Rev. Solomon B. Kraft^{[1, 2, 3]}

1850 - 1910  (59 years)

• Name	Solomon B. Kraft
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	9 Dec 1850	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	carpenter
  Occupation	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Clerk
  Residence	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Mennonite
  Residence	1876	Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Occupation	1881	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Mill Wright
  Residence	1881	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Evangelical Methodist
  Occupation	1900	Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States   [6]
  	Minister
  Eby ID Number	00069-4171
  Died	1910	Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA   [10]
  Buried	Elmwood Cemetery, Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA
  Person ID	I13004	Generations
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024

  
  

  Father	George B. Kraft,   b. 15 Feb 1809, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Jan 1897, Caledonia, Kent, Michigan, USA  (Age 87 years)
  Mother	Esther Bingeman,   b. CALC 4 Oct 1810,   d. 4 Jan 1892, Caledonia, Kent, Michigan, USA  (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 ,   d. 5 May 1873, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 17 years)
  Married	23 Sep 1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Children	1. Ellen Kraft,   b. 1 May 1873,   d. 8 Oct 1873  (Age 0 years)
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F3585	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Bertha Bierenstihl,   b. 20 Nov 1854, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 9 Jun 1925, Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA  (Age 70 years)
  Married	12 Mar 1876	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F3586	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

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

  
  

• 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

  [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. [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. [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. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 2 Pg 100. [S224] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1881, Div 2 Page 10. [S1495] Census - New York - 1900, 0191 Election District 2 Buffalo city Ward 23 image 2. [S1887] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861 (North Division), Div 6 Page 35. [S168] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 4. [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 [S1731] News - New York, , Batavia - The Times, "Obituary of Mrs. Solomon B. Kraft," 11 Jun 1925, p. 4, col. 3. [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

  Born - 9 Dec 1850 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - carpenter - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Clerk - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 23 Sep 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1876 - Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 12 Mar 1876 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Mill Wright - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evangelical Methodist - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Minister - 1900 - Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States Died - 1910 - Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA Buried - - Elmwood Cemetery, Batavia, Genesee, New York, USA  = Link to Google Earth