John S. Shantz^[1]

1846 - 1900  (53 years)

• Name	John S. Shantz
  Born	4 Dec 1846	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Agricultural Laborer
  Residence	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1891	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1891	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Mennonite
  Eby ID Number	00110-6653.1
  Died	12 Jan 1900	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 3, 4, 6, 9]
  	Cause: consumption
  Buried	Breslau Mennonite Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 4]
  Person ID	I19116	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	John Yost Shantz,   b. 6 Feb 1811, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Feb 1891, Near, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Mother	Susannah Scheirich,   b. 1 Apr 1820, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Apr 1884, Near Shantz Station, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 64 years)
  Married	28 Mar 1837	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10, 11]
  Family ID	F3015	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Nancy D. Shantz,   b. 15 Mar 1851, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 Mar 1910  (Age 59 years)
  Married	29 Jan 1873  [1, 7]
  Children	1. Alvin Shantz,   b. 1873, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Susannah S. Shantz,   b. 2 Nov 1874, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Linie Ann Shantz,   b. 29 Nov 1876, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Edmond Shantz,   b. 1877, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Anson Shantz,   b. 12 Jun 1879,   d. 4 Oct 1879  (Age 0 years)   6. Annetta Shantz,   b. 26 Apr 1882, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Aug 1908  (Age 26 years)   7. Laurena Shantz,   b. 12 Sep 1884, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Katy Schul,   b. 1890, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F4894	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  John S. Shantz, "twin brother to Jacob, was born December 4th, 1846. He was married to Nancy D. Shantz, January 29th, 1873. They resided on the old 'Bricker Farm' at Breslau until 1895 when they moved to Berlin where they now reside. To them was born a family of six 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.]. __________________ SHANTZ - Jan. 12th, 1900, in Berlin, Waterloo Co., Ont., of consumption, John S. Shantz, aged 53 years, 1 month, 8 days. Buried at Cressman's M. H., Breslau, on the 14th. Many friends and acquaintances assembled. Deceased had never taken any interest in religion up to very nearly his end, when his position began to become serious and the light began to shine into his heart, and he saw the folly of his way and began to pray. As the end came he said he was not afraid to die. Services by H. Hallman and Ramer from Phil. 1: 21. He leaves a widow, one son and four daughters, the three eldest grown up. HERALD OF TRUTH, Vol. XXXVII, No. 3, February 1, 1900 pages 44-46 June 24th, in Waterloo Co., Canada West, Jacob S, Son of John Y. Shantz, aged 17 yrs. 6 mo. and 20 days. His disease was consumption. The following is a letter which he wrote to his sister, from which we can see, how God manifests his love towards us through the Spirit of Christ, if we humble ourselves as we ought and come to him in sincerity and with self-denial. June 14th 1864. Dear sister! As the Lord has spared my life till this present hour, I will not delay any longer to send my greatest love to you my beloved sister. And I will let you know that preacher Stolm has visited me one day and told me many good things about our great God, and he told me that I should now prepare to meet the Lord in peace; that he expected my days in this world would be short and my heart felt not sorry to hear it; for I hope if the Lord should end my life immediately, I could meet my God in peace; and I will pray earnestly to my God, for I don't know when the Lord will take me to that sweet happy home from whence I will never return any more. I often felt glad that I could soon go home to meet my two little brothers who have gone before me, but now the time is here when I shall go and meet them in that sweet happy home; and when I am once there I shall never wish to come back upon this earth any more. But I wish that all my brothers and sisters would try to follow me, for which I hope there is no doubt you will pray earnestly to that all saving God. I feel tired and think it is time for me to come to a close. I send my best respects to you all. Jacob S. Shantz. Dear reader, Have you also, yet perceived that God is gracious, as this youth who could so rejoice in view of the end of this, his earthly life, which his disease thus pointed out to him. 0! bethink thyself for once and pray to God as David did: Lord so teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart to wisdom. For such wisdom we should all pray, because not every one like this youth will be laid low with a lingering disease, therefore let us become obedient to him while we are in good health. The Lord is so gracious, so kind and so merciful if we only deny ourselves and become obedient to his merciful instructions then, we may also, already in our healthful days, have the assurance of the heavenly sweetness even as this youth in his sickness could rejoice in view of his passing over beyond the grave. 0! why then will we not accept the free grace, the glad tidings of the gospel? If we lead a godly life, we have, even in this world more enjoyment, (than if we live in sin) and also the promise of future salvation and all that it costs to yield obedience to Jesus Christ is our self-will. O could we with this youth exclaim, When the messenger of death shall come, "I would no longer here remain, I, go to that sweet, happy home." There I'll meet my little brothers, Who went to heaven long ago; I shall be happy then for ever, And wish no more to dwell below. O brothers! sisters! ! follow me, I beseech you, forget it not! "Come unto me," God calls to you; Eternal peace shall be your lot. Now my prayers to God ascend Whom I shall praise forever there; Soon, in His presence, I shall stand, In that sweet, happy home, so fair. J. Y. Shantz. Herald of Truth Volume I, No. 9., September 1864 Page 60

  
  

• Sources

  [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..., 400. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851. gives age and country of birth [S15] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Breslau - Breslau Mennonite CC#4579 Internet Link . Shantz / John S.Shantz / died / Jan.12,1900 aged 53 yrs / his wife Nancy / died Mar.20,1910 / aged 59 yrs / Their memory is blessed [S15] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Breslau - Breslau Mennonite CC#4579 Internet Link . In memory of / Jacob Shantz / born Dec.4'1846 / died June 24,1864 / aged 17 y'rs 6 mo.29 d's / son of / John & Susanna Shantz / Brother thou hast gone to rest / We will not weep for thee: / For thou art now where oft on earth / Thy spirit longed to be / [S604] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 30. [S32] News - Herald of Truth, February 1, 1900 - Obituary of John S. Shantz. [S2575] Census - ON, Waterloo Township - 1891, Sect. 2 Page 8. [S894] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861, Sect. 6 Page 43. [S32] News - Herald of Truth, Volume I, No. 9., September 1864 Page 60. [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..., 398. [S9] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Canada Museum und Allgemeine Zeitung (1835-1840), 30 Mar 1837:16. 28 Mar 1837 Benjamin Eby m. Johannes Schantz to Susanna Scheirich, daughter of Johannes Scheirich, all of Waterloo.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 4 Dec 1846 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Agricultural Laborer - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: consumption - 12 Jan 1900 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Breslau Mennonite Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth