. Esther (daughter of Peter Martin and Anna Zimmerman) was born 29 Aug 1803, Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died 31 Jul 1872, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Martin Meeting House Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Esther Z. Musselman
• Eby ID Number: 00075-4391
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Esther Martin, "the fourth daughter of Peter and Anna (Zimmerman) Martin, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 29th, 1803, and came to Canada when sixteen years of age. She was married to David Musselman who died October 25th, 1870. She died July 31st, 1872."

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:

• Name: Johnannes Cressman
• Eby ID Number: 00028-2066
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 115E, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

John Cressman, "the eldest son of John and Anna (Schowalter) Cressman, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, May 15th, 1795. In 1807 he came to Canada with his parents and was raised near Freeport, Ontario. On October 3rd, 1818, he was married to Esther, daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Wismer) Wismer. She was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, January 12th, 1790, and died near New Dundee, Ontario, September 2nd, 1881. After their marriage they moved on the farm now possessed by Philip Zeller, Jr., about a mile south of Breslau. Here he died June 30th, 1840. To them were born five 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.].

John married Esther Wismer 3 Oct 1818. Esther (daughter of Joseph Wismer and Barbara Wismer) was born 12 Jan 1790, , Bucks Co., Pennsylvania; died 2 Sep 1881, Near New Dundee, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Breslau Mennonite Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Esther Cressman
• Eby ID Number: 00133-8155
• Grave Photograph - Find A Grave: Gravestone Image
• Residence: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Esther Wismer, "was born January 12th, 1790, and died September 2nd, 1881. She was married to John Cressman. The fourth daughter of Joseph and Barbara Wismer, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, January 12th, 1790. In 1818 she came to Canada and settled in Waterloo County. On October 3rd, 1818, she was married to John, son of John and Anna (Showalter)Cressman. He was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, May 15th, 1795, came to Canada with his parents in 1808 and settled in Waterloo County, a little below Freeport. After their marriage they moved on the farm now possessed by the heirs of the late Jacob Zeller, about one mile south of Breslau. Here they resided until his death which took place June 30th, 1840. After his decease she continued farming until her youngest son, Henry, had attained the age of manhood, then the farm was sold and the mother made her home with her daughter, Barbara, who was married to Samuel Cressman, where she died September 2nd, 1881. Their family consisted of five 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.].

_______________

CRESSMAN - Sept. 2nd, in Waterloo Co., Ont., Sister Esther Cressman, widow, at the advanced age of 91 years, 7 months and 20 days. During the last nine months she suffered greatly from a fall. Buried the 5th at Cressman's.


Herald of Truth - Volume XVIII, Number 10 - October 1881, Page 173, 174, 179, 180

Residence:
Was visiting her daughter Barbara at the time of the census.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 000136-8368

Notes:

William Woolner, "with family of six children, came from England to Canada in 1835."

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.].

William married Phyllis Grey 21 Oct 1824, Beccles, , Suffolk, England. Phyllis was born 1796, , England; died 2 Aug 1877, East Garafraxa Township, Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried , Price's Corners Cemetery, Prices Corner, Dufferin County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Phyllis Syret
• Name: Phyllis Woolner
• Eby ID Number: 000136-8368.44