Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Mayor William Jaffray

Mayor William Jaffray[1]

Male 1832 - 1896  (64 years)

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  • Name William Jaffray 
    Prefix Mayor 
    Born 6 Mar 1832  Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
    Christened 1 Apr 1832  Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Gender Male 
    Business W. Jaffray & Son, Kitchener, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    W. Jaffray & Son - Ticket Agents 
    Residence 1851  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Episcopalian 
    Occupation 1861  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Bookkeeper 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Episcopalian 
    Occupation 1862  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 12
    Postmaster 
    • Appointed 1 Apr 1862 Separated 28 Sep 1896
    Elected Office 1866  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mayor - Councillor - Deputy Reeve 
    • Years Served: 1866-67, 1870 (Deputy Reeve), 1871, 1880-81, 1882-83 (Mayor)
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158783886 
    Interesting post, politics, life story, newspaper 
    Occupation 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Post Master 
    Residence 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Anglican 
    Occupation 1881  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Postmaster 
    Residence 1881  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Episcopal 
    Occupation 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Post Master 
    Residence 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Anglican 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-38575P 
    Died 28 Sep 1896  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Cause: inflammation of the bowels (6 days) 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I38575  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father Peter Jaffray,   b. 1800, , Stirlingshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Nov 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years) 
    Mother Mary Ann Gittins,   b. 1804, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Apr 1873, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Married 30 Oct 1829  Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [13, 14
    Family ID F23820  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Agnes Smith Jackson,   b. 5 May 1833, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Nov 1902, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Married 26 Jan 1854  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 15
    Children 
     1. James Peter Jaffray,   b. 10 Nov 1854, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Jul 1934, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
     2. William R. Jaffray,   b. 1856, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Robert Miller Jaffray,   b. 12 Oct 1856, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1932  (Age 75 years)
     4. Edward S. Jaffray,   b. 1857, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Margaret Mary Ann "Maggie" Jaffray,   b. CALC 30 Apr 1860, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Apr 1879, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 19 years)
     6. Boyd Caldwell Jaffray,   b. CALC 19 Nov 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Oct 1862, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 0 years)
     7. Clive J. Jaffray,   b. 1865, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Anny Jaffray,   b. 1867, , Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Amy R. Jaffray,   b. 1868, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F10093  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    William Jaffray
    William Jaffray
    From: Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912
    William Jaffray
    William Jaffray
    From: Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912

  • Notes 
    • William Jaffray

      Jaffray, William, Berlin, Ontario, was born on March 6th, 1832, at Shrewsbury, England. He is a son of Peter Jaffray, a native of Stirling, Scotland, and Mary Ann, nee Gittins, of Shrewsbury. Mr. Jaffray, senior, was may say, was a gentleman of excellent literary attainments, and was, for a number of years, editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle. Our subject, for one year, attended the Diocesan School in his native place. When very young, he entered the sedentary militia, and in 1854 was promoted to a lieutenancy. Our subject, it may be said, comes of a newspaper race, for the "inherited tendency" seems to manifest itself in the matter of the journalistic instinct, as well as in legal, military or ecclesiastical leanings. Some members of the family occupy prominent journalistic positions in Birmingham, England; some in Australia; some, as we see, in Canada, and several in the United States. In 1856 our subject became editor of the Galt Reporter and Berlin Chronicle, and for several years took an energetic, prominent and influential part in the political contests of South Waterloo. He married, on January 26th, 1834, Agnes Jackson, a native of Kilmarnock, Scotland, and the fruit of the union was eight children. Three of the sons are publishers and proprietors of the Canadian-American Journal, another holds an important office in the St. Paul M. & M. R. R., at Des Moines, Iowa, and the fifth is a partner with our subject, both being Grand Trunk R. R. agents in Berlin. Mr. Jaffray's father, we may say, established the Galt Reporter in 1847, and the son became partner with him in 1851. In 1856 the Berlin Chronicle was founded, but the enterprise was sold out in 1861. Mr. Jaffray has always been an unyielding and sturdy Conservative. In 1862, Mr. Jaffray was appointed postmaster for Berlin, and in 1864 he became the express and telegraph agent. In the period extending from 1865 to 1883, our subject has been councillor, deputy reeve, reeve and mayor, and occupied the last named position for two years. He has always been active and interested in municipal affairs, and although and Englishman, has in many contests been victorious, by considerable majorities, in a German town. He is an Episcopalian, and has been a member of church choirs continuously for over forty years. He once went to Scotland and England, and took a three month holiday through the countries. It is scarcely necessary to say that our subject is one of the most popular and respected inhabitants of Berlin.

      _____________________________

      St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church

      Early Anglican services were held in the Berlin area in the 1840s by the Rev. Michael Boomer of the Galt Mission. In 1856 William Jaffray moved from Galt to Berlin and established an English-language newspaper, the Berlin Chronicle. An Anglican, who had attended Trinity Church in Galt, Mr. Jaffray led in the formation of a congregation in Berlin, where he acted as Lay Reader. Two other gentlemen influential in establishing the Anglican presence in Berlin were Henry Joseph Fletcher Jackson and Dr. David S. Bowlby. Land was purchased on April 5, 1861 on the southeast corner of Water St. N. and Short (now Duke) Streets, and the first church, of red brick with white brick trim, was built in 1861.

      The church was demolished in April 1894 to make room for the present church which was built on the same site and dedicated on October 7, 1894. A Parish Hall was built in 1927 and the church was enlarged in 1955. Early rectors who followed the missionary, Thomas S. Campbell, were the first rector Rev. E.R. Stimson (1859-1864), Rev. Dr. John Schulte (1864-1867), Rev. Henry Jessop (1868) and Rev. Alexander Sydney Falls (1869-1876).

      Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

      _______________________


      Jaffray, William, Berlin, Ontario, was born on March 6th, 1832, at Shrewsbury, England. He is a son of Peter Jaflray, a native of Stirling, Scotland, and Mary Ann, nee Gittins, of Shrewsbury. Mr. Jaffray, senior, we may say, was a gentleman of excellent literary attainments, and was, for a number of years, editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle. Our subject, for one year, attended the Diocesan School in his native place. When very young, he entered the sedentary militia, and in 1854 was promoted to a lieutenancy. Our subject, it may be said, comes of a newspaper race, for the "inherited tendency" seems to manifest itself in the matter of the journalistic instinct, as well as in legal, military or ecclesiastical leanings. Some members of the family occupy prominent journalistic positions in Birmingham, England ; some in Australia ; some, as we see, in Canada, and several in the United States. In 1856 our subject became editor of the Galt Reporter and Berlin Chronicle, and for several years took an energetic, prominent and influential part in the political contests of South Waterloo. He married, on January 26th, 1854, Agnes Jackson, a native of Kilmarnock, Scotland, and the fruit of the union was eight children. Three of the sons are publishers and propietors of the Canadian- American Journal, another holds an important office in the fit. Paul M. & M. R.R., at Des Moines, Iowa, and the fifth is a partner with our subject, both being Grand Trunk R.R. agents in Berlin. Mr. Jaffray's father, we may say, established the Galt Reporter in 1847, and the son became partner with him in 1851. In 1856 the Berlin Chronicle was founded, but the enterprise was sold out in 1861. Mr. Jaffray has always been an unyielding and sturdy Conservative. In 1862, Mr. Jaffray was appointed postmaster for Berlin, and in 1864 he became the express and telegraph agent. In the period extending from 1865 to 1883, our subject has been councillor, deputy reeve, reeve and mayor, and occupied the last named position for two years. He has always been active and interested in municipal affairs, and although an Englishman, has in many contests been victorious, by considerable majorities, in a German town. He is an Episcopalian, and has been a member of church choirs continuously for over forty years. He once went to Scotland and England, and took a three months holiday through the two countries. It is scarcely necessary to say that our subject is one of the most popular and respected inhabitants of Berlin.

      A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography Being Chiefly Men of the Time.1886

      ________________________

      WILLIAM JAFFRAY 1832-1896

      Married: Agnes Jackson - 1853
      William Jaffray was born in 1832 in Shrewsbury, England, the oldest of the four sons of Peter Jaffray the founder of the Galt Reporter and his wife Mary Ann Gittins. He emigrated from England with his family in 1844, arriving in New York in May. The family was moving to the Goderich area with the intention of operating a farm. They were passing through Galt when Mr. Jaffray's father, Peter, noticed that the Dumfries Courier was seeking a printer. It was not long before he decided to forego the farming adventure and took the job at the Courier and settled in Galt. This led to the founding of the Galt Reporter by Peter Jaffray in 1846. In 1856 William Jaffray established the Berlin Chronicle and Waterloo Reformers' Gazette in Berlin, now Kitchener. For some time he maintained his residence in Galt, travelling back and forth on horseback. Mr. Jaffray sold the newspaper in 1860 and in 1861 was named Berlin's postmaster. Sometime later, Mr. Jaffray was appointed as town agent of the Grand Trunk Railway and also conducted the Montreal Telegraph office and the Canadian Express Company's local business. Like other members of his family, Mr. Jaffray had a strong interest in municipal politics. He served on the Berlin village council in 1866 and 1867 and acted as deputy reeve in 1869 and 1870. He served as the first reeve of the new town of Berlin in 1871 and returned to the office in 1880 and 1881. He also served as the mayor of Berlin, completing the term of Jacob Shantz in 1882 and winning election to the office again in 1883. Mr. Jaffray died on September 29, 1896.

      Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge

      ___________________

      WILLIAM JAFFRAY: PUBLISHER AND POSTMASTER.

      In 1856 William Jaffray came to Berlin and founded the Berlin Chronicle and Waterloo Reformers' Gazette, and soon afterward took Casper Hett into a partnership that lasted for a couple of years. Their printing ollice stood on the west side of south Queen street, on a lot now covered in part by Lockhart's Automobile Salesroom. At the outset Mr. Jaffray, whose home was in Galt, rode back and forth on horseback, until their venture warranted his bringing his wife and family to the county seat. He was the descendant of a family of Scotch publishers. one of whom settled in Galt in the middle Forties.

      Originally the Jaffrays were a Scotch clan whose members scattered over England, the United States, and Canada. One of these sons, whose name was Peter, and who was born on the family estate near Stirling, Scotland, like many another young Scot, went south, after graduating from the University of Glasgow, and settled in England. At Shrewsbury he established a newspaper which he named The News. He then sent to Glasgow for his nephew, John Jaffray, and gave him a position on the newspaper. Nephew John afterward became owner of the Birmingham Post and of the Daily Mail, two Radical organs of the Midlands.

      Before John Jaffray had left The News his uncle had placed his publication on a sound footing and taken unto himself a wife of Welsh descent. As the years fled Peter Jaffray heard numerous reports of the fortunes awaiting industrious pioneers in Upper Canada, and after discussing the matter from every angle with his wife, resolved to go to Canada and to engage in "gentleman farming"'.

      In 1844 he sold his newspaper plant, and with his wife and six children, four of whom were boys, boarded a sailing ship that was Canada bound. After a tiresome voyage of eight weeks the vessel reached a Canadian port, from whence the immigrants made the journey overland to Goderich, C. W. There, in a new and sparsely settled region, Peter Jaffray tried his inexperienced hand at felling the trees from a section of the primordial forest. Although he succeeded in making a small clearing he soon realized that he was unfitted for the task of bushwhacking.

      While he made a study of his problem and considered what would be the best move to make, he learned that another Scot, named Peter Brown, had just begun the publication of The Globe in Toronto. He communicated with Mr. Brown and received aninvitation to join the editorial staff of the Toronto paper. Since the smell of printer's ink was still in his nostrils, Peter Jaffray accepted the offer. Then, bundling his wife and bairns into a covered wagon, he set out for Toronto. But, while on the way, he heard that there was a struggling weekly in Galt, called The Courier, which needed either a new manager or a new owner. Peter Jaffray then turned his horses' heads southward and wheeled into Galt. There he was placed in charge of the paper and succeeded to the extent that within eighteen months he was able to acquire the property.

      This was in 1847. After the weekly was his own, one of his first new was to name it The Reporter. Peter Jaffray was fortunate in possessing A group of promising boys. The four of them, William, Richard, Henry, and George, took to newspaper work like ducks to water. Successively he had them learn the printer's trade, and while they were mastering the practical side of the publishing business he encouraged them to write items for the paper. In a sense this came naturally to them, but they benefited most from having to satisfy their father, who was a university graduate, and who would not allow any article to pass which contained inaccuracies or was faulty in style.

      William Jaffray, the oldest son, was the first to receive this careful training and made such progress that at the age of eighteen he was appointed as assistant editor. He had other gifts. One of these was the ability to express his thoughts from a public platform. Soon after he had taken up the editorial pen, he made his appearance on the hustings and supported the candidate whom their news-paper championed. Then and ever afterward he was self-confident. The next important event in his career was his marriage.

      In 1853 William Jaffray and Agnes Jackson wedded. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Jackson of Ayr, Ontario. Her father founded the village of Ayr and named it after his wife who, like himself, was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland. Incidentally, the Thibado boys, Harry and Frank, who attended the Berlin High School, and who came here with their father, Dr. A. J. Thibado, of Boise City, Idaho, are the sons of Mrs. William Jaffary's sister.

      Mr. and Mrs. William Jaffray themselves had five sons: James P., Robert M., William R., Edward G., and Clive T.; and two daughters: Margaret, who died as a result of an accident on the Cedar street hill, and Amy Robert Jaffray, a distinguished singer, who now lives in Italy. William Jaffray, the father of this engaging family, was born in 1832 and was in his twenty-third year when he came to Berlin and founded the Berlin Chronicle. It was an independent Reform weekly and he and Mr. Hett for a few years together published it. Later Mr. Hett sold his interest to Mr. Jaffray and removed to Philadelphia. Until 1860 the latter was the sole owner. He then sold the Chronicle and the plant to Messrs. Bowman and Kumpf, who transferred the office of publication lo Waterloo. Mr. Jaffray also removed to that town and engaged in business, but continued for a time to contribute editorials to this weekly.

      In his appearance Mr. Jaffray resembled Charles Dickens. This resemblance was heightened by the fact that both wore full brown beards. Like the famous author, William Jaffray was closely observant and a clear and fluent writer. In his day and age in Berlin personal journalism was in vogue, for the people of the Fifties were only one remove from the pioneering times and method. When editors had exhausted caustic adjective they sometimes belabored each other on the street.

      As the editor of a Reform weekly, Mr, Jaffray did not run tamely in party harness. Thus, for instance, when the Toronto Globe was contending that Upper Canada should either be represented in the parliament of the United Provinces according to its population (Rep. by Pop.), or withdraw from the union, Mr. Jaffray supported the confederation of the provinces as a Dominion. In local affairs he counseled that business men to set up manufaciories and thereby free themselves from n dependence upon local trade.

      He was an excellent speaker. As such his services were in demand at public entertainments and on political platforms, In 1858, fur example, he slumped the South Riding of Waterloo on behalf of his friend, William Scott, and contributed to his election. In addition he was a fine singer, and fnr n number of years was chorister of St. John's Church. One of the first things that he advocated in his paper was the organization of a cricket club in Berlin. He himself played a good game. His greatest influence, however, lay in politics, for then the electors took public makers more seriously than they now do.

      Mr. Jaffray's independence in writing on public questions perturbed his political allies, but won for him the support of Conservatives, like the late Jacob Hespeler. This independence paved the way fur his appointment as postmaster of Berlin in 1861, by the Cartier-Macdonald government. Then the small frame building now 61-63 South Queen Street served as the village post-office.

      From this building the he was moved to a new building on King Street, where in remained until after the town hall was erected in 1869, when the western end of the main floor was set aside for Canadian Express Company's local business. In this work he was assisted in the telegraph and express office by his son James, and in the post-office by his son William. After the federal building on the corner of King and Benton streets was built, the post-office was removed to it. Thereafter Mr. Jaffray relinquished the railway agencies and confined his activities to his post-office duties.

      While postmaster he found an outlet for his surplus energy in the council chamber. In 1866 and 1867 he was elected as a councilor by the village at large; in 1869 and 1870 he was elected as Deputy-Reeve; and in 1871 he was returned as the Reeve of the first town council. He then withdrew from the civic arena. But in 1880 and 1881 he was again elected as Reeve. In 1882 the businessmen of Berlin, desiring to honor Jacob Y. Shantz, persuaded him to accept the office of Mayor. Mr. Shantz reluctantly consented, but after a month or more in the chair he found that he had had greater satisfaction in building the town hall than he did in presiding over council meetings in it, and resigned. Mr. Jaffray was then elected Mayor for the unexpired term and again in 1883. During his terms as Mayor of Berlin, his brother Richard was also Mayor of Galt.

      Throughout his years in the council William Jaffray was assiduous in the performance of his duties and fathered a number of progressive measures. After his second year in the Mayor's chair he retired from municipal life and devoted himself to his official duties and the cultivation of certain hobbies. Among these were music, and literature, and gardening. His services as chairman of public gatherings were always in demand. Mr. Jaffray was very methodical in everything. If he were, for instance, presiding at a meeting and the program was not concluded at his bedtime, which was shortly after ten o'clock, he would excuse himself and retire.

      He was one of the earliest Oddfellows in Waterloo County. On attaining his majority he assumed membership in the British Order - Manchester Unity. Afterward, in Berlin, this led to his promotion of the interests of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, and to his connection with Grand Union Lodge as one of its founders.

      Mr. Jaffray died on September 29, 1896.

      The History of Kitchener, W. V. Uttley

      _____________________

      William Jaffray, Mayor 1883.

      Mr. William Jaffray, was mayor of Berlin in part of 1882 and during 1883. Previously he had served three years in the reeve's chair. Mr. Jaffray was the son of Peter Jaffray of Galt, who established the Galt Reporter. He himself, with Mr. Hett, founded the Berlin "Chhronicle," which they afterwards sold to Bowman and Kumpf of Waterloo. He was eloquent speaker and a forcible writer. In 1861, he was appointed Post master. During his term as mayor he urged the young town to set up productive establishments and not depend merely on country trade His good advice ince been followed.

      Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912, Berlin, Ontario, The German Printing and Publishing Co

      ___________________________

      W. Jaffray & Son
      , Ticket Agents, King Street - The firm of W. Jaffray & Son is one well and popularly known in Berlin, having been established since 1878 as general ticket agents for the Grand Trunk Railway, the Canada Express Company, the Great North-Western Telegraph Company, and for the following well known steamship lines: Allan, Inman, Cunard, Anchor, and others. Mr. W.R. Jaffray, the son, is also agent for the well known stock-broking firm of Cox & Co., of Toronto, whose operations extend all over Ontario and the west and other portions of the Dominion; also Chicago, New York and other American financial centres. Mr. Jaffray has special wires to Messrs. Cox & Co's. office, and all stock transactions can be transacted through him equally as well as through the Toronto office. Mr. W. Jaffray, the father, was born in Shrewsbury, England on March 6th, 1832, and has been postmaster in Berlin since 1862, and is a most faithful and efficient officer in that responsible office. Journalism appears to be hereditary in the blood of the Jaffrays. Mr. W. Jaffray's father was editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle, while Mr. Jaffray himself has been editor of the Galt Reporter and Berlin Chronicle, so that he may well be called "a man of letters." He has three sons on the Chicago press. Mr. Jaffray has also taken an active interest in politics, and has acceptably filled at different times the officers of Councillor, Deputy-Reeve, Reeve and Mayor, having served two terms in the last mentioned office. Mr. W.R. Jaffray, the son, is an enterprising, pushing and persevering business man, and ably conducts the affairs of the agency, and seems destined to follow politically in his father's footsteps. Both gentlemen are held in the highest esteem by the community.

      Industries of Canada Historical and Commercial Sketches Hamilton and Environs 1886

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      QUEEN STREET SOUTH, EAST SIDE.


      On the corner of King Street Rehscher's vaulted cellar already spoken of.

      An open space.

      A two-story rough-cast building with two-story veranda along the Queen Street front built by Martin Anthes (father of John S. Anthes) in 1835 when it was considered one of the best houses in the village. Henry Stroh purchased this house from Mr. Anthes about 1837. Jacob Stroh was born in this house. Behind it there was a garden of about an acre of land. There were 31 pine stumps on the property when Mr. Stroh took possession and these stumps had to be laboriously removed as stump- pulling machines, which came later, were not then available. The well on the lot was only nine feet deep. Henry Stroh carried on a shoe shop in his house until he entered into partnership with Carl Kranz, on King Street.

      In 1857, after he had dissolved partnership with Kranz, Henry Stroh built a one and one-half story frame building next to his house and used it as a shoe store. Mr. Stroh continued in this shoe business until 1863 when he went into partnership with Mr. Reinhold Lang, the tanner. The Queen Street shoe shop was changed to a dwelling. Later Mr. Vanderhart, a tailor, had his shop in this building and after him Carl Englehart had it as photographer. Henry Stroh sold his house to George King. Later Charles Ahrens owned it and had it moved to the corner of Shanley and Braun Streets about 1880.

      A one and one-half story frame building erected about 1837 by Jacob Kraemer, later on Frederick Street, as spoken of. Later an addition was added to the front and the building used as the local post office, with William Davidson in charge. Later George Seip purchased the building and used it as a saloon, with a bowling alley in the rear, the first bowling alley in Berlin. William Jaffray used it as a post office for a time and later William Knell, son-in-law of Mr. Seip.

      A one and one-half story frame building, originally a cooper shop, later the dwelling of Mr. Seip, after he sold the other building. In 1860 he built a brewery, known as Seip's brewery. Under the whole building he had a vaulted cellar built of field stone. Power for the brewery was supplied by a horse-power contained in an attached shed, shelter for the horses. Seip had a high reputation for good beer. He at first made his own malt, but later purchased it. After George Seip's death his son Louis continued the business until about 1880. The building was finally torn down to make room for the present auditorium.

      The cooper shop, a small one story building, with brick chimney such as coopers used to heat staves for their barrel making, operated by Henry Brickner who later had his shop at the corner of Young and King Streets. Later Adam Stein had the Queen Street cooper shop. The Berlin coopers were experts in the making of what was called tight-wear,that is water-tight barrels, in large tuns which they made for the brewers.

      A very early building, occupied by John Peters, a cabinet maker in Hoffman's factory, about 1860. The building had an outside stairway at the back. Peters was a bird lover and expert in trapping native song birds, mocking birds, cat birds, finches, etc., which he hung under his veranda roof in public display.

