George Ira Kalb

1856 - 1904  (48 years)

• Name	George Ira Kalb
  Born	4 Mar 1856	, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Mental Illness	suicide
  Misfortune	committed suicide
  Name	George R. Kalb
  Residence	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Lutheran
  Occupation	1881	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Laborer
  Residence	1881	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Lutheran
  Occupation	1889	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	laborer
  Occupation	1891	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Agricultural Laborer
  Occupation	1891	New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	laborer
  Residence	1891	New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Residence	1891	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Lutheran
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-137852
  Died	2 Aug 1904	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Buried	Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I137852	Generations
  Last Modified	17 Feb 2026

  
  

  Father	John Kalb,   b. 11 May 1830, Schiltes Haus, , Germany ,   d. 11 Oct 1905, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 75 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bittorf,   b. 26 May 1828, , Germany ,   d. 30 Jun 1908, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Married	6 Sep 1853	Greenbush (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  Family ID	F34297	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Wilhelmina "Mina" "Minnie" Miller,   b. 5 Aug 1859, , Germany ,   d. 24 Mar 1902, Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, United States  (Age 42 years)
  Married	17 May 1881	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Children	1. William Kalb,   b. 30 Mar 1882, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Joseph Kalb,   b. 13 Oct 1884, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 15 Jan 1903, Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, United States  (Age 18 years)   3. Casper Andrew Kalb,   b. 7 Feb 1889, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. John Kalb,   b. 23 Jul 1891, New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Katie Kalb,   b. 23 Jul 1891, New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	24 Feb 2026
  Family ID	F300586	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Suicide in a Shed. Berlin, Aug. 3.- George Kalb, aged 40, was found dead, hanging by the neck from a cross-piece in the shed at the King street Mennonite Church, yesterday afternoon, having evidently been hanging there several hours when found by Frank Littin. The Brantford Daily Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada Wed, Aug 3, 1904 Page 5 _____________ HAD NO HOME - SUICIDED Mennonite Church Sheds at Berlin Scene of Last Act Berlin, Ont., Aug. 2. - George Kalb, a man of about 45 years, committed suicide here this afternoon by hanging himself to a beam in the Mennonite church sheds about 40 yards from King street. He used an ordinary clothesline and his feet barely were free from the ground. No cause can be assigned other than that he had grown despondent over not having a home, He formerly resided here, but with the exception of the past month he had been across the border. He was a widower, his wife dying about a year ago. Dr. Lackner, coroner, will hold an inquest, the jury viewing the body this evening. The Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Sat, Aug 6, 1904 Page 2 _______________ YOUTH MADE A GHASTLY FIND BODY OF GEORGE KALB FOUND HANGING FROM CROSS-PIECE IN SHEDS OF OLD MENNONITE CHURCH. In the sheds at the Old Mennonite Church about 1.30 p. m. to-day the body of George Kalb was found suspended by the neck from a crosspiece, the rope used being apparently a piece of a clothesline. The ghastly find was made by young man named Litfin. Coroner Lackner was notified and he arrived at the spot shortly before two o'clock. It was evident that life had been extinct for a considerable time. A peculiar circumstance that as was the body hung there, the feet, including the heels, touched the ground. Coroner Lackner in speaking to the Telegraph said he was not certain whether it was a case of suicide or not, therefore he had issued a warrant for an inquest, to open at the town hall at 8 o'clock to-night. He had also ordered the body cut down and removed. Deceased was a son of Mr. John Kalb, of Berlin, and was about forty years of age. A number of years ago he went to the United States but recently came back to Berlin. The Daily Telegraph, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Tue, Aug 2, 1904 Page 1 _______________ GEORGE KALB HANGED HIMSELF FINDING OF THE JURY AT QUEST WHICH WAS CONCLUDED BEFORE CORONER LACKNER WEDNESDAY NIGHT Before Coroner Lackner the inquest on the body of George Kakb was concluded on Wednesday evening at the town hall and the jury's verdict was that deceased came to his death by hanging himself while of unsound mind. Mr. F. C. Schatzi one of the jurors, was a few minutes late and there was talk of imposing a fine but this was not done. Chief Winterhalt was the first witness called. He produced the rope by which Kalb was suspended. The chief told of being informed by Franz Litfin that a man had hung himself in the shed at the Old Mennonite church. He had gone down and beside the body found a box about ten inches high. Deceased had lived in Berlin many years and of late years lived alternately in Berlin and Saginaw, Michigan. He had been drinking heavily since coming back to Berlin recently. DECEASED'S FATHER. Mr. John Kalb, deceased's father, said he had last seen his son on Friday when he had passed the house where witness lived but his son had not spoken to him. Deceased was 48 years of age on the 4th of March. He had been in town several weeks but had not been to see his father. When his wife died he had received $300 life insurance. HAD ROLL OF BILLS Mr. George Schneider, a brother- in-law of deceased, said he had known Kalb for 18 years. He had come back to Berlin from the other side only a few weeks ago. Witness saw him a week ago Saturday with a big roll of bills. Mr. E. Ferrier said Kalb had stayed at the Market Hotel for three days week before last and had said he was in the horse business and made good money at it. Kalb then had over $100 in his pocket. He did not spend money very freely and did not appear at all depressed. Mr. Charles Miller, whose daughter Kalb had married, said he had seen Kalb last on August 1st at the Walper House, but they did not speak They had not spoken to each other for a long time. Kalb was apparently drunk at that time. He said he thought deceased had received $1000 on his wife's insurance policy but $300 had gone to each of his two sons. Mr. William Miller, son of the previous witness, had last seen Kalb at the street fair in Berlin. Kalb then appeared to be sane at some times and at other times acted in a strange manner. He knew no reasons why Kalb should commit suicide. He had asked deceased where he was staying, but got no answer. Chief Winterhalt showed the jury what had been found in the clothes of deceased. These articles included a silver watch and chain, an empty purse and a piece of rope. THE BODY INTERRED. The body was buried on Wednesday afternoon at Mount Hope cemetery at the expense of the town an order for $10 being issued. On Tuesday evening an effort was made to reach deceased's son William in Saginaw by telephone but he could not be found. On Wednesday a message was received saying he would in Berlin to-day. NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY In charging the jury before they were left to agree on a verdict the coroner said the evidence indicated that the case was clearly one of suicide there being nothing whatever to Indicate that there had been foul play. The Daily Telegraph, Berlin, Ontario Thu, Aug 04, 1904 Page 1 _________________ INQUEST BEGUN ON KALB'S BODY JURY SATISFIED DEATH WAS DUE TO HANGING SO THERE WILL BE NO AUTOPSY-FRANK LITFIN TELLS HOW HE FOUND THE BODY. Coroner Lackner opened an inquest at the town hall on Monday evening on the body of George Kalb, found hanging by a rope around the neck from a cross-beam in the shed at the old Mennonite church, about two o'clock on Monday afternoon. Constable Huehnergard had empannelled the following jury:-August Hertel, Ed. Dahm, Gustave Rockel, John Lewis, George Baltzer, George Israel, Louis Ernst, Graham Jackson, A. Wahl, L. Steckle, John Rifer, Frank Schatz. When the inquest opened Mr. August Hertel was chosen foreman and the jurors were then sworn in and they adjourned to the basement to view the body. Upon returning to the council chamber, Coroner Lackner gave it as his opinion that hanging was the cause of death, and said that if the jury concurred in this view an autopsy would not be necessary, and the body could at once be handed over to the undertaker. Frank Litfin, who found the body, was here called and deposed that he had found the body hanging in the old Mennonite church shed about 2 p. m. on Monday. He went into the shed to get out of the rain and at first thought a man was standing on the ground up at the other end of the shed, but going closer he saw that the body was hanging by a rope. Then he at once went up town and informed Chief Winterhalt. He was alone at the time. The rope reached about two feet above the man's head and there was a box about ten inches high beside him. Witness did not notice whether or not the feet were touching the ground. Witness said he had not known Kalb but had seen him on Sunday. The jurors were unanimous in the belief that death from hanging, therefore a post mortem examination will not be made. Mr. August Hertel told of having seen deceased walk back and forth on Weber street down to the cemetery frequently during the past week. Mr. Hertel had known Kalb since he was a boy and considered this action on his part as indicating that he had some trouble. In answer to a question by a juror the Coroner said there was no external indication that he had been poisoned. Crown Attorney Bowlby was unable to be present, so the Coroner advised adjournment and it was decided to adjourn the inquest until this evening at 8 o'clock. The Daily Telegraph, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Wed, Aug 3, 1904 Page 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S158] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1881, Div. 2 Pg. 25. [S166] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Mount Hope CC#4508 Internet Link . George Kalb/ born/ Mar. 4, 1856/ died/ Sept. 6, 1904 [S939] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1891, Div. 1 Page 5. [S894] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861, Sect. 11 Page 76. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: George Ira Kilp Sex: Male Age: 25 years (25 years) Birth Year (Estimated): 1856 Canada Occ: laborer - Berlin Father's Name: John Kilp Mother's Name: Elizabeth Kilp Spouse's Name: Wilhelmina Miller Spouse's Sex: Female Spouse's Age: 21 years (21 years) Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1860 Germany Res: Berlin Spouse's Father's Name: Carl Miller Spouse's Mother's Name: Maria Miller Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 17 May 1881 Event Place: Berlin, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration. Name: Caper Andrew Kalb Sex: Male Father's Name: George R. Kalb - Laborer - Berlin Father's Sex: Male Mother's Name: Mina Mueller Mother's Sex: Female Event Type: Birth Event Date: 1889 7 Feb Event Place: Berlin, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration. Name: John Kolb Sex: Male Father's Name: George Kolb - laborer -New Dundee Mother's Name: Minnie Miller Event Type: Birth Event Date: 23 Jul 1891 Event Place: Wilmot, Ontario, Canada [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library. John Kalb, labourer of New Hope married 6 Sep 1853 at Greenbush (hoelsche) by banns to Elisabeth Didorf of New Hope, witnesses: George Goebel of New Hope & Samue Kropp of New Hope.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 4 Mar 1856 - , Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Laborer - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 17 May 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - laborer - 1889 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Agricultural Laborer - 1891 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - laborer - 1891 - New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1891 - New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1891 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 2 Aug 1904 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth