Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Rev. Solomon B. Kraft[1, 2, 3]

Male 1850 - 1910  (59 years)


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Photos
    Rev. Solomon B. Kraft
    Rev. Solomon B. Kraft
    from "Grip's" Historical Souvenir of Lyons, N. Y.

  • Name Solomon B. Kraft 
    Prefix Rev. 
    Born 9 Dec 1850  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Mennonite 
    Occupation 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    carpenter 
    Occupation 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Clerk 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Mennonite 
    Residence 1876  Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Occupation 1881  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Mill Wright 
    Residence 1881  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Evangelical Methodist 
    Occupation 1900  Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Minister 
    Eby ID Number 00069-4171 
    Died 1910  Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Buried Elmwood Cemetery, Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I13004  Generations
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2024 

    Father George B. Kraft,   b. 15 Feb 1809, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jan 1897, Caledonia, Kent, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years) 
    Mother Esther Bingeman,   b. CALC 4 Oct 1810,   d. 4 Jan 1892, Caledonia, Kent, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 81 years) 
    Married 10 Apr 1832  [2, 11
    Family ID F3575  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Ellen Hewitt,   b. 31 Mar 1856, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 May 1873, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 17 years) 
    Married 23 Sep 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Children 
     1. Ellen Kraft,   b. 1 May 1873,   d. 8 Oct 1873  (Age 0 years)
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2024 
    Family ID F3585  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Bertha Bierenstihl,   b. 20 Nov 1854, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Jun 1925, Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Married 12 Mar 1876  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2024 
    Family ID F3586  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Solomon B. Kraft, "was born December 9th, 1850. He was first married to Ellen Hewitt. She died, leaving one daughter named Ellen who died shortly after her mother. Several years after his first wife's decease he was married again to Bertha Birnstihl. They have no family. He entered the ministry of the Evangelical Association in April, 1882, and was stationed on different fields of labor in Canada. Some years ago he joined the New York conference and at present is stationed at Tonawanda, New York."

      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.].

      ________________________________


      Bridgeport United Church


      The early Evangelical Association congregations in Berlin and Waterloo date back to August 1839 when a Camp Meeting was held over a number of days at David Erb's farm (Lot 7, German Company Tract) at Lexington. Classes (or congregations) in Berlin and in Waterloo were organized at that meeting by Bishop John Seybert - on August 29th. Twenty-six charter members were divided into the two classes. Class leader for Waterloo and vicinity was Jacob Hoffman. His brother, John, was class leader for Berlin.

      The Waterloo class, along with classes at Lexington and Breslau, was connected to the Berlin Mission until the organization of the Canada Conference of the Evangelical Association in 1864. The Waterloo Mission was formed at that time. In 1866 the Breslau class was merged with the Lexington class and in 1876 the Lexington class, with 31 members, was referred to as the Bridgeport class for the first time.

      An old log schoolhouse was purchased in 1879 for $500.00 on condition that it be used only for Sunday School services, not for preaching. The exterior walls were covered with lumber and the building was dedicated on November 9, 1879. A new white brick church was built ten years later, in 1889, when the old schoolhouse became inadequate for the growing congregation. This church was in use until 1934 when the present building was completed. A decision had been made at a congregational meeting in July 1933 to proceed with construction of a new church. The ground-breaking service was held on August 28, 1933 and on October 1 of that year the cornerstone was laid by Rev. W.J. Zimmerman. Dedication services were held in the new red brick church on Sunday March 18, 1934. In 1942 the old brick church was sold to Mr. Minnacker for $100. An addition which was built on to the west side of the church in 1958 provided additional space for the Sunday School, as well as offices and a kitchen. The new complex was dedicated on November 30, 1958 with Professor John F. Schaefer of Naperville, Illinois preaching the dedication sermon.

      Bridgeport and Waterloo were a joint parish from 1876 until 1910, when Bridgeport was joined with Strasburg. This association lasted until 1914 when Bridgeport called its own full-time pastor. The Evangelical Church joined with the United Brethren in Christ Church on November 16, 1946 to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. On January 1, 1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren joined with the United Church, Emmanuel's name was changed once again - to Emmanuel United Church. In February 1987 the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Bridgeport United Church.

      Rev. J. Kaechele (1864-1865) was pastor in 1864 when the Waterloo Mission was formed; Solomon Kraft was the Bridgeport class leader when the schoolhouse was bought in 1879 and Rev. S.R. Knechtel (1888-1891) was pastor in 1889 when the new white brick church was built.

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

  • Sources 
    1. [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..., 866.

    2. [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..., 267.

    3. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 16 Mar 1876.
      12 Mar 1876 By Pastor Umbach in Berlin, Salomon B. Kraft was married to Bertha Bierenstihl, both of Bridgeport.

    4. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 2 Pg 100.

    5. [S224] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1881, Div 2 Page 10.

    6. [S1495] Census - New York - 1900, 0191 Election District 2 Buffalo city Ward 23 image 2.

    7. [S1887] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861 (North Division), Div 6 Page 35.

    8. [S168] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 4.

    9. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Solomon Kraft (carpenter of Bridgeport) Born: Canada Age: 20 Est. Birth: abt 1851 Father: George Kraft Mother: Esther married Ellen Hewitt Age:: 16 Est. Birth: abt 1855 Born: Canada Father: Elishah Hewitt Mother: Elspit married 23 Sep 1871 Marriage Place: Waterloo, Berlin

    10. [S1731] News - New York, , Batavia - The Times, "Obituary of Mrs. Solomon B. Kraft," 11 Jun 1925, p. 4, col. 3.

    11. [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..., 863.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 9 Dec 1850 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Mennonite - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - carpenter - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Clerk - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Mennonite - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 23 Sep 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1876 - Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 12 Mar 1876 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mill Wright - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical Methodist - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Minister - 1900 - Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 1910 - Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Elmwood Cemetery, Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth