Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
John Detweiler Cassel

John Detweiler Cassel[1, 2]

Male 1871 - 1910  (38 years)

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  • Name John Detweiler Cassel 
    Born 3 Sep 1871  New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Gender Male 
    Occupation 1896  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    blacksmith 
    Died 18 Aug 1910  Mount Vernon, Wabash, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Cause: intestinal injuries 
    Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region Bef 2012  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Interesting entertainment 
    Cassel,JacobandJohn-0001-VictoriaParkBalloon-rychMillsCollection.jpg
    Cassel,JacobandJohn-0001-VictoriaParkBalloon-rychMillsCollection.jpg
    The only known photo of a Prof. J. Casselle balloon launching in Waterloo County was taken in October 1902. Victoria Park's first pavilion is at left. The park was filled with Berliners who then watched the aeronaut parachute from the balloon. RYCH MILLS
    Name J. Casselle 
    Eby ID Number 00029-2285.5 
    Buried Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I22765  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father Adam B. Cassel,   b. 24 Dec 1836, , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Feb 1892, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years) 
    Mother Anna W. Detweiler,   b. 21 Jul 1844, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Feb 1919  (Age 74 years) 
    Married 21 May 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 6, 7, 8, 9
    Family ID F5477  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Wilhelmina "Minna" Miller,   b. 13 Dec 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married 28 May 1896  New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Children 
     1. Delton Cassel,   b. 17 Dec 1896, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1986, , Manitoba, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years)
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F17207  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Cassel, John & Jacob twins babies.jpg
    Cassel, John & Jacob twins babies.jpg
    Cassel, John and Jacob twins.jpg
    Cassel, John and Jacob twins.jpg
    John and Jacob Cassel, twin sons of Adam and Anna Detweiler Cassel.
    https://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/0/6CC119BED12DA0EA85256B06004AA1A9?OpenDocument
    https://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/0/6CC119BED12DA0EA85256B06004AA1A9?OpenDocument

  • Notes 
    • Before the turn of the century, John and Jacob Cassel born in 1871, twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Adam B. Cassel of Blenheim township, Oxford County, gained considerable fame as tightrope and trapeze artists, and balloonists. They ascended to approximately 500 feet landing by parachute and gave many performances throughout Waterloo County.

      The accomplished athletic brothers spent some time travelling with circuses in the USA and Jacob worked with a medicine show as a magician and sharpshooter.

      John, the only one of the pair to marry, later lived in South Carolina. In his early forties he was injured in a fall which resulted in his death in 1910. Jacob was also hurt in a fall, from which he only partially recovered, passing away from of a heart attack at his mother's home.

      Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

      ____________________

      John Cassel had a horrible death. On Aug. 18, 1910, in Mount Vernon, Ind., his balloon caught fire 1,000 feet (300 metres) in the air. John jumped and his parachute opened after a brief free fall. Floating downwards, he was little aware that the flaming balloon was plummeting toward him. At about 120 metres (400 feet), it struck, burning the parachute, and plunging John to his death. Then, as he hit the ground, the blazing balloon landed on him.

      John is buried in an unmarked grave in Louisville.

      Flash From the Past: Nothing frightened New Dundee's dashing daredevils of 120 years ago (2022). Available at: https://www.therecord.com/life/local-history/2022/12/16/flash-from-the-past-nothing-frightened-new-dundees-dashing-daredevils-of-120-years-ago.html (Accessed: 17 December 2022).

  • Sources 
    1. [S173] Ancestry.com.

    2. [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..., 518.

    3. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      John Cassel Born: New Dundee Age: 24 Father: Adam Cassel Mother: Annie Born: abt 1872 Spouse: Minnie Seiffert Age: 34 born: Waterloo Father: Charles Miller Mother: Christine Miller married 28 May 1896 married: Waterloo, New Dundee

    4. [S2995] Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852-1965.
      Name:John Cassel
      Gender:Male
      Race:White
      Death Age:38
      Birth Date:1872
      Birth Place:Canada
      Death Date:18 Aug 1910
      Death Place:Jefferson, Kentucky, USA

    5. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

    6. [S20] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Telegraph (title varies: Berlin Telegraph, Berlin Daily Telegraph) (1853-1922), 31 May 1861.
      "Cassel - Dettwiler: May 21, Mr. Adam Cassel, to Miss Anna Dettwiler, both of Blenheim." by Rev. Mr. Bindeman

    7. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Adam Cassel, aged 24 res Blenheim born Pennsylvania son of John and Sarah (Bean) married 21 May 1861 to Anna Dettweiler aged 17 res Blenheim born Blenheim daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Wismer).

    8. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library.

    9. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 30 May 1861.
      21 May 1861 By Rev. Bindemann, Adam Kassel was married to Anna Dettweiler, both of Blenheim.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 3 Sep 1871 - New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - blacksmith - 1896 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 28 May 1896 - New Dundee, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: intestinal injuries - 18 Aug 1910 - Mount Vernon, Wabash, Indiana, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth