Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Johannes Joseph "John" Stroh

Johannes Joseph "John" Stroh[1]

Male 1821 - 1905  (84 years)

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

  • Photos
    John Stroh and twin sister Maria Eva Stroh
    John Stroh and twin sister Maria Eva Stroh

    Karen Mawyer51 submitted to Ancestry Public Member Tree

  • Name Johannes Joseph "John" Stroh 
    Born 4 Apr 1821 
    Gender Male 
    Birth 9 Apr 1821  Spechbach, Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Immigration 1844  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Name John Stroh 
    Residence 1849  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Naturalization 1860  [2
    Occupation 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Tavern Keeper 
    Residence 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Catholic 
    Occupation 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Innkeeper - British Crown Hotel 
    St.Clements,BritishCrownhotel-JohnStroh-1877advert.jpg
    St.Clements,BritishCrownhotel-JohnStroh-1877advert.jpg
    The County of Waterloo Gazetteer and Directory for 1877-78. Published by Armstrong & Co., Toronto, Ontario 1878
    Residence 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    RC 
    Occupation 1881  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Postmaster 
    Residence 1881  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Roman Catholic 
    Occupation 1901  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Farmer 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-47866 
    Died 3 May 1905  St. Clements, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried St. Clements Roman Catholic Cemetery, St. Clements, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I47866  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2024 

    Father Simon Stroh,   b. CA 1796, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1846, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 50 years) 
    Mother Margaret Gleda Hechler,   b. CA 1799,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F55314  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary Magdalena "Maggie" Simmer,   b. 15 Nov 1831, , Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 May 1909, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Married 1848  [5
    Children 
     1. Theresia Stroh,   b. 8 Jun 1849, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 May 1924, South Bend, St. Joseph, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     2. Mary Stroh,   b. 14 Jan 1854, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Catherine Stroh,   b. 1856, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. John Stroh,   b. 1860, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Christina Stroh,   b. 16 Nov 1860, St. Clements, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Feb 1928, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     6. William Valentine,   b. 1863, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Adeline Stroh,   b. 1865, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. William Stroh,   b. 17 Nov 1867, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Sep 1925, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years)
     9. Henry Stroh,   b. 1868, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     10. Eleonora Stroh,   b. Nov 1870, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     11. Elenor Stroh,   b. Jan 1887, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F27555  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Among the first Catholic settlers, early in the thirties, were Blasius Beysang and his brother William, a little west of Heidelberg. In the house of the former Mass was celebrated for some time. Adolph Schickler is deemed the first-comer in St. Clement's Village. Mr. Anselle one of the first in Heidelberg. He was a Frenchman and kept a tavern. John Stroh from Baden opened the first tavern in the Village of St. Clement's and kept it almost to his death a few years ago. He was also the first postmaster and justice of the peace. In this latter capacity, he always tried to reconcile litigants and mostly succeeded. He was always a friend and support to the priests. Bishop and priests wrote to him on matters concerning the affairs of the church until the Mission obtained a resident priest.

      The Catholic Church in Waterloo County, Book I, by Rev. Theobald Spetz


      ____________________

      JOHN STROH.

      The father and pioneer of St. Clements is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1821, and landed upon the shores of America in 1838, being then fresh from the gay French capital, Paris, where he had been working at his trade as a cobbler. He had also worked in differ - parts of the Vaterland, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy. Being of a roving disposition and the slow- going countries of the Old World not being compatible with his energetic nature, he concluded to try his fortunes in the New World. He set sail on the good ship ...... from Havre, France, going direct to New Orleans, a portion of his route being on a boat down the Mississippi river. He worked at shoemaking in New Orleans for four years. Mr. Stroh describes that city as being about eight miles long at that time. From New Orleans he went to Pittsburg, Pa. But the Smoky City on the Ohio and Alleghany had no charms for him, and at the end of three months he returned to his first love, the city of Creoles, Italians and French.

      In 1845 he left New Orleans and came to Canada, his first place of residence being St. Clements, where he now resides, enjoying the declining years of his life. He built the first house in the village and in which he lived. It is now the private residence of Mr. John Burbach. It was used as a tavern by Mr. Stroh, where he dispensed liquid refreshments to the settlers and furnished accommodation to the travelling public. He bears the proud distinction of having been the first hotel keeper here, and followed that business for forty-four consecutive years. When he first opened his hostelry a license could be procured for $16 per annum and a better article of whiskey than is now on tap could be purchased for nine dollars per barrel. The chronic toper could get a good sized "jag" for nine cents; a bed could be had for ten cents, and a single meal for two shillings.

      Mr. Stroh was also the first postmaster of St. Clements, and after serving in this for over thirty years, retired in favor of the late Louis Kroetsch, Mr. Peter F. Schummer being now the encumbent. Mr. Stroh has also served as Magistrate for over thirty-three years, was Township Councillor four years and a member of the first Board of Health of Wellesley Township.

      He was married in 1849 to Maria Simmer. They had ten children, two being dead. William is the husband of a daughter of Mr. L Kuntz, and is working in his father's brewery; Christina is the wife of Mr. Joseph Mears [Miehm], of Berlin, who is employed in one as the shirt factories of that town. Five are living in Chicago, viz: John, Henry, Teresa, (married) Olema, (married) and Kate (single.)

      Mr. Stroh is an old time Tory, though he has voted occasionally for a good reform neighbor. When he came to this section the country was of yet sparsely settled, the wolf and the bear being still common. He was also the first merchant here and at which he was engaged for many years. He is still in prime physical condition, and will undoubtedly live to a grand old age.

      Waterloo County Chronicle, 24 Nov 1898

  • Sources 
    1. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 19 Aug 1869.
      Heinrich Simmer died 17 Aug 1869 in St. Clemens, father-in-law of John Stroh, 71 yrs.

    2. [S160] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1901, Wellesley E-2 Page 19.

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

    4. [S269] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1871, Div. 4, Pg. 77.

    5. [S855] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1861, Div. 11 Page 64.

    6. [S2611] Baden, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1783-1875.
      Name:Johann Stroh
      Gender:männlich (Male)
      Event Type:Taufe (Baptism)
      Birth Date:4 Apr 1821
      Baptism Date:4 Apr 1821
      Baptism Place:Spechbach, Baden (Baden-Württemberg), Deutschland (Germany)
      Father:Simon Stroh
      Mother:Margaretha Stroh
      Parish as it Appears:Spechbach
      City or District:Spechbach
      Page Number:156;152;157;153
      Author:Evangelische Kirche Spechbach (A. Heidelberg)

    7. [S419] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot Twp - Roman Catholic minsters Lucas Caveng and Ruber Ebner.
      John Stroh & Margery b. Simmer. Res: Wellesley Born: 8 Jun 1849 Name of Child Theres

    8. [S113] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1881, Div 1 Pg 4.
      Peter GREYERBIEHL M M 29 German Ontario Farmer Roman Catholic
      Margaretha GREYERBIEHL F M 24 German Ontario Roman Catholic

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1844 - , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1849 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Tavern Keeper - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Catholic - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Innkeeper - British Crown Hotel - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - RC - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Postmaster - 1881 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Roman Catholic - 1881 - 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 - 3 May 1905 - St. Clements, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - St. Clements Roman Catholic Cemetery, St. Clements, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth