Edward Eby^{[1, 2]}

1853 - 1859  (5 years)

• Name	Edward Eby
  Born	9 Sep 1853	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	crime, misfortune, accident
  Misfortune	23 Jul 1859	Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	killed at a soiree
  	Body was stolen by Dr. Frederick Christ to be used as a medical display. A few days after the burial of Eby's child, Dr. Christ came into Schnarr's Tavern in Waterloo Village, and made the remark that the bodies of William Rebscher, John Nahrgang, and Zoeger were not in their graves. Afterwards, Dr. Christ offered to bet with witness that Abram Eby's child was not in his grave. Christ said that he would not go and bring the bodies himself, but that he could get plenty at an outlay of ten dollars.
  Eby ID Number	00031-2468
  Died	23 Jul 1859	Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 3, 4]
  	Cause: accident
  Buried	First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I21207	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Abraham Eby,   b. 21 Nov 1823, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 21 Aug 1885, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 61 years)
  Mother	Lucy Hembling,   b. 9 Aug 1822, Ilketshall, Saint Andrew Parish, , Suffolk, England ,   d. 12 Feb 1912, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 89 years)
  Married	30 Apr 1843	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 5, 6, 7]
  Family ID	F5052	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Edward Eby, "was born September 9th, 1853, and was accidentally killed at a Sabbath school celebration on Saturday afternoon, July 23rd, 1859." 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a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character.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.]. ________________ A distressing investigation was held before the Magistrates of Berlin, on Wednesday, involving the character of one of the medical gentlemen of that town, another residing in Elmira, and a gentleman closely connected with the first-charged offender. It seems that for some time suspicious hints and cirumstances, and smells, had indicated that the resurrection trade was being revived in Berlin, and that the remains of certain bodies had been conveyed to the premises of a medical gentleman, and, after dissection, the flesh had been consumed by boiling. The circumstances were so pointed that the magistrates deemed them sufficient to issue warrants for the arrest of the parties accused, and search warrants were also put into the hands of the officers to examine the Doctor's premises, and there accordingly they found the mutilated remains of several human bodies. Among these were the remains of a fine young lad named Eby, the son of Mr. Abraham Eby, of Bridgeport. The youth had been accidently killed at a soiree at Bridgeport a week or two ago, and his body interred, amid the heartfelt sorrow of a multitude of friends. A portion of his body was found on the premises of the accused, and they were sworn to by the afflicted father from certain marks. Portions of two other bodies were found, which the accused stated were those of certain persons; the tale was found to be false. The bodies appear all to have been taken from a graveyard in Berlin. Huntingdon Herald __________________ EBY (Galt) - The soiree given by the Bridgeport Band was in the course of organization at the grove in that village. The tables were laid, the band had played some spirit-stirring pieces, the different speakers including the Hon. M. H. Foley were at hand to furnish a feast of reason, and all was mirth and gaiety. Suddenly death stepped upon the stage, and the scene changed to one of sorrow and mournfulness. A swing had been erected for the amusement of the children present. The structure consisted of a post about 4 feet high sunk perpendicular in the ground. On the top of it, a horizontal beam was placed which revolved on a strong iron pin. By pushing on each end of the horizontal timber, a swing was the result. At the time of the accident, a number of little girls were at one end of the swing, and two boys, sons of Mr. Abraham Eby of Bridgeport, at the other. While enjoying themselves with the amusement, while laughing with light hearts end joyous spirits, the iron peg suddenly gave way, and the horizontal beam came down with a crash upon the unfortunate children. And death - awful death- ensued. The beam fell upon the head of one of Mr. Eby's boys, a fine little fellow aged about 5 years, and crushed his skull, forcing his brains through his mouth. The poor little fellow's frame quivered a moment or two from muscular contractions, and his soul had fled. Hamilton Spectator 30 Jul 1859

  
  

• 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..., 566. [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..., 785. [S466] Bible - Eby, Abraham. [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), 20 Sep 1859 - Queen vs. Dr. Christ. [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..., 564. [S13] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - Wellington District Marriage Register Part 1 1840-1852, Eby, Benjamin - Minister of the Mennonist Society #27. Abraham Eby, To Louisa Hembling, Both Of Waterloo. 30 Apr. 1843. Rev. Eby. Wit. Jacob Shantz And Christian Eby [S16] Bible - Genealogical Information in the Bibles of the Waterloo Historical Society, Eby Bible owned originally by Menno Eby Jr. Berlin, 15 Mar 1885. Abraham Eby born November 21, 1823 at 6 a. m. under the sign of Gemini

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 9 Sep 1853 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Misfortune - killed at a soiree - 23 Jul 1859 - Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: accident - 23 Jul 1859 - Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth