Jacob Friedrich Beck, Esq.^{[1, 2]}

1816 - 1906  (89 years)

• Name	Jacob Friedrich Beck
  Suffix	Esq.
  Born	10 May 1816	Weiler, Baden, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany   [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1843	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Residence	1845	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Occupation	1852	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Iron Foundry
  Occupation	1861	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Mill & Foundry
  		Jacob Beck Foundry 1861 Tremaine's Map of Waterloo
  Residence	1861	Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  Residence	1861	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Lutheran
  Residence	1870	Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [11]
  Occupation	1871	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Foundry Man
  Residence	1871	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Lutheran
  Residence	1875	Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Business	1878	Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Baden Foundry and Engine Works
  		Baden Foundry and Engine Works - Jacob Beck 1878
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/242684942
  Died	21 Mar 1906	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States   [6, 8]
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [12]
  Interesting	invention, story, pioneer, mill, foundry
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-34982
  Buried	Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6, 8]
  Person ID	I34982	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	Georg Friedrich "Frederick" Beck,   b. 9 Sep 1785, Of, Baden, Germany ,   d. , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Mother	Barbara Mourloch,   b. 10 Oct 1791, Sloan, Baden, Germany ,   d. 1 May 1870, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 78 years)
  Married	8 Aug 1813	Weiler, Baden, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany   [13]
  Family ID	F9165	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Charlotte Josephine Hespeler,   b. 6 May 1822, Gernsbach, Gernsbach, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany ,   d. 26 Jun 1895, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States  (Age 73 years)
  Married	19 Oct 1845	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9, 14]
  Children	1. Louise Beck,   b. 4 Dec 1847, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Jul 1927, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada  (Age 79 years)   2. George Friedrich Beck,   b. 6 Aug 1849, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. William Beck,   b. 9 May 1851, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Jan 1898  (Age 46 years)   4. Sir Adam Beck,   b. 20 Jun 1857, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 15 Aug 1925, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada  (Age 68 years)   5. Jacob Fritz Beck,   b. 18 May 1861, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 31 Mar 1928, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada  (Age 66 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F9296	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Caroline Logus,   b. 28 Jun 1819, of, Waterloo Twp., Region of Waterloo, Ontario ,   d. 15 Jan 1845, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 25 years)
  Married	26 Jan 1843	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 14]
  Children	1. Carl "Charles" Beck,   b. 17 Sep 1843, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 3 Dec 1924, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States  (Age 81 years)   2. Carolina Beck,   b. 9 Jan 1845, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F21593	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Jacob Beck was born May 10, 1816 in Weiler, Baden, Germany son of Frederick Beck. His father brought the family to Buffalo about 1825. When about 12 years old began a seven year apprenticeship with a doctor in Troy, New York. In 1835 he followed his family to Doon and in 1839 moved to Preston. He developed a type of water wheel, also an iron works at the foot of Shantz Hill. He later moved to Baden, Ontario producing stoves and furnaces also was the postmaster there. Cambridge Mosiac, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [snippet from original text in book] _____________________________ An enterprising young German came here [Preston] about 1838 by name of Mr. Jacob Beck. He had invented a peculiar kind of waterwheel, small in size but of great power, and its use in several small water powers gave young Mr. Beck quite a reputation. He commenced a small foundry near a saw-mill in the village of New Hope, and finding considerable encouragement came to Preston, where he erected a foundry upon the premises now owned by Peter E. Shantz in Fountain Street. Business increased rapidly, but unfortunately a fire broke out which completely destroyed his flourishing foundry and Mr. Beck, no insurance having been effected, stood once more poor and penniless; but, thanks to the liberality of his neighbors in and around Preston, a subscription was raised, men turned out to help with work and material and in a short time after the fire, Mr. Beck was again in possession of a foundry of considerably larger dimensions than the one destroyed by fire. He did an excellent business, and had men selling his stoves and other wares over a large part of Western Ontario. His means increased at a rapid rate, and he enlarged his premises according to the wants of his business. Some years later he took in as partners two of the young men in his employ, viz: John Clare and Valentine Wahn, and the foundry business continued to prosper for several years. Mr. Beck had in the meantime arranged with Mr. Robert Hunt of the Woolen Mills to improve his water power by heightening the dam and digging a canal from the dam alongside the (Speed River. This canal is still in existence except a small portion of its terminus which has recently been closed. Mr. Beck for the construction of the said canal obtained the privilege of erecting a saw-mill upon Mr. Hunt's premises. This saw-mill Mr. Beck carried on for some time but seeing that a grand scheme that he had in mind could not be carried out, he sold his sawmill to Messrs. Hunt & Elliott. This grand scheme was nothing less than extending the said canal, crossing King Street and Queen Street and erecting along the canal a number of factories and mills. The proprietor of the land positively refused to grant permission to construct such a canal and Mr. Beck was forced to abandon his cherished plan of making Preston a great manufacturing place, such as the Town of Galt is at the present day. Mr. Beck, notwithstanding the good business done in his foundry, became displeased with Preston. The partnership of Beck, Clare & Wahn was abruptly dissolved, the business closed and the affairs of the firm wound up. Each partner obtained his proper share of the assets, which were largely in excess of the liabilities, Mr. Clare a store and other property and Jacob Beck a large sum of money. He went in search of a mill property which he found in Wilmot. There he erected mills, foundry and other industries, and founded a village which he named Baden. The grist-mill built by him was the third grist-mill built with money earned in Preston. Fifth Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society, 1917 pg 29 ___________________________ A master mechanical genius, Jacob Beck, born in Baden, Germany, came to Waterloo Township in 1837. He opened a smelting furnace at New Hope (Hespeler), and later established an iron works on Spring Creek, Preston. He invented a turbine water wheel and in partnership with John Clare and Valentine Wahn manufactured stoves at Preston. In 1854 Beck located a good source of water power on Spring Creek in Wilmot Township and purchased 200 acres. He erected a gristmill and foundry. He subdivided his farm in 1856, sold lots and developed Baden. Beck was a member of the first board for the 1839 school in Preston, village councillor, councillor Wilmot Township from 1860 to 1864 and Baden postmaster from 1854 to1879. In 1863 he gave the community the deed for land with the courthouse on it for one dollar. This building served as Wilmot Township Hall until 1867 and is now at Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto. Waterloo Hall of Fame _______________ Jacob Beck (born Grand Duchy of Baden, 1816), an enterprising young German, came to Waterloo Township in 1837 from Schenectady, N. Y., having come from Germany the year before. He had invented a peculiar water wheel, described as of small size and large power, which soon gave him an enviable reputation. Starting a small foundry in the Village of New Hope he soon transferred to Preston and built a foundry on the premises later owned by Peter E. Shantz, where he did a rapidly increasing business. Unfortunately, a fire completely destroyed his foundry and rendered the proprietor penniless, as he had no insurance. Thanks to the liberality of neighbors a sufficient sum was raised by subscription to enable Mr. Beck to start anew and to have a larger plant than that destroyed by the fire. He soon had a large staff selling his stoves, etc., in Western Canada. With increasing success he enlarged his premises and took into partnership two of his assistants, John Clare and Valentine Wahn. For improving the water power of Robert Hunt, proprietor of the woolen mills in the village, Mr. Beck obtained the privilege to build a saw mill on Hunt's property, which he carried on for some time. Beck evolved a project for a water power canal leading from the Speed River dam and supplying power to mills and factories along it, such was the confidence in those days in the plentiful flow of the river. The scheme for the power canal did not find support. Beck became displeased with Preston, dissolved partnership with Clare and Wahn, Wahn continuing the foundry. He located a good water supply in Wilmot Township, at a place he called Baden, where, beginning in 1856, he soon established a foundry and a grist mill and did a flourishing business. Lovell's Canada Directory of 1857 gives Beck as postmaster at Baden, miller, founder and machinist. Mr. Beck died in 1906. One of his sons is the Hon. Adam Beck, Chairman 'Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, born in Baden, 1857. First Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society, 1912 pg 12 ________________________________ A Mechanic named Jacob Beck (Father of Sir Adam) who was married to Jacob Hespeler's sister had invented a waterwheel of revolutionary design, entirely different from the ones then commonly in use which had the merit of developing more power from less flow and head than the ordinary type. He found his new wheel was getting considerable public acceptance and he was looking for a place to make it himself instead of having them made for him by others. In some way he and Bergey got together and Bergey built this foundry (It may have been built earlier) and rented it to Beck. Historians of the past say that Beck went from New Hope to Preston which statement I hesitate to question. However, one day when Mr. George A. Clare and I were driving along one of the Waterloo Township roads near Strasburg he stopped and tied the horse to a telegraph pole while he and I walked down through a field to the ruins of the old building, where he told me his father first worked when he came to Canada. While on the spot, Mr. Clare told me how his father, John Clare, happened to come here. It seems that Mr. Beck was making plough shares in his moulding shop and they were not coming out very good and the farmers who bought them were complaining; More or less in desperation, Mr. Beck went to Buffalo and there called on a friend, a Mr. Jewett, I believe, who ran a foundry. He told him his trouble and asked for the loan of a moulder who could make good shares and plow points, for three or four months, till he could get a stock made up ahead. The Buffalo friend recommended a young German named John Clare who accompanied Mr. Beck back to Canada and he was able to turn out articles that suited the farmers. Beck, I think, probably went from New Hope to Strasburg (or nearby Aberdeen) and from there later to Preston. My reasoning is that had he gone first to Preston and later to Strasburg, the Clare Bros. Plant would have been at Strasburg instead of at Preston. At the expiration of the arranged period, when there was a big enough pile of shares and points made up ahead, Mr. Clare did not return to Buffalo as originally intended; and for a very good reason. He had fallen in love with a daughter of Mr. Beck and in due course led her to the Altar; and they remained in Preston. That is the story Mr. George A. Clare told me that day. I have since learned that Mr. John Clare came to this country in 1844 and married Miss Beck in 1845. Le Rue De Commerce, Other Times Other Customs Other Days Other Ways, Winfield Brewster 1954 ____________________ DEATH OF JACOB BECK Mr. Jacob Beck who died in Detroit Iast week after a long and honorable life, was for nearly two generations the mainstay of the village of Baden, in this county, where he conducted a foundry and milling business. He was born in Germany about 92 years ago. When twelve years of age his family removed to the United Stated. At twenty Mr. Beck went to Preston and engaged in the stove and foundry business. Twenty-five years later Mr. Beck founded the present town of Baden, Ont., where he went into the milling business. Under the administration of Sir John A. McDonald, Mr. Beck was entrusted with many Important political issues. He went to Detroit in 1877, still following the milling business. He was successful and became rich. He retired from active business only six years ago. Of his children, Hon. Adam Beck, of London, a member of the Ontario Cabinet, is one; Jacob L. lives in London: Charles in Buffalo; George has been his father's business partner; and a daughter is the wife of Rev. Dickie, pastor in the American Church in Berlin, Germany. Interment was at Preston, where his wife is buried. Wellesley Maple Leaf, March 29, 1906 Obituary is supplied by the Wellesley Township Heritage and Historical Society Click here to go to their website. ___________________ DEATH OF JACOB BECK Hon. Adam Away in Beck's Detroit Father Passes After Successful Career. Detroit, March 21. - Jacob Beck, the well known mill owner, died to-day of pneumonia. He was nearly ninety years of age. Mr. Beck was born in Germany. When twelve years of age his family removed to the United States. At twenty, Mr. Beck went to Preston, Ont., and engaged in the stove and foundry business. Twenty-five years later Mr. Beck founded the present town of Baden, Ont., where he went into the milling business. Under the administration of Sir John A. Macdonald, Mr. Beck was entrusted with many important political missions. He came to Detroit in 1877 still following the milling business. He was successful and became rich. He retired from active business only six years ago. Of his children, Hon. Adam Beck, of London, a member of the Ontario Cabinet, is one; Jacob L., lives in London; Charles, in Buffalo; George has been his father's business partner, and a daughter is the wife of Rev. Dickie, pastor of the American Church, in Berlin, Germany. Interment will be at Preston, Ont., where his wife is buried. The Daily Telegraph Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Thu, Mar 22, 1906 Page 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S13] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - Wellington District Marriage Register Part 1 1840-1852, Marriages By Rev'd Jacob Huether, Preston #30. Jacob Beck, To Caroline Logus, Both Of Waterloo. 26 Jan. 1843 [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 1 Jul 1875. 23 Jun 1875 In Baden, by Rev. A. Topp, D.D., of Toronto, assisted by Rev. J. Gounlay of Port Elgin, J.F. Dickie, Pastor of St. Andrews Church in Berlin, was married to Louise, daughter of Jakob Beck, Esq. of Baden. [S270] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1852, Pg 22. [S190] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1871, Div. 3 Page 39. [S1114] Book - Cambridge Mosaic, An Inquiry into Who's Who in the History of Cambridge. [S239] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Preston CC#6335 Cemetery Internet Link . [Front] In loving memory of/ William BECK/ born May 9, 1851 - died Jan. 18, 1898/ Louise DICKIE nee BECK/ 4 Dec. 1847 - 6 July 1927/ wife of Rev. Dr. J. F. DICKIE/ In Jesu Christo Obdormivit/ [Flat marker] W.B. [Back] Geliebt beweint und unvergessen/ ruht hier in Gott/ Charlotte Josephine BECK/ geb. Hespeler/ 6 Mai 1822 - 26 Juni 1895/ und/ Jacob Friedrich BECK/ Weiler Baden, 10 Mai 1816/ Detroit, Mich. 21 Marz 1906/ BECK/ [Left side] Jacob F. BECK/ 1861 - 1928/ [Footstones] J.F.B./ C.J.B. [S844] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1861, Sect. 12 Page 76. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120782383. [S13] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - Wellington District Marriage Register Part 1 1840-1852, Marriages By Rev’d Jacob Huttner, Lutheran Minister, Preston #53. Jacob Beck, to Charlotte Hespeler, both of Waterloo. 19 Oct. 1845. by Rev. Hottner [S20] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Telegraph (title varies: Berlin Telegraph, Berlin Daily Telegraph) (1853-1922), 7 Jun 1861. Beck: At Baden, on the 18th ult., the wife of Jacob Beck, Esq., of a son. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 26 May 1870. Barbara Beck died 1 May 1870 in Preston, widow of Friedrich, mother-in-law of John Clare, Preston, mother of Jakob in Baden and John in Preston. 78 yrs, 6 mths, 21 days. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame. [S3042] Baden and Hesse Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1502-1985. Name:Georg Friedrich Beck Gender:männlich (Male) Marriage Age:27 Event Type:Heirat (Marriage) Birth Date:9. Sep 1785 (9 Sep 1785) Marriage Date:8. Aug 1813 (8 Aug 1813) Marriage Place:Weiler, Baden (Baden-Württemberg), Preußen Father:Jakob Friedrich Becks Mother:Elisabethe Becks Spouse:Barbara Morlockin Father:Michael Morlocks Mother:Anne Marie Morlocks [S826] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Preston - Saint Peter's Lutheran - index.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 10 May 1816 - Weiler, Baden, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany Residence - 1843 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 26 Jan 1843 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1845 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 19 Oct 1845 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Iron Foundry - 1852 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Mill & Foundry - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1861 - Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1870 - Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Foundry Man - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1875 - Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Business - Baden Foundry and Engine Works - 1878 - Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 21 Mar 1906 - Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth