Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Rev. Israel R. Shantz

Rev. Israel R. Shantz[1]

Male 1863 - 1910  (47 years)

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  • Name Israel R. Shantz 
    Prefix Rev. 
    Born 15 Aug 1863  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Gender Male 
    Interesting story, religion 
    Occupation 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Farmer 
    Residence 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Mennonite 
    Occupation 1901  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Farmer 
    Eby ID Number 00110-6823 
    Died 15 Dec 1910  Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 6
    Buried West Zion Mennonite Cemetery, near, Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 6
    Person ID I19766  Generations
    Last Modified 7 Nov 2024 

    Father Samuel B. Shantz,   b. 16 Jan 1811, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Jan 1895  (Age 84 years) 
    Mother Rebecca Rudy,   b. 29 Oct 1825, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jun 1899, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 25 Mar 1845  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 7, 8, 9, 10
    Family ID F316  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth "Betsy" Schmitt,   b. 22 Aug 1868, Bond, Ionia Co., Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Dec 1962, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 94 years) 
    Married 22 Sep 1886  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 5, 11
    Children 
     1. Seleda May Shantz,   b. 15 Jun 1887, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Lloyd Dwight Shantz,   b. 1888, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Lloyd Herbert Shantz,   b. 7 Oct 1888, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Feb 1974  (Age 85 years)
     4. Samuel F. Shantz,   b. 28 Jan 1889, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Orvil D. Shantz,   b. 28 Oct 1892, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Viera M. Shantz,   b. 4 Oct 1896, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Norma Leoma Shantz,   b. 19 Oct 1898, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Nov 1986, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Washington, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 88 years)
     8. Irma Shantz,   b. 14 Oct 1900, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Edna Verda Shantz,   b. 11 May 1903, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Mar 1987, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2024 
    Family ID F4964  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Shantz, Israel R. 1863 - 1910.jpg
    Shantz, Israel R. 1863 - 1910.jpg
    https://www.gameo.org/index.asp?content=https://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/H3733.html

  • Notes 
    • Israel R. Shantz, "was born August 15th, 1863. He is married to Elizabeth Schmitt. They reside on his father's old homestead. To them are born the following 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, Israel R. (1863-1910)

      Israel R. Shantz Israel R. Shantz: minister and bishop of the West Zion Mennonite Church near Carstairs, Alberta, was born 15 August 1863 and died 15 December 1910. He married Elizabeth Schmitt (22 August 1868-31 December 1962) on 26 September 1886. They were the parents of 3 sons and five daughters.

      Israel Shantz was converted at revival meetings near Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario in 1891. He served for nine years as superintendent of a new Sunday School near Waterloo, Ontario, before moving with his family to the Carstairs district in 1901. He and his wife participated in the organization of the West Zion Mennonite Church later, on 15 September 1901, he was chosen by lot and ordained as minister of the new congregation. He was ordained as bishop 3 October 1909, and served in that office until his death in 1910, traveling extensively as an evangelist and visiting Mennonites who had settled in scattered small clusters in various districts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. He maintained an exceptionally strong and abiding interest in the work of the Sunday School.

      Shortly after his arrival at Carstairs, Israel Shantz suffered a serious leg injury while unloading lumber which had been shipped to the community by rail. The injury never completely healed, causing him considerable discomfort, particularly when travelling. While on a trip to visit settlers arriving in the Tofield district, he suffered a fall which aggravated his leg injury. Infection set in and he returned home a sick man. There were further complications, and he died at his home in Carstairs at the relatively young age of 47. His funeral was reportedly the largest held in that community up to that time, and gave expression to the far-reaching influence he had exerted during the time of his ministry.

      Shantz's influence extended far beyond his home community. He was, from the time it was created in 1903, an influential leader in the Alberta Mennonite Conference, which later became the Alberta-Saskatchewan Mennonite Conference and is now the Northwest Mennonite Conference. He offered help and practical spiritual advice to many Mennonite settlers. As a faithful follower of Jesus, he sought to apply the teachings of the Jesus to the opportunities and problems of everyday life. The impact of his life was remembered with affection by members of the congregation at the 2001 centennial celebrations.

      Regehr, Ted D. "Shantz, Israel R. (1863-1910)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2003. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 Nov 2005 <https://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S53647.html>
      ______________________________________


      Shantz. - Israel R. Shantz died at his home near Carstairs, Alberta, on Dec. 15, 1910; aged 47 y. 5 m. He was born near Berlin, Ont., Aug. 15, 1863. On Sept. 22, 1886, he was married to Elizabeth Schmitt. To this union were born 3 sons and 5 daughters. During the eventful meetings of 1891, held in Berlin, he was converted and at once became active in the Master's service. A new Sunday school was started near Waterloo, Ont., of which he was superintendent for 9 years in succession. In the year 1901, he moved with his family to his late home, and was one of the pioneer settlers in the Waterloo district. His active Christian service did not cease when he moved west. In the same year, Sept. 15, he was ordained a minister of the Gospel in the Mennonite Church, by Bish. S. F. Coffman. On Oct. 3, last year, he was ordained to the office of bishop to have oversight of the churches in Alberta, by Bish. E. S. Hallman. About a month ago, he returned home from looking after a new church colony, a sick man. A complication of diseases set in, and he suffered much, but bore it all patiently. Under this heavy cloud of sorrow we humbly bow to God's will, and say, not ours but Thy will be done. He leaves behind him a loving wife, 3 sons, 5 daughters, 4 brothers and 5 sisters, who mourn their loss, which to him is eternal gain. Sorrow is expressed in the community. The Church is bereft of her pastor. The conference will miss one of her ablest workers. He was buried at West Zion, where the largest funeral held at this place gave expression of how far-reaching his influence was exerted. Services were conducted by N. B. Stauffer of High River, Alta., and E. S. Hallman of Cressman, Sask. Text, Rev. 14: 13.

      Gospel Herald - Volume III, Number 39 - December 29, 1910 - page 627, 628

  • Sources 
    1. [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..., 418.

    2. [S132] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1901, Waterloo C-4 Page 3.

    3. [S8] News - Gospel Herald, December 29, 1910 Obituary of Israel R. Shantz.

    4. [S168] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 26.

    5. [S1573] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1891, Section 1 Page 11.

    6. [S3231] Find A Grave, Cemetery, F., America, N., Municipality, W., & Cemetery, F. (1835). John B. Schmitt (1835-1911) - Find A Grave.... Findagrave.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202006541/john-b_-schmitt.

    7. [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..., 413.

    8. [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..., 206.

    9. [S13] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - Wellington District Marriage Register Part 1 1840-1852, Rev'd Jacob Huttner, Lutheran Minister, Preston report 53.
      Samuel Shantz, to Rebecka Rudy, both of Waterloo. 25 Mar. 1845.

    10. [S1887] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861 (North Division), Div 3 Page 17.

    11. [S18] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration index (needs checking to original registration), 011625.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 15 Aug 1863 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 22 Sep 1886 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 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 - Farmer - 1901 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 15 Dec 1910 - Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - West Zion Mennonite Cemetery, near, Carstairs, , Alberta, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth