Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Reeve William Umbach

Male Cal 1857 - 1919  (~ 62 years)


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  • Name William Umbach 
    Prefix Reeve 
    Born CALC 8 Feb 1857  Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-36786 
    Died 23 Jul 1919  Ayton, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I36786  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father Johann Fritz "Frederick" Umbach,   b. CALC 12 Mar 1830, , Wuerttemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Jan 1882, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 51 years) 
    Mother Margaret Kreller,   b. 1837, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 May 1904, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years) 
    Family ID F54384  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • FATAL ENDING TO QUARREL

      Ex Reeve Wm. Umbach Alleged to Have Been Killed by Drover.

      Ayton, July 23 -following an alteration about 5 o'clock this afternoon, during which he was struck several heavy walking stick in the hands. It is alleged, of Neill Coates, a cattle buyer of Toronto, William Umbach of this place, fell heavily to the side walk and died almost instantly, the direct cause of his death being somewhat disputable.

      Immediately after the incident Coates left the scene and returned to the station, where he was unloading hogs, while eyewitnesses of the fracas sent for a doctor and later for the coroner and county crown attorney. Coates was arrested later. Umbach's body lies in the Commercial hotel.

      Cause of Quarrel

      From the statements made by an eyewitness the trouble which resulted in Umbach's death started at the station, which is about three quarters of mile from the village Coates had received a load of small hogs from Toronto for sale to farmers in the district for feeding and while making his sales got into a beated argument with a farmer, named Charles Reipert. over the price Reipert had offered for some of the hogs.

      In the heat of the argument Coates is alleged to have grabbed Reipert by the throat and was choking him when Umbach, who was near by interfered and separated them. This interference increased the ire of Coates against Umbach and he is said to have thrown stones at him.

      Umbach returned to the hotel and apparently the trouble was at an end. but Coates, who returned about half an hour after with a number of other men, is alleged to have walked right up to Umbach when he reached the hotel and without speaking to have struck him over the head two or three times as he stood near the hotel and to have continued the blows after Umbach fell to the sidewalk.

      Coates Arrested

      When Umbach did not get up Coates is said to have returned to the station where he put his business into order, returning afterwards to the hotel where he was later arrested by County Constable John Stein.

      Both Coates and Umbach are over 60 years of age and married men with grown up families.

      Among those who saw the two men in front of the Commercial hotel were Andrew Schenk, Leslie Koester, Fred Schauss and Chas Rahn. They say they saw Coates strike Umbach, and as the latter fell, Schenk started forward to stop the affair, saying. "Here, men, we can't let this go on." He was too late to prevent the tragic affair.

      Both Umbach and Coates were cattle buyers, though the former was chiefly a flour and feed man locally.

      Inques [sec] To-day

      Dr J. L. Easton was called as soon as Umbach failed to rise from the sidewalk, to which he had fallen heavily. The doctor, who is also coroner. Pronounced Umbach to be dead, and refused to allow the body to be moved from the hotel until after it had been viewed by a jury. An Inquest will be opened at noon to-morrow.

      Witnesses state that it is possible Umbach may have been stunned by the blows of Coates' stick, and may have been unable to save himself when he struck the pavement. They believe Coates may have been unaware of how seriously Umbach was hurt, because of the unconcerned way in which he left the scene to return

      The Chronicle Telegraph 31 Jul 1919, p. 2

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - CALC 8 Feb 1857 - Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 23 Jul 1919 - Ayton, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth