Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Home Search  
Print Bookmark
Peter Erb Shantz

Peter Erb Shantz[1, 2, 3]

Male 1849 - 1928  (79 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Peter Erb Shantz 
    Born 25 Aug 1849  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] 
    Gender Male 
    Business P. E. Shantz sign 
    Peter E. Shantz    		 Peter E. Shantz
    Sign on display at the Waterloo Region Museum 2011
    Business Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    P. E. Shantz Foundry 
    P. E. Shantz Foundry    		 P. E. Shantz Foundry
    Image from Waterloo Region Museum
    Honoured Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Shantz Hill named for him 
    Name P. E. Shantz 
    Residence 1861  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Mennonite 
    Residence 1872  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Occupation 1875  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    manufacturer 
    Waterloo Region Museum Facebook 2016    		 Waterloo Region Museum Facebook 2016
    Occupation 1877  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    manufacturer 
    Occupation 1878  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    machinist 
    Occupation 1880  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    foundryman 
    Occupation 1881  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Manufacturer 
    Occupation 1887  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    manufacturer 
    P. E. Shantz catalog    		 P. E. Shantz catalog
    Agricultural implement catalogs for 1885 and 1888 with instructions and lists of parts. Illustrated. 1885 catalog has salmon coloured
    Occupation 1891  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Agricultural Implement Manufacturer 
    Residence 1891  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1901  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    ? 
    Occupation 1911  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Manufacturer, Foundry 
    Business-P.E.Shantz-VasesandLawSeteesFromWaterlooRegionMuseumadvert.jpg    		 Business-P.E.Shantz-VasesandLawSeteesFromWaterlooRegionMuseumadvert.jpg
    Residence 1911  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Methodist 
    Eby ID Number 00110-6769 
    Grave Photograph - Find A Grave Gravestone Image 
    Died 3 Sep 1928  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 14] 
    Cause: Cause: Apoplexy - 2nd Paralytic Stroke (5 days) 
    Buried 6 Sep 1928  Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 15] 
    Person ID I350628  Generations
    Last Modified 3 Mar 2025 

    Father Samuel Y. Shantz,   b. 15 Jan 1825, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 May 1900, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Mother Esther Erb,   b. 6 Apr 1827, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Nov 1915  (Age 88 years) 
    Married 11 Mar 1845  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 16, 17, 18] 
    Family ID F1987  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Maria Croft Bowers,   b. 26 Feb 1849, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Oct 1909, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 60 years) 
    Married 1 Oct 1872  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 13, 19] 
    Children 
     1. Esther Elizabeth Shantz,   b. 16 Jul 1873, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Aug 1879  (Age 6 years)
     2. Frederick Robert Shantz "Fred" Shantz,   b. 12 Oct 1875, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Mar 1932, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 56 years)
     3. Minnie B. Shantz,   b. 6 Sep 1877, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Grace Maria Shantz,   b. 19 Jan 1880, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jul 1903, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 23 years)
     5. Shantz,   b. 24 Aug 1882, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Cyrus Bowers Shantz,   b. 29 Aug 1882, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Dec 1944  (Age 62 years)
     7. Samuel Preston Shantz,   b. 6 Sep 1884, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Dec 1952, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
     8. Rosalind Marie Shantz,   b. 18 Feb 1887, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1951, Regina, , Saskatchewan, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years)
     9. Alexandra Shantz,   b. 1 Dec 1890, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Oct 1963, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years)
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2025 
    Family ID F251437  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Cornelia Clemens,   b. 8 Apr 1860, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1956  (Age 95 years) 
    Married 14 Feb 1912  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [20] 
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2025 
    Family ID F251438  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Peter E. Shantz    		Peter E. Shantz
    image from 25th annual catalog.
    Waterloo Region Musuem

  • Notes 
    • PETER E. SHANTZ PASSES AWAY IN EIGHTIETH YEAR

      Noted Figure In Preston Life Dies Following Stroke Suffered Last Week ; Church Official For 25 Years

