Elizabeth Clemens

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Hilliard
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1621

Notes:

Elizabeth Clemens, "the eldest, was born in September, 1817, and is married to Ezra Hilliard. They reside in Illinois, U. S., where he is engaged in farming. Had three children, two of whom are dead;"


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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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 — Ezra Hilliard. Ezra was born Abt 1817, Of, Illinois, U.S.; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Interesting: accident
• Misfortune: killed by lightning
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1620

Notes:

Nathan Clemens, "eldest son of Abraham and Rebecca (Miller) Clemens, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, March 5th, 1790. He came to Canada with his parents when 19 years old. He was married to Veronica, daughter of Rev. Joseph and Magdalena (Allenbach) Bechtel. She was born February 17th, 1794, and died December 19th, 1879. They resided on the farm now in possession of David Rife, north-east of Hespeler. He was killed by lightning November 11th, 1832. After his decease the widow was married to Christian Strohm, and after his decease the widow married the third time. Her third husband was William Copplen. No issue of last two marriages. To Mr. and Mrs. Clemens 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.].

Nathan — Veronica "Fanny" Bechtel. Veronica (daughter of Rev. Joseph Bechtel and Magdalena Allebach) was born 17 Feb 1794, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 19 Dec 1879, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Fanny Bechtel
• Name: Veronica "Fanny" Clemens
• Name: Veronica "Fanny" Coplin
• Name: Veronica "Fanny" Strome
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0673
• Residence: 1851, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Veronica Bechtel "was born February 17th, 1794, and died December 19th, 1879. She was first married to Nathan Clemens who was killed by lightning. They had five children, namely: VI Polly, VI Elizabeth, VI Samuel, VI Hannah, and VI Joseph. See Nathan Clemens' family. After her first husband's death she was married to Christian Strome, and after his decease to William Copplin. Their was no issue of last two marriages."

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/39091890
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1619
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 3 Lot 09, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Lower Block Conc. 3 Lot 10, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Abraham Clemens, " was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1764. He was married to Rebecca Miller who was born in 1763 and died in 1819. They moved to Canada in 1809 and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario. near Hespeler, where he died in 1819. To them were born 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.].

______________________________________________


WARNING: In my view (Jim McKane), the preponderance of the evidence suggests that at least the first 5 of Abraham's children were born to Rebecca Miller and the last one, two, or three of his children to Mary Custer. Hannah and Elizabeth could have been the last children of Rebecca (and I have listed them this way) or the first two children of Mary. Apparently all the children were born in Chester Co., PA before Abraham and his second wife moved to Canada. But I have no primary sources to confirm the dates of the two marriages or which wife was the mother of each child.

Abraham — Rebecca Miller. Rebecca (daughter of Miller) was born 15 Feb 1763, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 1819, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250518525
• Name: Mary Miller
• Name: Rebecca Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00079-4777

Notes:

Rebecca Miller, "sister to John Miller and aunt to II Magdalena, II Christian, and II William Miller, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1763. She was married to Abraham Clemens who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1764, and died near Hespeler, in 1819. In 1809 they moved to Canada and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario, near Hespeler where she died in 1819, being the same year in which her husband died." [this is apparently in error, the tombstone and family bible indicate it was Mary who died in 1819 and was born in 1763]


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/19546720
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Location of his log house.
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - Beasley's Broken Front Lot 04S, Waterloo County, Ontario

Notes:

Joseph Bechtel "son of Martin Bechtel, a minister of the Mennonites, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1761. He was married March 5th, 1786, to Magdalena Allebach who was born September 21st, 1761, and died September 21st, 1837. They moved to Canada in 1802 and settled on the farm situated at the mouth of the Speed River where it meets with the Grand River. Here they resided many years. In 1804 he was ordained as a minister of the Mennonite body which position he held until his death which took place April 11th, 1838. They had a family of seven 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.].

________________________

Preston (Bechtel or Hagey) Mennonite Church

The second meeting house in Waterloo County was built, probably in 1814, by John Erb, a wealthy miller of Preston. This brick meeting house served as a community church and was located "near Jacob Hagey's", which was on the road running from the top of the Kress Hill west and "adjoining the Kitchener Highway" (Witmer 1967: 26). Another meeting house, known as the Union Meeting House, was built in the area around 1824. A meeting was held in the Union church on November 20, 1824 to commence recording the accounts of the congregation in Hagey's Deacon Book. The deed of land for the Union Meeting House and burial ground, which was for one acre of part Lot 22, Beasley's Broken Front, was transacted in 1835.

Hagey Meeting House was buiilt of red brick in 1842 on part Lot 23, just north of Preston on the west side of the Breslau Road, and slightly north of the Union Meeting House site. The deed, dated February 2, 1842, recorded the purchase of the land from John Hilborn and stressed that the property was to be for "the purpose of public worship by the Mennonist Society" (Witmer 1967: 28). Joseph Bechtel was the first minister in the area, from 1804-1837; he was followed by David Sherk (1838-1843). Next came Joseph Hagey (1844-1877), who was ordained bishop in 1851, and then Jacob B. Gingrich from 1878 to 1901. Services were held every four weeks until 1890 when bi-weekly services were begun. A Sunday School was established in 1842 with the congregation of Wanner Meeting House near Hespeler, but it was discontinued because of a difference of opinion regarding the need for Sunday Schools. On April 26, 1891 a Sunday School was organized at Hagey's, with deacon Abraham Oberholtzer as superintendent. Five years later, on June 10, 1896, a Sunday School was organized at the Wanner church.

Major changes were made to the church building in 1927-1928 when the basement was excavated, new windows were installed and the roof was raised two feet. Fire on January 15, 1950 caused extensive damage to the interior and furnishings of the church. The building was completely renovated and also enlarged at the same time; dedication was on July 2, 1950. Another fire, on Feburary 19, 1953, completely destroyed the church. A congregational decision was made to build a new church, on Concession Road in Preston, and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day, October 12, 1953. Official dedication services in the new Preston Mennonite Church were held on May 16, 1954. The building was enlarged in the summer of 1989.

Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

Residence:
The current building contains some original logs from the home.

Joseph married Magdalena Allebach 5 Mar 1786. Magdalena was born 21 Sep 1765, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania; died 21 Sep 1837, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hagey Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19546759
• Name: Magdalena Bechtel
• Residence: 168 Bechtel St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.2

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00023-1618

Notes:

George Clemens, "eldest son of Abraham and Catharine Clemens, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1732. When a young man his father paid him his portion of legacy and he left Montgomery County and went to Chester County, same state, where he invested in real estate in both Pikeland and Charlestown Townships. In 1760-61 he erected a grist mill where he made quite a fortune. He was married to Elizabeth Carlisle. They lived retired for several years when he died in September, 1813, aged about 81 years. To him and his wife Elizabeth were born quite a family but the names of only two sons have been handed to the writer, namely: V Abraham and V George who both settled in the county of Waterloo, Ontario."


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 was of Quaker descent and was well educated. According to report she was skilled in medicines, proving herself to be the doctoress for miles around her home during the colonial days.)"


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.].

George — Elizabeth Carlisle. Elizabeth was born Abt 1732, Of, Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Clemens
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1618.1

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00079-4774.2

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00007-0645.1