      On the corner of Church Street a frame house occupied by Mr. Knechtel, a weaver, about 1842-1850. Knechtel moved to a farm in Mannheim where later he was injured in the spine by a falling tree to such an extent that he was bedfast for fourteen or fifteen years. He lived to about 1871. Conrad Doering occupied the Queen Street house for a time. He also was a weaver and made coverlets, etc. The house was torn down to make room for the present one of brick built by Dr. Clemens and later occupied by the late Dr. Walters.

      Church Street.

      On the south side St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

      A one and one-half story unpainted frame building with gable towards the street, the dwelling, about 1860, of John Fleischauer, a laborer, a native of Hessen, Germany.

      A one and one-half story house occupied by E. Kern, cabinet maker, about 1860 and later by John Ansted.

      A vacant lot.

      George Street.

      Joseph Schneider originally owned all the land between George Street and Mill Street, mostly woods at that time, and extending to Benton and Eby Streets.


      REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

      Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

  • Sources 
    1. [S1338] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Galt Reporter (1846-1973), Obituary of Margaret Mary Ann Jaffray - 18 Apr 1879.

    2. [S192] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - Mount Hope CC#4500 Internet Link.
      Jaffray/ William/ 1832-1896/ Agnes/ his wife/ 1832-1902/ Boyd/ 1861-1862

    3. [S116] Vit - ON - Death Registration.
      Wm Jaffray Death Date: 28 Sep 1896 Death Location: Waterloo Born: abt 1831 Birth Location: England

    4. [S158] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1881, Div. 2 Pg. 5.

    5. [S745] Book - A Cyclopedia of Canadian Biography being chiefly men of the time Vol. 1, pg 197 -biography of William Jaffray.

    6. [S313] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1851, Pg.40.

    7. [S1885] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1861, Waterloo 1861 Dist. 2 Page 18.

    8. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 2 Page 3.

    9. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Sect. 2 Page 24.

    10. [S1808] z England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, ).
      William Jaffray
      Gender:Male
      Christening Date:01 Apr 1832
      Christening Date (Original): 01 APR 1832
      Christening Place:SAINT CHAD,SHREWSBURY,SHROPSHIRE,ENGLAND
      Father's Name:Peter Jaffray
      Mother's Name:Mary Anne

    11. [S1802] Post Offices and Postmasters - Waterloo Region Entries.
      Jaffrey, William Date of appointment: 1862-05-01 Date of vacancy: 1896-09-28 Cause of vacany: Death Place: Berlin, Ontario

    12. [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 15 Oct 1862.
      Jaffray, Boyd Caldwell died 10 Oct 1862 Son of William Jaffray, postmaster, Berlin.

    13. [S1803] zzEngland, Marriages, 1538-1973, ).
      Peter Jaffray
      Spouse's Name:Mary Anne Gittins
      Event Date:30 Oct 1829
      Event Place:Saint Chad,Shrewsbury,Shropshire,England

    14. [S2734] England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944.
      Peter Jaffray
      Event Place:Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom
      Event Place:Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
      Age:21
      Marital Status:Unknown
      Spouse's Name:Mary Anne Gittins
      Spouse's Residence County:Salop
      Spouse's Age:21
      Spouse's Marital Status:Single
      Spouse's Birth Year:1808

    15. [S1085] News - ON, Wellington, Elora - The Elora Backwoodsman - Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths 1852-1858, Date 9 Feb 1854.
      married Galt Jan. 26 1854

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 6 Mar 1832 - Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristened - 1 Apr 1832 - Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - W. Jaffray & Son - Ticket Agents - - W. Jaffray & Son, Kitchener, , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Episcopalian - 1851 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 26 Jan 1854 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Bookkeeper - 1861 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Episcopalian - 1861 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Postmaster - 1862 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Mayor - Councillor - Deputy Reeve - 1866 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Post Master - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Anglican - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Postmaster - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Episcopal - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Post Master - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Anglican - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: inflammation of the bowels (6 days) - 28 Sep 1896 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth