Rev. Peter Cober^[1]

1853 - 1941  (87 years)

• Name	Peter Cober
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	7 May 1853	Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Rsrch. Note	7 May 1853-23 March 1941). Peter Cober was the son of Nicholas and Nancy (Holm) Cober. He was born on May 7, 1853, in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., ON. On Sept. 28, 1875, he married Martha Steinacher, and together they had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Cober was converted at the age of 21 and the following year he united with the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (now the Evangelical Missionary Church). A few years later Cober moved to Michigan, and in 1881 he began preaching at Brown City as the first pastor of the church there. He also served for a few years in the Indiana-Ohio Conference (at Bethel), being ordained by that conference in 1884. Soon afterward this ordination he returned to Ontario, where he spent most of his 42 years in the active ministry, serving pastorates at Markham, Kitchener, Kilsyth, New Dundee, Shrigley, Breslau, Maryboro, and Hespeler. Cober was presiding elder of the Ontario conference for 10 years, 1895-1901 and 1903-7, and chairperson of six conferences, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1905, and 1906. He also served at various times as conference evangelist and as a member of the several boards of the Ontario conference. He was a delegate to general conferences and chairperson of one (Coopersburg, PA, 1896). In a few respects Peter Cober's record was unique. He was the first subscriber to the Gospel Banner, opened the first city mission of the Ontario Conference (Collingwood, Sept. 17, 1897), and attended 60 consecutive annual conferences (1881 to 1940 inclusive). In 1923 he retired from pastoral work, residing at Kitchener, ON, from then until his death March 23, 1941. Interment was made in Woodlawn cemetery.
  Occupation	1875	Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	farmer
  Occupation	1888	Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario   [6]
  	minister
  Occupation	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Minister
  Residence	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Mennonite
  Eby ID Number	00025-1985
  Died	1941  [5]
  Buried	Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Person ID	I12829	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Nicolaus Cober,   b. 4 Mar 1811, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario ,   d. 22 Jun 1887, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Nancy Holm,   b. 4 Nov 1813, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario ,   d. 5 Apr 1878, , Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 64 years)
  Married	3 Apr 1832  [1, 7]
  Family ID	F2292	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Magdalena Martha Steinacker,   b. 1 Mar 1860, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1935  (Age 74 years)
  Married	28 Sep 1875	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 4]
  Children	1. Child Cober,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Rosanna Elizabeth "Rosa" Cober,   b. 23 Nov 1876, , Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Sarah Adelaide "Addie" Cober,   b. 20 Sep 1878, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1950  (Age 71 years)   4. Sarah Adelaide Cober,   b. 20 Sep 1878, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Samantha Cober,   b. 27 Jan 1883, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   6. Vernon Lloyd Cober,   b. 1 Mar 1888, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario ,   d. 31 Jul 1976, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 88 years)   7. Wilfrid Allan Cober,   b. 10 Dec 1893, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1964  (Age 70 years)   8. Milton Stanley Cober,   b. 6 Dec 1894, Stayner, Nottawasaga Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario ,   d. 1981  (Age 86 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F3160	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Rev. Peter Cober, "was born May 7th, 1853. (The writer heard him narrate the story of his conversion at the Breslau Camp meeting). When a young man he felt the influence of the Spirit striving with him, but for some time he resisted the Spirit and hence no regeneration was produced. Thus he lived for several years, until he was brought under conviction by a spiritual sermon to which he listened, and after a protracted struggle committed himself to God. He soon joined himself with the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. Some years ago he entered the ministry and has been stationed on different fields of labor under the Canada Conference and has so far proved himself to be an able minister and a useful instrument in the hands of God in winning souls for the Lord's kingdom. At the annual conference held at Breslau, Ontario, the last week in March 1895, Mr. Cober was elected presiding elder for the North District. He is married to Martha Steinacker and resides in Stayner, Ontario. Their family consists of 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.]. ___________________________ Cober was converted at the age of 21 and the following year he united with the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church (now the Evangelical Missionary Church). A few years later Cober moved to Michigan, and in 1881 he began preaching at Brown City as the first pastor of the church there. He also served for a few years in the Indiana-Ohio Conference (at Bethel), being ordained by that conference in 1884. Soon afterward this ordination he returned to Ontario, where he spent most of his 42 years in the active ministry, serving pastorates at Markham, Kitchener, Kilsyth, New Dundee, Shrigley, Breslau, Maryboro, and Hespeler. Cober was presiding elder of the Ontario conference for 10 years, 1895-1901 and 1903-1907, and chairperson of six conferences, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1905, and 1906. He also served at various times as conference evangelist and as a member of the several boards of the Ontario conference. He was a delegate to general conferences and chairperson of one ( Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, 1896). In a few respects Peter Cober's record was unique. He was the first subscriber to the Gospel Banner, opened the first city mission of the Ontario Conference (Collingwood, 17 September 1897), and attended 60 consecutive annual conferences (1881 to 1940 inclusive). In 1923 he retired from pastoral work, residing at Kitchener, Ontario, from then until his death 23 March 1941. Interment was made in Woodlawn cemetery. Storms, Everek R. "Cober, Peter (1853-1941)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 25 February 2011. https://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/C634ME.html. _________________ COBER, PETER An active clergyman of Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church for approximately forty years, prior to his retirement eighteen years ago, in his 87th year, at his home, 21 Chapel St. in Kitchener, following an illness of several months. His last surviving sister, Mrs. Abram Witmer died a few hours earlier at her home in Victoria, BC. Rev. Cober entered the ministry in 1881 and was ordained in 1884. His early years as a clergyman were spent in Michigan and Indiana. In addition, he served several churches in Ontario. Prior to his retirement, Rev. Cober was presiding elder of the M. B. C. Church for ten years. He served as pastor of Kitchener Church for four years. A son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Cober, he was born on May 7, 1853 on the 3rd concession of Puslinch Township, just east of the townline. In his passing, a descendant of one of the pioneer families was lost. His parents took up residence in a log house on lot 2, shortly after their marriage. At that time, the whole district was a hardwood forest. Wild game was plentiful and deer, bears and wolves were common. Rev. Cober did not live in the old house, however, as the family moved into a new home, which is now still standing on the property. In 1875, he married Martha Steinbacher, who predeceased him in 1935. Rev. Cober was noted, in the ministry, for his cheerful disposition. Surviving are three sons, Vernon L. of Kitchener; Wilfred A. of Buffalo; Milton S. of Kitchener; three daughters, Mrs. Allen Good of Conestoga; Mrs. Harvey Stauffer of Kitchener; and Mrs. William G. Waldron of Brantford. Two sons died in infancy. He was predeceased by two brothers and five sisters. A short private service was held Wednesday, March 26, 1941 at 2 at his residence, followed by public service at Bethany Mennonite Church at 2: 15. Interment will be in Woodland Cemetery. A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 1, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark ________ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Cober, Peter - Born in Pushlinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, May 7, 1853. Parents were Nicholas and Nancy (Holm) Cober. Raised on the farm and educated in the common school. Converted at the age of twenty-one, entered the ministry in 1881, and ordained in 1884. Married to Martha Steinacher, September 28, 1875. Eight children: Rosa, Addie, Ira, Samantha, Vernon, Wilfrid, Milton, and Gordon, the third and last being deceased. Held pastorates at Ubly and Deanville, Mich.; Bethel and Goshen, Ind.; Markham, Berlin, Kilsyth, Bethel, Shrigley, Breslau, Maryboro, and Hespeler, Ont. Presiding Elder of the Ontario Conference for two terms, totaling ten years; member of six General Conferences and chairman of one of them; member of the Executive Committee for a number of years; member of the Ontario Foreign Mission Board and of the United Orphan and Mission Board. History of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church., Jasper Abraham Huffman ... editor-in-chief., The Bethel Pub. Co, New Carlisle

  
  

• Sources

  [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 810. [S223] Census - ON, York - 1901, Markham B-7 Page 8. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 009281-75. Peter COBER, 22, Puslinch Twp, same, b, farmer, s/o Nicholas & Nancy COBER, married Mary STEINACKER, 15, Wilmot Twp, same, s, d/o Peter & Margaret STEINACKER, witn; Mary CONNER, Giddy Ann ERB, both North Dumfries twp, married 28 September 1875, Waterloo twp (Mennonite) [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Sec. 5 Page 24. [S87] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Woodland CC#4510 Internet Link . Cober/ Love and Remembrance Last Forever. [A] M. Irene Stauffer/ 1911-1995/ Alda M. Stauffer/ 1907- / Thy Will Be Done [B] Helen B. Betzner/ Nee Stauffer/ 1915- / Mother Of/ Barry R./ In Thy Presence Is Fullness Of Joy [C] Harvey W. Stauffer/ 1881-1956/ He Giveth Rest [D] Addie Cober/ Wife Of/ Harvey W. Stauffer/ 1878-1950/ At Rest [E] Father/ Rev. Peter Cober/ 1853-1941/ He Giveth Rest [F] Mother/ Martha Steinacker/ Wife of Rev. Peter Cober/ 1860-1935/ Asleep in Jesus [G] Gordon C. Stauffer/ Devoted Husband Of/ Mabel Stauffer/ 1909-1993/ In Heaven With Jesus [H] Mabel I. Stauffer/ Loving Wife Of/ Gordon Stauffer/ 1910-1995/ Together With Jesus [2020 update] Alda died 2005, Helen died 2008 [S655] z Vit - ON - Birth Registration, birth certificate 40771 (1888), Vernon Lloyd Cober. Vernon Lloyd Cober Date of Birth: 1 Mar 1888, Markham Gender: Male Birth County: York Father's Name: Reverend Peter Cober (Mennonite minister) Mother's Name: Martha Steinacker [S3] Book - Vol I 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..., 461.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 7 May 1853 - Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - farmer - 1875 - Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Married - 28 Sep 1875 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - minister - 1888 - Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario Occupation - Minister - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth