Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Home Search  
Print Bookmark

Alfred Frederick Stanley "Ford" Kumpf

Male 1876 - 1960  (83 years)


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

  • Name Alfred Frederick Stanley "Ford" Kumpf 
    Historic Building Abt 1812  172 King St. S., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Erb Kumpf House 
    • The original portion of the Erb-Kumpf House was built around 1812 by Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo, making it one of Waterloo's oldest homes. It was a three-bay structure facing a mill situated near the south-west corner of King and Erb Streets.
      Abraham Erb came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1806 and settled on Lots 14 and 15 of the German Company Tract, land which now comprises the central business district of Waterloo. He established a sawmill on Beaver (Laurel) Creek in 1808 and a grist mill in 1816. In 1828, he sold his mills and a considerable quantity of land to Jacob C. Snider.
      Magdalene Erb sold the home to Barnabas Devitt, her adopted son, in 1835. His son Benjamin served as Mayor of Waterloo from 1881 to 1883.
      An addition to the house was probably built by Devitt in 1849. A slight hump in the roof on the north side indicates the location at which it joins the original structure. The application of a vertical board and clapboard which does not align is further evidence that it was added at a later date. The second addition, probably built by Hoffman around 1855, included the two-storey verandah at the front.

      Elias Snider acquired the home and later sold it to Christian Kumpf in 1869. Kumpf was a newspaper owner, Mayor of Waterloo from 1879-1880, as well as Postmaster for 42 years. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Dominion Life Assurance Company in 1889. His son Ford, who became affectionately known as "Mr. Waterloo", was born in the home in 1877 and assumed ownership in 1899. One of the community's most public-spirited citizens, he served as Treasurer of Waterloo and Clerk/Manager of the Water and Light Commission. He was President of the Waterloo Red Cross Society and The Dominion Life Assurance Company.
      At present, the house demonstrates a mixture of architectural styles. Among its Georgian characteristics is the six-over-six window pane arrangement. The facade, with its two wings, treillage, Gothic barge board and Doric columns, reflects the Regency influence.
      In 1979, the home was sold to a law firm which has maintained the integrity of the exterior. A third addition in keeping with the style of the building has since been constructed.1a

      1aDesignated Properties www. waterloo.ca
    Born 27 Nov 1876  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
    Gender Male 
    Interesting business, life 
    Name F. S. Kumpf 
    Name Ford S. Kumpf 
    Residence 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1901  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Clerk 
    Occupation 1905  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    deputy postmaster 
    Occupation 1911  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Town Treasurer, Town Office 
    Residence 172 King St. S., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence 1911  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    P. Brother 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-193292 
    Died 10 Feb 1960  [6] 
    Buried Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Person ID I193292  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2025 

    Father Mayor Christian Kumpf,   b. 22 Aug 1838, Beerfelden, Odenwaldkreis, Hessen, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Jan 1905, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years) 
    Mother Bridget Caroline Cogan,   b. 4 Mar 1837, , Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Oct 1919, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years) 
    Married 18 Mar 1862  , Brant Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Family ID F10987  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Anna Kathlin Henrich,   b. 1877, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1972  (Age 95 years) 
    Married 23 Jun 1923  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 13 May 2025 
    Family ID F7546  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Kumpf,AlfredFrederickStanley-0001.jpg    		Kumpf,AlfredFrederickStanley-0001.jpg

  • Notes 
    • February 10. Ford S. Kumpf, 83, the white-haired genial gentleman everyone knew as "Mr. Waterloo" was one of the Twin Cities' most highly respected citizens and a great promoter of Waterloo.

      Ford Kumpf was born in the 135-year-old home in which he lived at 172 King St. S., Waterloo. The property, at one time owned by Abraham Erb, Waterloo's founder, became a Kumpf possession in 1874. Mr. Kumpf, a former president of Dominion Life Assurance Company, was a patron of almost every drive and public campaign in Waterloo. The long list of his posts in the business world and the field of community service can only suggest the energy and ability which Mr. Kumpf put at the service of his community. Some evidence of recognition is indicated by his awards: the Jubilee Medal of 1935 for his Red Cross work, the Coronation Medal of 1937 and the Silver Acorn for his work with the Boy Scouts and Cubs. Not only those who assembled for the memorial service at Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterloo, but many thousands will remember Mr. Kumpf for his leadership in community welfare, for his business acumen, for his personal charity, good humour and sharp wit.

      Forty-Eighth Annual Volume of the Waterloo Historical Society Mar 1961

  • Sources 
    1. [S873] Waterloo City - designated properties list, Bean-Wright House.

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

    3. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration.
      Albert Frederick Stanley Kumpf Born: 27 Nov 1876 County: Waterloo Father: Christian Kumpf Mother: Bridget Cogen

    4. [S366] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1911, Div. 43 Pg. 3.

    5. [S1573] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1891, Section 3 Page 52.

    6. [S87] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Woodland CC#4510 Internet Link .
      In Loving Memory/ Ford S. Kumpf/ 1876-1960/ At Rest

    7. [S607] News - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph (1899- ), "Death of Mr. C. Kumpf," Jan 12 1905, p. 1.

    8. [S50] Vit - ON, Brant - Marriage Register 1858-1869.
      Christian Kumps
      Event TypeMarriage
      Event Date18 Mar 1862
      Event PlaceBrant, Ontario, Canada
      Residence WAterloo
      GenderMale
      Age25
      Birth Year (Estimated)1837
      BirthplaceGermany
      Father's NameWilliam Kumps
      Mother's NameCatharine Kumps
      Spouse's NameBridget C Cogan
      Residence Waterloo
      Spouse's GenderFemale
      Spouse's Age25
      Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated)1837
      Spouse's BirthplaceIreland
      Spouse's Father's NameMathew Cogan
      Spouse's Mother's NameHanna C Cogan

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsHistoric Building - Erb Kumpf House - Abt 1812 - 172 King St. S., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 27 Nov 1876 - 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 - Clerk - 1901 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - deputy postmaster - 1905 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Town Treasurer, Town Office - 1911 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - 172 King St. S., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - P. Brother - 1911 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 23 Jun 1923 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding ©, v. 12.0.1, written by Darrin Lythgoe 2001-2025.