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

Noah Zeller[1]

Male 1851 - 1914  (62 years)

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  • Name Noah Zeller 
    Born 12 Oct 1851  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] 
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Mennonite 
    Occupation 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Mennonite 
    Occupation 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Musician 
    Residence 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Evangelical 
    Occupation 1901  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Musician 
    Occupation 1911  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Music Teacher 
    Residence 1911  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Evangelical 
    Died 1914  [5, 10] 
    Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region Bef 2012  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Eby ID Number 00138-8388 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Person ID I1327  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father Jacob Zeller,   b. 24 Feb 1813, Rhein Bajerin, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 May 1886, Near, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Mother Catharine Schiedel,   b. 21 Nov 1825, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jul 1909  (Age 83 years) 
    Married 19 Jun 1849  [1, 9] 
    Family ID F433  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Anna Todt,   b. 24 Sep 1854, , , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1927  (Age 72 years) 
    Children 
     1. Ellen Zeller,   b. 29 Oct 1873, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1961, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years)
     2. Julius Nelson Zeller,   b. 15 Aug 1875, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1952  (Age 76 years)
     3. Laura C. Zeller,   b. 22 Nov 1877, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1959  (Age 81 years)
     4. Alma Zeller,   b. 21 Jan 1880, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Harvey Jacob Zeller,   b. 12 Jul 1882, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1969  (Age 86 years)
     6. Mary Zeller,   b. 11 Dec 1884, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Ernest G. Zeller,   b. 27 Dec 1889, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1904  (Age 14 years)
     8. Albert Vernon Zeller,   b. 1 Aug 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1981, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F437  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Annie Toidt,   b. 1854, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married MAYBE 18 Oct  [8] 
    Children 
     1. Ellen Zeller,   b. 1873, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Julius Zeller,   b. 1875, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Laura Zeller,   b. 1877, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Alma Zeller,   b. 1879, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Henry Zeller,   b. 1881, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Mary Zeller,   b. 1883, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Ernst Zeller,   b. 1889, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F244817  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Noah Zeller bandleader    		Noah Zeller bandleader

  • Notes 
    • Noah Zeller "was born October 12th, 1851. He is married to Anna Todt. They reside in Berlin where he is engaged as a band master and teacher in all kinds of musical instruments. His family consists of seven children".1

      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.].

      _________________________


      From Waterloo Hall of Fame website

      Noah Zeller was Waterloo County's most famous self-made musician. His Mennonite parents, of Breslau, refused to allow him to play any instrument. However, he bought a violin which he hid and lowered from his bedroom window to practice in secret. In spite of parental feelings, he persevered with his musical studies and at eighteen developed an orchestra in Bridgeport. He taught music and was a cabinetmaker.

      Zeller was a member of the Kitchener band from 1869 to 1875, as a clarinetist, and became leader in 1880. At different periods he was leader of either the Waterloo or the Kitchener band (at one time leading both) and brought them to a high state of perfection. He also led the St. Jacobs, New Hamburg and Baden bands and gave private lessons. In 1912, because of ill health, he resigned as leader of the Kitchener band, after twenty- three continuous years of service

      _____________________


      from a undated column from the Kitchener Waterloo Record WILLIAM KAISER'S BAND

      Towards the latter years of the Glebe Band, there was an opposition band which proved to be the nucleus of the Berlin Musical Society which celebrated its 125th birthday in 2001. In 1866, the Kaiser band was organized at a meeting held in the market building. William Kaiser, who was considered one of the foremost band musicians of Detroit and Windsor, had come to Berlin in 1862 and became head of the new organization which was successfully launched. When he died in 1905, his obituary called him "first leader of the band" and "the father of band music in this town". This new aspirant for public favour and honour was a thorn in the side of the veteran Glebe, according to a story in Berlin Today (1806-1906) and feeling between the leaders ran high. Some of the encounters between them were amusing and at times spirited, though never fraught with serious results. Glebe eventually retired from Berlin and "took hold of the musical talent in Waterloo". Among those enrolled as early members of the Kaiser band were Noah Zeller, E flat clarinet; William Kaiser, Ben H. Ziegler and Albert Ziegler, B flat cornet; George Lippert and John S. Smith, E flat cornet; William Fleischhauer, Fred Kress and Henry Moebus, alto; Louis Seip, bass; William Kaiser Jr., horn; Ambrose Schill and George Schaefer, trombone. The total membership was about 15 and the instrumentation was almost entirely brass. Zeller, a student of Kaiser's succeeded him as leader in 1880. He was also leader of the Waterloo band and inter-town rivalry made him decide to stay with Waterloo two years later. Kaiser was born in Hamm, Westphalia, Prussia, Germany in 1822 and came to this continent in 1857. He first went to Detroit as an instructor in the city band, but after a short time he organized a military band which was highly successful. During that period he was also instructor of a band in Windsor. In 1862 he came to Berlin and lived in a house on King Street East near the later Stirling Avenue. He also opened a hotel which he ran for many years. While Kaiser was the Berlin bandmaster, he also taught the bands at Preston, Elmira and New Germany (Maryhill) and for a time, the Waterloo Band. He was a master artist on almost every instrument and gave lessons at his house until just before his death April 9, 1905 from la grippe at the age of 82. His obituary said, "during the last week or two, three prospective students had applied and he gave them encouragement that as soon as he became stronger, he would begin their tuition." Noah Zeller, who had returned in 1900 to lead the band then known as the 29th Regiment Band, and a few members had arranged to go to his house on Sunday and play for him on the very day he died. "But the final reveille sounded for him before they came." The funeral service was conducted on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the family residence by Rev. Emil Hoffman. The members of the 29th regiment played the Dead March as the remains were conveyed from the residence to Mount Hope Cemetery. Kaiser was a Lutheran and a staunch Conservative. His wife Caroline (née Wittheff) predeceased him on Feb. 5, 1904 at age 73. He was survived by his children, Mrs. Morris Smith, and Mrs. George Lippert of Berlin; Mrs. Ephriam Runstedler of Walkerton; Mrs. John McKenzie of Buffalo, New York; William Jr. of London; Albert of Walkerton; and Charles of West Branch, Michigan. by Kathryn Hansuld Lamb

      _______________________


      Zeller, Noah
      Zeller, Noah. Bandmaster, teacher, b near Breslau, Canada West (Ontario), ca 1852, d Berlin (Kitchener), Ont, 8 Feb 1914. He was the clarinet soloist in 1875 and the conductor 1878-82 of the 29th Regiment Band of Berlin. In 1882 he became the first conductor of the Waterloo Musical Society Band . The Waterloo band became a leading musical organization and won many contests - so many that for a time it was barred from competition. In 1900 Zeller resigned to resume his former duties with the 29th Regiment Band. During his years with both bands he also trained the bands at Elmira, New Hamburg, St Jacobs, and Baden, Ont. After a Toronto engagement by the Berlin band Saturday Night commented, 'Of all the bands which visit Toronto, except professional bands, it is the best.' Poor health forced Zeller to resign in 1913.
      Author Edward B. Moogk
      The Canadian Encyclopedia © 2005 Historica Foundation of Canada


  • Sources 
    1. [S10] Book - Vol II 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..., 692.

    2. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-12 Page 4.

    3. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851.
      gives age and country of birth

    4. [S177] Census - ON, Waterloo - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) a-12 Page 4.

    5. [S166] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Mount Hope CC#4508 Internet Link .
      Zeller ( A ) Noah Zeller / 1851-1914 / at rest

    6. [S604] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 51.

    7. [S340] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1911, Div. 37 Page 3.

    8. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 1 Page 51.

    9. [S894] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861, Sect. 7 Page 47.

    10. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 12 Oct 1851 - 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 - Farmer - 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 MapsOccupation - Musician - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Musician - 1901 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Music Teacher - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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