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

Male 1860 - 1925  (64 years)


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

  • Name John Letter 
    Born 15 Aug 1860  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] 
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Lutheran 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1881  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Mason 
    Residence 1881  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Lutheran 
    Building 1886  63 Dorset St., Waterloo, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    constructed 
    Building 1886  65 Dorset St., Waterloo, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    constructed 
    Occupation Furniture store owner 
    Waterloo-LetterFurnitureandUndertaker.jpg    		 Waterloo-LetterFurnitureandUndertaker.jpg
    J. Letter & Son Furnture and Undetakers 1913



    Marion Roes (@MarionRoes) on Twitter. (2016). Twitter.com. Retrieved 18 May 2016, from https://twitter.com/MarionRoes
    Residence 1886  63 Dorset St., Waterloo, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Occupation 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Mason 
    Residence 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1901  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Contractor 
    Occupation 1911  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Income 
    Residence 1911  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Lutheran 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-150420 
    Died 27 Mar 1925  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I150420  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2025 

    Father Christian Letter,   b. 12 May 1831, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jul 1907  (Age 76 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Riehm,   b. 27 Jan 1836, Kirdorf, , Hessen, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Feb 1923, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years) 
    Married 1856  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Family ID F37665  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret Gleiser,   b. 26 Oct 1856, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Mar 1916, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 59 years) 
    Married Aug 1884  [6] 
    Children 
     1. Irene Elizabeth Letter,   b. 17 Oct 1885, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Nov 1933, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
     2. Norman Henry Letter,   b. 23 Mar 1887, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Jun 1951, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)
     3. Alberta Christine Letter,   b. 17 Oct 1899, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1976  (Age 76 years)
    Last Modified 13 May 2025 
    Family ID F10837  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    LetterJohn-0001-MarionRoes2021-Enhanced.jpg    		LetterJohn-0001-MarionRoes2021-Enhanced.jpg
    John Letter Waterloo, Ontario

  • Notes 
    • Furniture Business Sold
      Mr. John Letter Purchase Entire Stock of J. K. Shinn & Co. and Will Continue the Business

      A deal has been consummated whereby Mr. John Letter, Waterloo's well known contractor becomes the owner of the furniture business of J. K. Shinn & Co, conducted by Mr. Shinn for the past twelve years. Mr. Letter has purchased the entire stock and will in addition to continuing the business of picture framing enter into the upholstering business and also do repairing in this line of trade. It is the intention of the new proprietor to build a three-storey addition to the present building extending as far back as Queen street [later named Regina]. The firm will be known as John Letter and Son and the business will be in charge of his son, Mr. Norman Letter and Mr. Geo. Gleiser. Mr. Letter proposes carrying on an up-to-date and thoroughly equipped establishment, which will compare very favorably with the best store in Western Ontario. The well known business ability and enterprise of Mr. Letter are a sufficient index that the new venture upon which he has embarked will be attended with success. Mr. Shinn will continue in the undertaking business.

      Berlin Daily Telegraph, November 28, 1907

      _______________________


      Death of John Letter
      Well Known Contractor and Builder of Waterloo Passes Away.

      Death summoned one of Waterloo's best known and highly respected citizens in the person of John Letter, which occurred at his home on Friday afternoon, March 27th. He was in his 65th year. Seventeen years ago deceased was obliged to retire from business owing to ill health and for many years has been an invalid. The late Mr. Letter was a son of the late Christian Letter of Waterloo. For many years he carried on a successful general contracting business and erected many houses and factories in Waterloo. He took a keen interest in municipal affairs and was a member of the council for a number of years. In politics he was a staunch Conservative. He was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, being on the board of management until taken ill. He was also a member of the Germania Lodge I.O.O.F., O.U.W., Canadian Order of Foresters, K.O. T.M. and Royal Arcanium. He was also a director of the Globe Furniture Company. There survive one son and two daughters, Norman Letter and Mrs. Edward Liphardt of Waterloo and Mrs. (Rev.) R. B. Geelhaar of Listowel; also three sisters, Mrs. John Schneider, Mrs. George Schmidt of Waterloo, and Mrs. John Schaaf of Kitchener, and three grandchildren. His wife predeceased him nine years.

      Funeral Largely Attended

      The high esteem in which the late Mr. Letter was held was evidenced at the funeral which took place from the residence, Duke St., Waterloo, on Monday afternoon. Business associates and fellow citizens attended in large numbers to show a last tribute of respect to a public spirited and honored citizen. The service at the home was conducted by Rev. C. S. Roberts, pastor of the St. John's Lutheran church. He paid high tribute to the late Mr. Letter who he said prior to his forced retirement from active business owing to ill health eighteen years ago, had occupied a prominent position in the community. The choir of the church sang an appropriate anthem during the service. Interment was made in Mount Hope cemetery.

      Waterloo Chronicle, April 2, 1925

  • Sources 
    1. [S135] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1901, Waterloo (Town/Ville) D-1 Page 3.

    2. [S302] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1881, Waterloo Village 1881 Div. 2 Page 9.

    3. [S118] News - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo - Waterloo Chronicle, Obituary of John Letter - April 2, 1925.

    4. [S366] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1911, Div. 40 Page 4.

    5. [S1885] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1861, Waterloo 1861 Dist. 1 Page 8.

    6. [S1573] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1891, Section 3 Page 7.

    7. [S2658] aaaaWaterloo Village 1871, Sect. 1 Page 8.

    8. [S118] News - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo - Waterloo Chronicle, Obituary of Mrs. Christian Letter - March 1, 1923.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 15 Aug 1860 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1861 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1871 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mason - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuilding - constructed - 1886 - 63 Dorset St., Waterloo, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuilding - constructed - 1886 - 65 Dorset St., Waterloo, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1886 - 63 Dorset St., Waterloo, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mason - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Contractor - 1901 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Income - 1911 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1911 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 27 Mar 1925 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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