Waterloo Region Generations
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Mayor Benjamin Devitt

Mayor Benjamin Devitt[1, 2, 3, 4]

Male 1835 - 1910  (75 years)

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  • Name Benjamin Devitt 
    Prefix Mayor 
    Born 10 Jul 1835  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] 
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1857  Lancaster, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Occupation 1861  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Merchant 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Lutheran 
    Elected Office 1865  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Councillor - Waterloo City 
    Occupation 1871  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    Merchant 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    Mennonite 
    Elected Office 1873  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Waterloo City - councillor 
    Elected Office 1881  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mayor - Waterloo 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97641375 
    Rsrch. Note
    • Benjamin Devitt, 1835 - 1913

      Born in the village of Bridgeport in 1835 the son of a grist mill operator, Benjamin Devitt was a businessman. In partnership with local postmaster Daniel Snyder, Devitt constructed what became known as the Devitt-Snyder Block on King Street in 1860. From this location Devitt operated a general store that was later taken over by his younger brother Menno. He was also employed as the hotel building inspector for Waterloo for a number of years. Devitt was instrumental in the formation of the Waterloo Musical Society and became the founding president in 1882. He also served on the board of The Mechanics Institute and in 1888, with the transfer of the Institute's assets, he continued on the new municipal library board. Active in local politics, Devitt served on the Village of Waterloo Council from 1865-1866 and from 1873-1876. Five years after the incorporation of the Town of Waterloo, Devitt was elected mayor. One of the most debated issues during Devitt's three year term in office was the plan to purchase a steam fire engine and construct a new fire hall for the Town, a project that was not completed until he left office. In 1882, during Devitt's second year as mayor, The Grand Trunk Railway finally completed a branch line to Waterloo following extensive negotiations and council involvement.Taken from the City of Waterloo Website 2005
      ____________________________________________________________________________
    Occupation 1881  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Gentleman 
    Residence 1881  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Swedenborgian 
    Occupation 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Inspector 
    Residence 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Mennonite 
    Occupation 1901  Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Hotel Inspector 
    Eby ID Number 00030-2325 
    Died 4 Sep 1910  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I16717  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father Barnabas Devitt,   b. 25 Mar 1807, , New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Jan 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Mother Magdalena Shoemaker,   b. 20 Nov 1811, Frederick Twp., Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Nov 1907, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years) 
    Married 1 May 1831  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 14] 
    Family ID F1513  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Nancy Lewis Bowman,   b. 1 Jan 1839, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 May 1921  (Age 82 years) 
    Married 29 Sep 1857  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [13, 15] 
    Devitt,Benjamin-NancyL.Bowman-biblerecord.jpg    		 Devitt,Benjamin-NancyL.Bowman-biblerecord.jpg
    Children 
     1. Ida Priscilla Devitt,   b. 31 Oct 1858, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Mar 1927, Nepean, Carleton Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
     2. Emma Alvarena Devitt,   b. 16 Oct 1860, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Jun 1925, Belmont, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)
     3. Anson Harvey Devitt,   b. Jan 1863, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Alvah Edison Devitt,   b. 4 Aug 1865, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jan 1939  (Age 73 years)
     5. Edward Morton Devitt,   b. 17 Sep 1867, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Dec 1938, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
     6. Dr. Benjamin Franklin "Franklin" Devitt,   b. 6 Jan 1870, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Dec 1943, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     7. Daniel Everett Devitt,   b. CALC 25 May 1872, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Feb 1874, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 1 years)
     8. Hannah Oliva "Olive" Devitt,   b. CALC 19 May 1874, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jul 1889, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 15 years)
    Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F2410  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Mayor Benjamin Devitt    		Mayor Benjamin Devitt
    Benjamin and Nancy Devitt    		Benjamin and Nancy Devitt
    from Ancestry.com 2010
    Waterloo-LogSchool-00002.jpg    		Waterloo-LogSchool-00002.jpg

  • Notes 
    • Benjamin Devitt, "was born July 10th, 1835. He is married to Nancy Bowman. They reside in the town of Waterloo. He holds the position of Inspector of Hotels. They have a family of eight children"


      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.].

      ______________________________

      BENJAMIN DEVITT- PASSES AWAY

      The death of Mr. Benjamin Devitt who passed away on Sunday at his home on Erb Street removed another estimable and worthy citizen who say the town grow from a small hamlet to its present population. Especially during the early years of the town's history he took an active interest in Municipal affairs and was prominently identified with various organizations of the town.

      The end came peacefully Sunday evening at six o' clock. After an illness of two years ago his health became less robust, being affected by hardening of the arteries. He, however, was able to be about until January last when he broke his hip bone while alighting from a cutter after a drive. Since the accident he was confined to his bed almost constantly being unable to walk owing to the injury. About two months ago, he suffered a paralytic stroke which was followed by several others. On Monday night another stroke left him in a very critical condition and he lingered until Sunday evening.

      The funeral was held on Wednesday at 2 o'clock from his late residence, Erb Street East, Waterloo to the Emmanuel Evangelical Church for service, then to Mount Hope cemetery where the remains were interred.

      Mr. Devitt was the third son of the late Barnabas Devitt and was born July 10, 1835 on the old homestead of Mrs. C. Kumpf, King Street. He followed the occupation of miller with his father at Bridgeport for a number of years and during his residence here was married to Miss Nancy Bowman. They later removed to Waterloo where Mr. Devitt erected the Devitt Block and conducted a general store for fifteen years when he disposed of the business. He afterwards became License Inspector for North Waterloo which position he held for about fifteen years.

      Elmira Advertiser Sep 8 1910

      ________________

      THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE

      An interesting meeting took place the Saturday before last in the old log cabin in Waterloo Park.

      This house was, of course, the first schoolhouse in this area and stood originally on the school-house square at the corner of King and Church Streets in Waterloo. It was built in 1820 and served its purpose until 1842, when it was torn down and a 1-storey stone house was constructed on the site. The dismantled log house was erected again in Greenbush and served as a residence for a long time for the coloured man, Mr. Carroll and his family. In the course of this year, the Waterloo Park Commissioners purchased the house, moved it to their park and furnished it again as it was when it was a school-house.

      At this gathering, in addition to many other ladies and gentlemen, the following (male and female) former pupils attended, took their places on the benches, and were called to order by the 82-year-old teacher, Benjamin Burkholder, who held the scepter, or rather, the switch, from 1831 to 1842 in the old log-house: Joel Guth, 80 years old; Abraham Scherk, Blair, 79; Jakob Bricker, Waterloo, 77; Sarah Burkholder, nee Erb, Bridgeport, 75; Amos Weber, Berlin, 73; John C, Bricker, Hawksville, 71; Maria Erb, nee Quickfall, Norwich 69; David B. Eby, Waterloo, 69; Wendel Baumann, Woolwich, 68; Henry Stauffer, Erbsville, 67; Simon Beatty, Elmira, 67; Jakob Ratz, New Hamburg, 67; Israel Baumann, Berlin, 65; George Elbert, Moorefield, 63; George H. Baumann, Elmira, 63; John Devitt, Waterloo, 62; Richard Quickfall, Bridgeport, 62; Isaak Hoffmann, Waterloo, 61; Robert Barkwell, Peel, 60; Diana McMahon, nee Dekay, Berlin, 60; Thomas Quickfall, Floradale, 60; Benjamin Devitt, Waterloo, 60; Isaak Devitt, Floradale, 58; John Longmann, Peel, 57. In addition, to these, the teacher read the names of 25 pupils from the roll; they were, however, absent.

      Mr. Burkholder gave an interesting talk about the history of the old school-house, and after him, Rev. J.A. MacLachlan, Rev. J. McNair, Mr. J.E. Baumann, M.P., and Mr. Jakob Ratz spoke about the old days which brought many things out of the past to mind again. School was, as a rule, only in session in winter and the costs were borne by the parents of the children. There were few subjects taught, namely: Reading, Writing and Sums. The children heard little about language, and geography; no child had more than 2 or 3 books. The predominant language was German. The pupils learned to read and write English, but didn't understand a word of it. Among the teachers in the old school-house from 1820-1842, with the exception of Mr. Burkholder, were the following whose names are still recognized: Jephtha DeKay, Joseph Guth, John Herringer, Peter Otto, John Dobbin, Elias Eby, Robert Barber, & Joseph Eby.

      After those present, on hearing the various speeches felt themselves transported back to the past, the school was closed at four o'clock and the pupils were gathered together in front of the school and photographed as a group. On their return into the school, they found it had been transformed into a dining room with heavily-laden tables, which the old-timers thoroughly enjoyed. After everyone had chatted cordially for a while longer, the gathering broke up. The company will not meet again in complete numbers, nor in such a way.

      Berliner Journal September 26, 1895 Page 4 Column 4

  • 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..., 146.

    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..., 528.

    3. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 1 Aug 1889.
      July 27, 1889 Hannah Oliva Devitt, daughter of Benjamin Devitt, died in Waterloo at age of 15 years, 2 months & 8 days.

    4. [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 12170-90.
      Alvah E. Devitt, 24, b. Waterloo, res. Waterloo, occ. Salesman, son of Nancy and Benjamin Devitt, married Annie Weber, 22, b. Elmira, res. Elmira, daughter of Elizabeth E and Solomon Weber, Witness(es) J. W. Lundy, Linwood, E. M. Devitt, Waterloo, Emma Weber, Elmira, Sadie Weylie, Waterloo, On 14 May 1890, at Elmira

    5. [S135] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1901, Waterloo (Town/Ville) D-4 Page 8.

    6. [S135] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1901, Waterloo (Town/Ville) d-4 Page 8.

    7. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 18.

    8. [S302] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1881, Waterloo Village 1881 Div. 1 Page 18.

    9. [S1885] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1861, Waterloo 1861 Dist. 3 Page 22.

    10. [S956] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Advertiser, "Benjamin Devitt - Passes Away," Sep 8 1910.

    11. [S1573] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1891, Section 3 Page 29.

    12. [S2658] aaaaWaterloo Village 1871, Sect. 2 Page 3.

    13. [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 7 Oct 1857.
      Bowman, Nancy married 29 Sep 1857 to Benjamin DEVITT At Berlin by Rev Smith. Benjamin, of Lancaster; Nancy, of Waterloo.

    14. [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..., 452.

    15. [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), September 30, 1857.
      At Berlin, on the 29th instant, by the Revd. Mr. Smith, Mr. Benjamin Devitt, of Lancaster, to Miss Nancy Bowman, of Waterloo Village.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 10 Jul 1835 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1857 - Lancaster, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 29 Sep 1857 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Merchant - 1861 - 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 MapsElected Office - Councillor - Waterloo City - 1865 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Merchant - 1871 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Mennonite - 1871 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Waterloo City - councillor - 1873 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Mayor - Waterloo - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Gentleman - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Swedenborgian - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Inspector - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Mennonite - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Hotel Inspector - 1901 - Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 4 Sep 1910 - 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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