      Following a stroke suffered last Wednesday Peter E. Shantz died last evening at his home on Church street in his 80th year. The deceased is survived by his wife three daughters, Miss M. B. Shantz, Philadelphia: Mrs. L. Archibald, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. J. G. Gardner, Regina, Sask. and three sons, Cyrus, of Preston; Samuel, of Toronto and Fred, of Preston. Five brothers, Aaron, Samuel and Daniel, of Kitchener, Frank of the state of Washington and Moses of Didsbury, Alta. and one sister, Mrs. Moses Plowman, of Kitchener, also survive. The funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon from his late residence to the Preston cemetery. The late Mr. Shants was born at Shantz station and came to Preston from Elmira 63 years ago and purchased what is now known as the Shantz foundry from Jacob Wahn. For many years he conducted the foundry business, successfully manufacturing farm implements and later trucks. He retired from active business a few years ago. For many years he had been actively associated with Preston municipal life and always took a keen interest in the town's affairs. He was reeve of Preston at one time and during the federal election of 1896 was the Liberal candidate for the riding and altho defeated polled a large number of votes. The late Mr. Shantz was a faithful member of the United church and for 26 years was recording steward and treasurer of that congregation. At the time of his demise he was senior director of the Waterloo Mutual Fire Insurance company. Mr. Shantz 's passing removes from Preston, one of the town's most notable figures and his demise is mourned by the entire continuity.

      Kitchener Daily Record 4 Sep 1928 pg 3

      __________________


      Peter E. Shantz, "was born August 25th, 1849. He is married to Maria C. Bowers. They reside in Preston, Ontario, where he is engaged in manufacturing all kinds of farm implements"

      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.].

      ___________________

      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,...

      Fifth Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society, 1917


      _____________________________________


      ...Call him Peter … Peter Erb Shantz, born in 1849, to Samuel Y. and Esther (Erb) Shantz. Samuel farmed while Esther raised 13 children at a once-dreamt-of community called Shantz Station about halfway along Highway 7 between Berlin and Guelph.
      In his early 20s, Peter was already manufacturing farm implements in Elmira with partner Abraham Z. Detweiler.
      Meanwhile, Preston village council was eager to attract industries, so with a $5,000 bonus as the carrot, Shantz and Detweiler agreed to move south.
      Backtracking to the early 1850s, Valentine Wahn, John Clare and Jacob Beck operated an iron foundry business on the main road connecting Preston and Berlin.
      The frame factory was near the Speed River at the foot of a steep hill. Beck left in 1856, moving to Wilmot Township where he founded Baden. Clare too backed out, so Wahn took over, specializing in making cast-iron stoves.
      In 1875, with part of the bonus money, Shantz and Detweiler purchased Wahn's building and established Preston Agricultural Works.

      Fire struck in 1883 and Detweiler sold out.
      As sole owner, Peter Shantz constructed a solid brick and stone building on the same site and for the next 50 years he produced top-of-the-line farm machinery, warm air furnaces, sleighs and warehouse trucks.
      Peter's civic involvement went beyond manufacturing. He was a councillor and deputy-reeve in Preston, sat on the school board, and was the driving force behind erecting Preston's town hall in 1887.
      In the 1900 federal election, he placed a close second to George Clare in Waterloo South.
      Peter Shantz died in 1928 but the company lasted another four decades. In 1969, it shut down and the property was sold to a Toronto developer who hoped to put up a 12-storey apartment. In 2018, the exact site of his factory is part of the widened intersection at the bottom of Preston, er, Shantz hill....
      mills, rych (2018). Flash from the Past: Two long-gone Preston buildings leave historical echoes. TheRecord.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018, from https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8631758-flash-from-the-past-two-long-gone-preston-buildings-leave-historical-echoes/#.WwlexMRKEkU.facebook

  • 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..., 409.

    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..., 656.

    3. [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..., 291.

    4. [S204] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1901, Preston (Village) F-2 Page 1.

    5. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 2 Pg 75.

    6. [S2] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian).
      Bridegroom Name: Peter E. Schantz Age: 23 Res: Elmira Place of Birth: Waterloo Tp. Names of Parents: Samuel & & Ester Schantz Bride: Name: Mary Bowers Age: 24 Res: Waterloo Tp. Place of Birth: Waterloo Tp. Names of Parents: Cyrus & El. Bowers Witness(S): Name: Dr. Eby Res: Sebringville Name: Dr. Jac. Bowers Res: Waterloo Tp. Date of Marriage: Oct. 1, 1872

    7. [S297] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1881, Page 39.

    8. [S239] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Preston CC#6335 Cemetery Internet Link .
      Peter E. Shantz/ Maria C. Shantz/ Esther E. Shantz/ Grace M. Shantz/ Cornelia Shantz/ [Flat Markers Under Heavy Sod] Father/ 1849 - 1928/ Mother/ 1849 - 1909/ Grace/ 1880 - 1903/ Esther/ 1873 - 1879/ Cornelia/ 1860 - 1956.

    9. [S1669] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1911, Div. 24 Pg. 3.

    10. [S1778] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1861, Div 10 Page 75.

    11. [S2441] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1891, Section 1 Page 2.

    12. [S239] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Preston CC#6335 Cemetery Internet Link .
      [Flat Markers Under Heavy Sod] Father/ 1849 - 1928/ Mother/ 1849 - 1909/ Grace/ 1880 - 1903/ Esther/ 1873 - 1879/ Cornelia/ 1860 - 1956.

    13. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 17 Oct 1872.
      01 Oct 1872 By Rev. Tuerk, Peter Schantz of Elmira was married to Maria Bowers of Waterloo Township.

    14. [S116] Vit - ON - Death Registration.
      Name:Peter Erb Shantz Gender:Male Birth Year:abt 1849 Birth Place:Waterloo Age at Death:79 Death Date:3 Sep 1928 Death Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    15. [S239] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Preston CC#6335 Cemetery Internet Link .
      [Back] Peter E. Shantz/ Maria C. Shantz/ Esther E. Shantz/ Grace M. Shantz/ Cornelia Shantz/ Shantz/

    16. [S13] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - Wellington District Marriage Register Part 1 1840-1852, Rev'd Jacob Huttner, Lutheran Minister, Preston report 53.
      Samuel Schontz, to Esther Erb, both of Waterloo. 11 Mar. 1845

    17. [S514] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1871, Sect. 1 Page 49.

    18. [S244] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Deutsche Canadier (1841-1865) - Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages Announced in the Deutsche Canadier, Berlin, Canada West. originally indexed by Simone Nieuwolt and Sylvie Kuppek..organised by Rosemary Ambrose, 13 Mar 1845 Pg: 11.
      ERB Ester married 11 Mar 1845 To Samuel SCHANTZ. minister Jacob Huttner

    19. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Name:Peter E Shautz Age:23 Birth Date:abt 1849 Birth Place:Canada Marriage Date:1 Oct 1872 Marriage County or District:Waterloo Father:Samuel Shautz Mother:Esther Shautz Spouse:Mary Bowers Spouse's Age:24 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1848 Spouse Birth Place:Canada Spouse Father:Cyrus Bowers Spouse Mother:Elizabeth Bowers

    20. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Name:Peter Erb Shantz Age:62 Birth Date:abt 1850 Marriage Date:14 Feb 1912 Marriage County or District:York Father:Samuel Z Shantz Mother:Esther Erb Spouse:Comelia Clemens Spouse's Age:51 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1861 Spouse Father:Joel Clemens Spouse Mother:Magdalen Shoemaker

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 25 Aug 1849 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - P. E. Shantz Foundry - - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHonoured - Shantz Hill named for him - - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Mennonite - 1861 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1872 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1 Oct 1872 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - manufacturer - 1875 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - manufacturer - 1877 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - machinist - 1878 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - foundryman - 1880 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Manufacturer - 1881 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - manufacturer - 1887 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Agricultural Implement Manufacturer - 1891 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1891 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - ? - 1901 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Manufacturer, Foundry - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 14 Feb 1912 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Cause: Apoplexy - 2nd Paralytic Stroke (5 days) - 3 Sep 1928 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 6 Sep 1928 - Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding ©, v. 12.0.1, written by Darrin Lythgoe 2001-2025.