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A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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Valentine Otterbein

Valentine Otterbein[1, 2]

Male 1834 - 1908  (73 years)

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  • Name Valentine Otterbein 
    Born 16 Dec 1834  , Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] 
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1842  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Residence 1852  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Lutheran 
    Naturalization 1860  [3] 
    Occupation 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Residence 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1881  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Farmer 
    Occupation 1885  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Deputy Reeve 
    Occupation 1901  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Farmer 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-46710 
    Died 10 Jul 1908  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Saint Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Heidelberg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I46710  Generations
    Last Modified 10 Jul 2025 

    Father George Otterbein,   b. 1795, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Barbara Grimm,   b. CALC 30 Dec 1806, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Jul 1885, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 78 years) 
    Family ID F27682  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Mary Neeb,   b. 6 Oct 1842, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jun 1922, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years) 
    Married 16 Apr 1861  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Children 
     1. Maria "Mary" Otterbein,   b. 19 Oct 1865, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Jul 1944, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
     2. Barbara Otterbein,   b. 17 Jun 1867, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Valentine Otterbein,   b. 24 Feb 1869, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Jan 1932, Heidelberg, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years)
     4. Henry Otterbein,   b. 18 Jun 1870, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Jacob Otterbein,   b. 20 Feb 1875, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 May 1952, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years)
     6. George Otterbein,   b. 1877, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Henry Andrew Otterbein,   b. Jun 1878, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Dec 1945  (Age ~ 67 years)
    Last Modified 10 Jul 2025 
    Family ID F12119  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Margaret Neeb,   b. CA 1834,   d. 1860  (Age ~ 26 years) 
    Married 1859 
    Children 
     1. Georg Otterbein,   b. 1859, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 10 Jul 2025 
    Family ID F234107  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Valentine Otterbein    		Valentine Otterbein
    image from 100 years of Progress in Waterloo 1856-1906

  • Notes 
    • HEIDELBERG.
      Death of Valentine.

      The death of ex-Deputy-Reeve Valentine Otterbein occurred at his farm a short distance south of this village last Friday after a long illness, aged 75 years. He is survived by five children-three sons and two daughters, all living near the old home. Deceased was a native of Germany, coming to Canada when a lad of eleven with his parents who settled at Breslau. After a short residence there they moved to his late farm where he has resided ever since. Mr. Otterbein took an active interest in municipal affairs, was deputy reeve and a member of the county council for many years. He was also the Patron candidate for the Provincial House some years ago, but was defeated. He is also one of the founders of the founders [sic] of the North Waterloo Farmers' Insurance Co., and has been a director continuously since its organization 33 years ago. For nearly two years he has been suffering with a lingering illness, death relieving him at the age of 73 years, six months and 24 days. Public sympathy is extended to the bereaved widow and children.

      Wellesley Maple Leaf      , July 16, 1908

      Obituary is supplied by the Wellesley Township Heritage and Historical Society Click here to go to their website.

      ____________

      VALENTINE OTTERBEIN

      This old and well known citizen was born in the Province of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on Dec. 16, 1834. He came with his parents to Waterloo County in 1842. The father rented a farm until 1849, when he purchased a farm of 200 acres, the one now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. The place was then occupied by a number of negro quatters who had fled from southern bondage in antebellum days. One of there, said to have attained an age of over one hundred years, claimed have blacked General George Washington's boots. He was an enthusiastic revivalist and a conspicuous figure at the periodical camp meetings of the colored people in this vicinity.

      Mr. Otterbein has been twice married, his first wife being Margaret Nieb. This marriage took place in 1859. But after a union of one year and eleven months she died. The second wife was a sister of the deceased, to whom he was married in 1861. They have five children living. About two years ago Mr. Otterbein met with quite a misfortune. His barn and outbuildings were totally destroyed by fire, the result of lightning All the year's crop except the oats was consumed. New buildings were immediately put up, and today Mr Otterbein can boast of having a barn and outbuildings second to none in the township. He has also seen and experienced hardships and is therefore entitled to the comfort which he now enjoys.

      He was a member of the Waterloo County Council continuously from 1869 to 1896, a period of twenty-seven years, and frequently since his retirement from that position has declined to again serve. He was one of the first directors of the North Waterloo Farmer's Fire Insurance Company, and has had his turn in serving as its President. He has been a life-long Conservative, but will not sacrifice good principles for the sake of a party candidate He is a member of the Lutheran church.

      Mr. Otterbein lives in a stone residence which was erected in 1869. It is situated 2 miles southwest of Heidelberg, and 1 miles south of St. Clements One of the finest inland lakes in Ontario takes up a portion of his farm. This beautiful body of water is about thirty-five acres in extent and its greatest depth is probably sixty feet. The elm, the maple, the beech, the cedar and the hemlock form a dense fringe of foliage around it. It affords splendid boating as it is entirely free from stumps or other obstructions, and a spin upon the surface while the calm waters are glistening in the golden sunset of the adjacent hills is a pleasure often indulged in by the sport-loving fraternity of Heidelberg and St. Clements. It also affords good fishing, it being alive with fine specimens of the perch family. There are also fine grounds for picnic purposes in the vicinity provided with seats, boat houses, etc. Indeed, it could with little expense be made the paradise of Waterloo County.

      Waterloo County Chronicle 20 Oct 1898, p. 3

  • Sources 
    1. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 30 Jul 1885.
      09 July 1885 Barbara Otterbein, mother of Mr. Valentin Otterbein, deputy reeve of Wellesley, died in Wellesley of old age at age of 78 years, 6 months and 9 days

    2. [S2403] News - Unidentified Newspaper Obituary, Obituary of Jacob Otterbein.

    3. [S160] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1901, Wellesley E-1 Page 10.

    4. [S113] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1881, Division 1 Page 13.

    5. [S269] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1871, Div. 4, Pg. 57.

    6. [S242] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1851, Div. 1 Pg. 30.

    7. [S855] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1861, Div. 9 Page 54.

    8. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register.
      Valentine Otterbein, 26, res. Wellesley, b. Germany, son of George and Barbara (Grimm), married 16 Apr Mary Neeb, 19, res. Wellesley, b. Wellesley, daughter of Henry and Gertaut (Dunch)

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1842 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1852 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 16 Apr 1861 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1881 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Deputy Reeve - 1885 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1901 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 10 Jul 1908 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Saint Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Heidelberg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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