Jacob Foster Eby^{[1, 2]}

1879 - 1930  (51 years)

• Name	Jacob Foster Eby
  Born	22 May 1879	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	misfortune, accident
  Residence	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Mennonite
  Eby ID Number	00031-2429.5
  Died	2 Sep 1930	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I21049	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	Christian S. Eby,   b. 15 Dec 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 25 Aug 1920, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Catharine Clemens,   b. 10 Apr 1848, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 21 Feb 1918, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 69 years)
  Married	24 May 1868	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 6, 7]
  Family ID	F4487	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Isabella Myers,   b. 26 Aug 1881, Wilmot Centre, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1954  (Age 72 years)
  Children	1. Jacob "Jake" Eby   2. Dorothy May Eby,   b. 23 Jan 1908,   d. Aug 1993  (Age 85 years)   3. Irwin Eby,   b. Aug 1909,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Rose Pearl Eby,   b. 1910, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Nelson Edgard Eby,   b. 9 Nov 1912,   d. 11 Nov 2000  (Age 88 years)   6. Carl Theodore Eby,   b. 13 Jul 1915,   d. 28 Feb 1999, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 83 years)   7. Herbert Walter Eby,   b. 9 Aug 1919,   d. 27 Nov 2008, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 89 years)   8. Verna Eby,   b. 1921,   d. 1964  (Age 43 years)   9. Miriam Isobel Colleen Eby,   b. 13 Jan 1930, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 25 Sep 2011, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 81 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F40945	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Heavy Quality Of Gas May Have Been Cause Of Disaster City Engineer Shupe At Lose To Account For Horrible Accident In Which Three Men Lost Lives; Gas Was Hydrogen Sulphide TANK IN OPERATION SINCE 1901 WITHOUT ACCIDENT While theories and suppositions appear to be abundant,an official expression of opinion as to the cause of the disaster at the Mill street sewer farm yesterday was not available today. Three men lost their lives in the tragedy as vaporous sewer gas, deadly in its action, seeped into one of the four large tanks where men were engaged in cleaning operations. The gas, commonly known as sewer gas, is technically known as hydrogen sulphide, or as it is known to chemistry students by its symbols, H2S. It is particularly repellent to the nostrils and is usually swift and effective in reaction. A certain amount of this gas is found in sewers. City Engineer Shupe stated today, altho it is unusual that it should be present in sufficient quantities to asphyxiate men so quickly. Asked for his opinion as to the cause of the disaster, Mr. Shupe said that he finds it difficult to explain. He believes, however, that the gas, heavier than air, collected in the bottom of the tank and gradually overcame the workmen. The fact that it is heavier than air would permit it to collect in the cavity particularly in view of the humid nature of the air. He also believes that the absence of a breeze outside may have permitted the formation of this "gas pocket" in which the three lives were lost. The lid was off the tank and had a stir been present in the air, the heavy gas cloud might have been dispelled. The tank in which the triple fatality occurred has done service since 1901 and this is the first mishap of its kind to occur in connection with this piece of equipment. Afterall these years, the engineer stated, the fatalities occurred with a new sewage disposal system in course of preparation. The tank was one of rather an ancient vintage which had to be cleaned by hand. In tanks on the new sewer property, the cleaning is done automatically. Former Chairman Speaks Dr. J. F. Honsberger, first chairman of the sewer committee, today outlined the events leading up to the construction of the plant at which the disaster occurred. It was built, the former chairman said, only after Dr. Nasmith and Dr. Arnyot, had spent an entire summer in this city, surveying sites and conducting experiments. The provincial department of health approved the plant on the recommendation of the experts. In view of this approval, it is likely that the attention of the department will be called to the disaster. Crown Attorney Bowlby today intimated his intention of summoning an inspector from the department to look into the mishap. Benefit By Compensation Survivors of the three gas victims will receive remittance from the Workmen's Compensation Board, City Engineer Shupe said today. At the preliminary inquest yesterday, September 9 was set for the hearing of evidence before Coroner Dr. J. E. Hett. The inquest will be held at the city hall at 7.30 o'clock in the evening. Three Beyond Aid Replying to a statement by Dr. C. Belyea who went to the scene in the ambulance and revived ,Alex Mayer thru artificial respiratory methods, Deputy Fire Chief Kern, today said that no amount of artificial respirationwould have saved the other three men. Dr. Belyea had said yesterday that, in his, opinion, the three victims might have rallied, had someone capable of administering artificial respiration been on the scene. The deputy chief added that he applied the Schaefer method on the two men whom he dragged from the tank without avail. One of them, he said, was breathing when brought to the outer air but died while he was attempting to revive him. The other died before means of inducing respiration could he resorted to. Moreover,Mr. Kern said, Mayer, the man whom Dr. Belyea revived, was the only one of the four men in the tank to show any outward signs of life. He was moving while the other three were lying quite still. Determined To Investigate "I am determined to investigate this disaster to the fullest possible extent," Coroner Dr. Hett said today. He added that the post mortem did not reveal the nature of the gas which caused death. Explosion - The Daily Record 3 Sep 1930 pg 1 __________________ Jacob Foster Eby, 313 Mill street, engineer at the sewer farm pumping station, killed by gas poisoning yesterday, is survived by his wife, five sons; Irvin, Nelson, Carl, Jacob and Herbert, all at home, four daughter; Mrs. E. Dorseht, city, Dorothy, Verna and Miriam, all at home. One brother, Gordon Eby, city, and one sister, Miss Isabella Eby of Kingston, also survive. The deceased, a member of the Benton Street Baptist Church was a lifelong resident of this city, being born here in 1880, the son of Christian Eby and Katherine Clemens. He was in his 61st year. The funeral will be publicly held on Friday at 2 o'clock from the Schreiter Funeral Home. Interment will take place in Mount Hope Cemetery. Rev. J. R. Webb will be in charge of services. The remains will be resting at his late residence, until noon on Friday, when they will be taken to the Schreiter Funeral Home. The Daily Record 3 Sep 1930 pg 15 ________________ A VICTIM OF POISONING Albanus Myer is Fourth Workman to Die Following Inhaling of Sewer Gas. Albanus Myer, who was gassed at the Kitchener sewer plant on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, died in the K.-W. hospital on Wednesday evening, making the fourth death in connection with the fatal poisoning by gas fumes. Eph. Ernst, the foreman at the plant, who also inhaled the poisonous fumes while trying to rescue his fellow workmen, was confined to the hospital for many days. The funerals of John Stevenson, Jacob Eby and Chas. Zuch, the other victims of the accident, were held last week. Dr. J. E. Hett, coroner, has called for a thorough investigation and it is likely that Dr. Nasmith, who with Dr. Amyot, designed the Mill Street plant in 1902, will be asked to investigate the cause of the gas fumes in the sewer tank. Crown Attorney Bowlby will assist in the inquiry. Waterloo Chronicle, 11 Sep 1930, p. 1

  
  

• Sources

  [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..., 556. [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..., 424. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-9 Page 13. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-9 Page 13. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 3 Page 56. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register. Christian Eby aged 24 res Waterloo born Waterloo son of Isaac and Frane (Shoemaker) married 24 May 1868 to Catharine Clemmens aged 20 res Waterloo born Waterloo daughter of Abraham and Motte? (Eby) [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 28 May 1868. 24 May 1868 Christian Eby was married to Catharina Clemens, both of Waterloo Township.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 22 May 1879 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 2 Sep 1930 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth