John Becker Schmitt^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]}

1835 - 1911  (75 years)

• Name	John Becker Schmitt
  Born	30 Jun 1835	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]
  Christened	2 Aug 1835	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202006541
  Misfortune	killed by street car
  Name	Johannes Schmitt
  Name	John Becker Schmidt
  Occupation	1871	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [12]
  	Laborer
  Residence	1871	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [12]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1873	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [14]
  	farmer
  Occupation	1881	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [11]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1881	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [11]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1891	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [13]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1891	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [13]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1901	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Farmer
  Eby ID Number	00104-5802
  Died	17 Mar 1911	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [15]
  	Cause: killed by electric car
  Buried	First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I5231	Generations
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

  Father	Rev. Dr. George R. Schmitt,   b. 23 Nov 1809, Muhlhausen, , Alsace, France ,   d. 12 Sep 1882, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 72 years)
  Mother	Salome "Sally" Becker,   b. 28 Feb 1811, , Alsace Lorraine, France ,   d. 21 Nov 1887, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)
  Married	14 Aug 1831	Welland Co., Ontario   [6]
  Family ID	F1637	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Elizabeth Hallman,   b. 28 Feb 1836, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 30 Sep 1868, , Michigan, USA  (Age 32 years)
  Children	1. Joseph H. Schmidt,   b. 22 Apr 1855, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 10 Apr 1923  (Age 67 years)   2. Noah Schmitt,   b. CA 1857, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Mary Schmitt,   b. 31 Oct 1857, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 30 Nov 1921  (Age 64 years)   4. Leah Schmitt,   b. 10 Apr 1859, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 15 Oct 1928, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 69 years)   5. Susannah H. Schmitt,   b. 25 Aug 1860, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 Jan 1938, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 77 years)   6. Salome Schmitt,   b. 30 Apr 1862, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Jan 1864  (Age 1 years)   7. Nancy Schmitt,   b. 29 May 1864, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Apr 1865, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 0 years)   8. Elizabeth "Betsy" Schmitt,   b. 22 Aug 1868, Bond, Ionia Co., Michigan ,   d. 31 Dec 1962, Calgary, Alberta, Canada  (Age 94 years)
  Last Modified	4 Mar 2025
  Family ID	F1643	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Magdalena Hallman,   b. 13 Dec 1839, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 27 May 1893, East Of Berlin, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 53 years)
  Married	19 Mar 1872	Mannheim, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  Children	1. Adeline Schmitt,   b. 6 Jan 1873, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Jan 1944, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 71 years)   2. Rev. Moses H. Schmitt,   b. 13 Aug 1876, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Dec 1947, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 71 years)   3. Herman H. Schmidt,   b. 30 Mar 1878, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1954  (Age 75 years)   4. Jonathan Schmitt,   b. 15 Jul 1879, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Feb 1949, Red Deer, Alberta  (Age 69 years)   5. Lucinda Schmitt,   b. 17 Jul 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 3 Mar 1957, North Battleford, , Saskatchewan, Canada  (Age 75 years)
  Last Modified	4 Mar 2025
  Family ID	F1644	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 3	Catharine B. "Catherine" Shantz,   b. 17 Aug 1845, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Feb 1917, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 71 years)
  Married	9 Oct 1898	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Last Modified	4 Mar 2025
  Family ID	F18770	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  John Schmidt, "was born June 30th, 1835. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Hallman, and after her decease to Magdalena, daughter of John Hallman. The first union was blessed with eight children, three of whom are dead, and with the second wife there were five children. In 1893 he sold his farm in Wilmot Township and purchased the old homestead of the late Isaac Eby, two miles east of Berlin." 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.]. _____________ JURY FINDS JOHN SCHMIDT'S DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL Did Not Find P. & B. Street Railway Negligent, But Make Recommendations. Proceedings of Inquest. "We the jury empanelled to enquire into the cause of death of John B. Schmidt found dead about one mile east of Berlin along the line of the Preston and Berlin Railway about 15 p. m. on Friday, March 17th. 1911, finds as follows: That, the death of John B. Schmidt was accidental. "We the jury strongly recommend that the whistle be blown one hundred yards before farmers crossings if a team is seen to be going in the same direction and also that the Express car should be provided with a whistle to prevent such accident." After an hour's deliberation the jury empanelled to enquire into the death of John B. Schmidt, returned the above verdict on Monday afternoon. The inquest was held in the police court chamber, commencing at two o'clock. Coroner Dr J. F. Honsberger presided and Mr. Ward H. Bowlby conducted the examination of witness for the Crown and Mr. Secord of Galt appeared for the Preston and Berlin street railway. The chamber was crowded with friends of the deceased, comprising chiefly the farmers of the district. Twelve witnesses were examined, the most important ones being Mrs. Schmidt conductor Morrison, motorman Burrows and Lester Weaver, a passenger on the car when the accident occurred. The following constituted the coroner's jury Wendell E. Shantz, foreman, David Shuh, Wm. Adler, Henry Wagner, C. Thoman, John C Shantz, Daniel E. Shantz, Titus Shantz, Menno Shantz, Moses B. Shantz, Wm Nottgraves, and Victor Meyer. According to the evidence submitted John Schmidt apparently met death without any realization of danger, He had turned to cross the tracks to enter This home, unaware of the approaching danger. The substance of the evidence is as follows: Addison Sniider was the first witness He lived in the vicinity and was out to the barn when the accident happened. He did not hear a whistle when the car came down the grade. Did not know the deceased to be deaf. Mrs. Schmidt, wife of deceased was at the window. She saw her husband turn in toward the house: was crossing the tracks when she heard the car whistle and the next instant the car struck the buggy. Witness left the house. The horse had run away. Body was dragged along the track. Did not know who brought him into the house. Witness had heard only one whistle. Sometimes she heard the car whistle on the hill. Her husband was in good health when she left for Berlin. He was in good health when she left for Berlin. He was only slightly deaf when he contracted a cold. Did not have a cold at the time. W Manx was at Addison Snider's barn when the accident occurred. Witness saw Schmidt driving along and heard the car whistle before it reached the Schmidt crossing. Heard crash after the whistle Did not hear the whistle on the hill and did not see the crash. The body was picked up 200 feet from where the car struck the buggy. Witness judged the car to be going 20 to 25 miles an hour. Albert Thomassing corroberated Addison Snider's evidence. Chas Ahrens was a passenger on the car. Witness saw buggy on the road going in the direction of the car. Was not certain he heard whistle on the hill. Whistled just before it struck the buggy. Thought motorman had done all be could Schmidt turned about 75 feet from the car Whistle sounded a couple of times. Car struck buggy. Body was lying 150 feet from where car struck it and car stopped another 150 feet further down the road. Thought the railway was not to blame. Motorman had applied brakes when the horse turned. Witness did not think car was going 25 miles an hour. Thought car was going slowly. Car jarred when whistle sounded. Motorman had done everything to stop the car and warn the deceased Schmidt evidently did not see the car coming. Sides were attached to the buggy. Mr. Louis Lang, another passenger did not see the buggy or the collision He felt the jar of the brakes. Car was not going at unusual speed. Miss M. Weaver, of German mills another passenger, next testified. She did not hear of any whistle, and did not see the man drive across the track. J. M. Schneider, a passenger, did not remember, did not hear the whistle on the hill. Heard the whistle when he saw the buggy turn in. Expected accident but thought car would strike horse. Car was not going at excessive speed. Could not suggest by what. way motorman could have avoided accident. Schmidt had not looked out of buggy Motorman had done everything to avoid accident. Lester Weaver, of Hespeler, a passenger, gave important evidence. At the top of grade he heard three whistles. He felt the appliance of the brake on the grade. Had seen the buggy but did not expect it to turn in A distance of 25 yards from the car the horse turned quickly. There were no side curtains on the buggy. He saw car strike. Thought the car to be going slowly. To Mr. Secord witness said. Schmidt could have seen car had he looked out. Witness heard whistle when team turned. Car was going at twelve to fifteen miles an hour. Witness could not suggest anything by which the accident could have been prevented. Conductor Morrison testified that on the top of hill, the signal sounded as usual four times, two long whistles and two short ones at a distance of 600 feet from the German Mills road. Car was not going very fast. Had often gone faster. Witness did not see buggy. His first intimation of trouble was the application of brakes and reversing of car. between the German Mills road and the Schmidt house. There was nothing to stop car quicker than reversing the brakes. It took 200 feet to stop the car and the rate of speed they were going, due largely to the dampness of the rails on that day. Car had skidded. Under favorable conditions and on the level it would take 150 feet to stop a car, witness stated. Car was going at 13 to 15 mile rate. Wm. Burrows, the motorman, had applied the brakes, reversed the car and sounded the signal when he saw horse turn at a distance of 75 to 80 feet in front of car. He had sounded signal at top of hill. Car had stopped 400 feet from where it struck buggy. "I done everything I knew of to prevent the accident and I do not think the railway was at fault." said the witness. Deceased had not looked out of buggy and evidently did not know car was coming. Mr. Kirkwood, of Preston. an employe [sic] of the railroad, gave testimony relating to rules of the company. Car was travelling on company's right-of-way. There was not speed limit outside of towns. This concluded the evidence at 4.15 o'clock. Coroner Honsberger, in summing up the case, said the circumstances surrounding Schmidt's death were positively sad. He reviewed the evidence and told the Jury it was their business to decide whether there was any negligence on the part of the street railway company. The chamber was then vacated with the exception of the Jury who returned a verdict about an hour later. Berlin News Record 21 Mar 1911

  
  

• Sources

  [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..., 760. [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..., 763. [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..., 652. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 18429-04. Irvin A. Snider, 21, Occ. Yeoman, b. Floradale, Res. Floradale, son of Solomon and Elizabeth married Lucinda Schmidt, Age Illeg, b. Woolwich Twp, Res. Waterloo Twp, daughter of John and Magdalena, Witn Mrs. Sarah H. Sherk and W.H. Becker Both of Berlin, 10 April 1904 in Berlin. [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 016349-00. Moses Bear, 27, occ. Farmer, b. Wilmot, res. Wilmot, son of Henry Bear and Leah Bowman Married Adeline Smith, 27, b. Waterloo Twp, res. Waterloo Twp, daughter of John Smith and Magdalena Hallman, Witnessed by: Daniel and Angeline Eby Both of Wilmot, 13 March 1900 in Waterloo Twp [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..., 263. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, #014766-1898 (Waterloo Co):. John B. SCHMITT, 62, widower, farmer, Wilmot Tp, Waterloo Tp, s/o George R. & Saloma, married Catherine WEBER, 53, widow, waterloo Tp, same, d/o Noah C. & Hannah.witn: M. B. SNYDER, Waterloo Tp, Jacob B SHRUB, Wilmot Tp. 9 Oct 1898 at Waterloo Tp. [S132] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1901, Waterloo C-5 Page 9. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library. Johannes Schmitt, s/o George & Salome, b. 30 Jun 1835, bapt. 2 Aug 1835 Wilmot, sponsors: Johann Schmitt, George Groff, Margaretha Henhardt [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Magdalena Hallman Born: Tp of Dumfries Age: 32 Father: John Hallman Mother: Sally Hallman Born: abt 1840 Spouse: John B Schmitt Age: 36 born: Tp of Wilmot Father: George R Schmitt Mother: Salomy Schmitt married 19 Mar 1872 married: Waterloo, Mannheim [S140] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1881, Div. 1 Page 45. [S190] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1871, Div. 4 Page 15. [S939] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1891, Div. 3 Page 49. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration. Adlina Schmitt Date of Birth: 6 Jan 1873 Gender: Female Birth County: Waterloo Father's Name: John B Schmitt (farmer of Wilmot Twp.) Mother's Name: Magdalena Hallman [S8] News - Gospel Herald, March 15, 1917 - Obituary of Catharine B. Schantz.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 30 Jun 1835 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Christened - 2 Aug 1835 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Laborer - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - farmer - 1873 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1881 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1881 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1891 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1891 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 9 Oct 1898 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1901 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: killed by electric car - 17 Mar 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth