Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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John Frederick Metzger

Male 1828 - Yes, date unknown


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  • Name John Frederick Metzger 
    Born Between 1827 and 1828  , Sierra Leone, Africa Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3] 
    Gender Male 
    Birth West Africa Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Race black  [3] 
    Name J. F. Metzger 
    Occupation 1852  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    teacher 
    Residence 1852  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Carl Schafer's 
    Occupation 1861  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Teacher 
    Residence 1861  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Evangelical 
    Occupation 1866  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    teacher 
    Occupation 1867  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    teacher 
    Occupation 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Teacher 
    Residence 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Anglican 
    Residence 1874  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-59365 
    Died Yes, date unknown 
    Person ID I59365  Generations
    Last Modified 3 Mar 2025 

    Family Sarah F. Davis,   b. 1836, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Aug 1881, Franklin, Johnson, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 45 years) 
    Children 
     1. Timotheus T. "Timothy" Metzger,   b. Between 1857 and 1858, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Mary M. Metzger,   b. 25 Jan 1857, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Apr 1922, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 65 years)
     3. John T. Metzger,   b. 14 Feb 1858, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Feb 1932, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     4. Jemima A. "Jennie" Metzger,   b. 18 Dec 1859, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Jul 1927, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     5. Ezekiel S. Metzger,   b. 1862, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Sep 1881, Franklin, Johnson, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 19 years)
     6. Harriet E. Metzger,   b. 1864, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jun 1899, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 35 years)
     7. Frederica R. Metzger,   b. Between 1868 and 1869, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Sarah A. Metzger,   b. 1868, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Sep 1881, Franklin, Johnson, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 13 years)
     9. Rebecca F. Metzger,   b. 1878, , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Apr 1946, Warrensville, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2025 
    Family ID F273827  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Back when the village was still called Jakobstettel, residents had insisted on a school so, at a cost of £75, a log structure was built on Albert Street East. It served well until 1867, then became the community's meeting hall.

      Among the first instructors at that early log school was John F. Metzger, born in Africa and either a freed or escaped educated slave.

      Schoolhouse links St. Jacobs to Canada's Confederation. (2017). Therecord.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017, from https://www.therecord.com/living-story/7251823-schoolhouse-links-st-jacobs-to-canada-s-confederation/

      ______________________

      George William Emmanuel Metzger was born at Großsachsenheim, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to Immanuel Gottlob Metzger (December 21, 1773 - March 24, 1833) and Johanna Willhelmina Roth (January 17, 1770 - May 6, 1814).
      George Metzger had a known younger brother, who was a teacher by profession and who also moved to the United States, Carl "Charles" Gottfried Metzger (born June 16, 1805 in Germany and died in 1855 in Miami County, Indiana, USA).

      George William Emmanuel Metzger became a German Lutheran minister and moved to Sierra Leone, West Africa, with his first wife, on behalf of the Church Missionary Society, based near London, England. She was Caroline Wilhelmine Roth (November 6, 1802 - February 14, 1825) and she was also born in Württemberg, Germany. They married in England on September 22, 1822 and she died in childbirth in 1825 at Sierra Leone, her baby daughter passing the following day.

      The Rev. Mertzger married his second wife, Mary Diana Hickson (1803-1847) in Africa and there in Sierra Leone they had 5 children, including John Frederik (1828-?) and Theophillus Metzger (1833-1902) who both survived to adulthood.

      In 1833, for health reasons, they left West Africa and moved to England, then Germany to visit family with his father passing away in Germany before their arrival, then to Michigan and finally in 1834 to Liverpool, Ohio, where he became the first minister of a new Lutheran Church, which is now known as Zion Lutheran Church.

      Mary had 5 more children born in Ohio: Emanuel (1835-1919), Charles (1837-after 1910), Mary Magdalena (1839-after 1850), Timotheus "Timothy" Metzger (1840-1920) and Paulus (1843-1844); however wife and mother, Mary Hickson Metzger, died of "dropsy" complications in 1847. Because Rev. Metzer's wife, Mary, was African, his congregation would not allow her burial in the church's cemetery and she was buried on the Metzger family farm property.

      Mary and GWE had ten children:
      1. Charles William b. 9 Feb 1827, Sierra Leone d. 25 Jul 1827, 4 Mos. Sierra Leone
      2. John Frederick b. ? May 1828, Sierra Leone d. [age ? Canada]
      3. Mary b. 3 Feb 1830, Sierra Leone d. 4 Apr 1831, 14 Mos. Sierra Leone
      4. Mary Ann b. ? Nov 1831, Sierra Leone d. 1 Oct 1832, 11 Mos. Sierra Leone
      5. Theophilus b. 11 Nov 1832, Sierra Leone d. 15 Sept 1902 [age 69 ? CA]
      6. Emanuel b. 11 Mar 1835, Liverpool d. 2 Nov 1919, age 84 Liverpool TS, OH
      7. Charles b. 13 Jan 1837, Liverpool d. aft. Apr 1910, Cleveland, OH
      8. Mary Magdalena b. 23 Jun 1838, Liverpool d. ?
      9. Timothyous b. 25 Mar 1840, Liverpool d. 16 Nov 1920, age 80 Lorain, OH
      10. Paulus b. 18 Feb 1843, Liverpool d. 28 Apr 1844, 14 Mos. Liverpool TS, OH

      George William Metzger married a third time in Medina County, on February 26, 1847, to Christiana Strawsacker/Strohsacker (1826-before 1910), who was born in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and was about 25 years his junior. She had a twin son William (1848-1882), and a twin daughter Christina (1848-1909), and later a son, George Metzer (1852-after 1870). About 3 years after she was widowed, Christina Strawsacker Metzger married her stepson, Charles Metzger, on January 21, 1858 in Medina County, Ohio. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio with her 3 children and she had another set of twins born in 1860, John and Mary Metzger, and another son, Timothy Metzger, born in 1864.
      When the Reverend had passed in 1855, he was buried next to Mary, his second wife, by his request. The Reverend Metzger's brother, Carl "Charles" Gottfried Metzger (June 16, 1805-1855), also died in the United States (most likely, Indiana) at about the same time. The Rev.Metzger's oldest son, John Frederick, moved to Ontario, Canada and had a family with his wife Sarah; and his second oldest son, Theophilus, moved to California and later became a California Civil War Veteran.

      "Rev George William Emmanuel Metzger (1800-1855) -...". 1800. Findagrave.Com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198595126/george_william-emmanuel-metzger.

      __________________

      School examinations - The quarterly examination of Mr. J. F. Metzger''s school in the township of Carrick very creditably on the 2nd inst. The Schoolhouse is a new frame building, erected last summer of symmetrical dimensions, well ventilated, 16 feet from the floor to the ceiling, the desks and the benches according to the improved method. The School room is well supplied with maps, blackboards &c. It is one of the best, if not the best School House in the township. It speaks well for this new country, and shows the interest the people are taking in the cause of education. There are 70 pupils and 25 visitors present. The pupils were examined in the English and German language, spelling, defining words and sentences, Reeling, writing, theoretical, mental, and practical arithmetic, dictation, composition, geography, grammar &c. Several appropriate pieces of music were sung. The teachers and read the statistics of the school, which was very satisfactory. The average Attendance was 80, Mr. B Lindonsmith made a few practical remarks, after he moved the following resolution, seconded by Mr. N. Miller, and carried unanimously, that whereas we have had the pleasure of attending this examination, we testify that we highly appreciate the discipline and system of the school, and are well satisfied with the progress the pupils have hitherto made under the tuition of their practical and efficient teacher Mr. Metzger. in conclusion people sang the national anthem, three rousing cheers for the queen, three for the visitors, and three for the teacher. - Com.

      Waterloo Chronicle April 15, 1869.

  • Sources 
    1. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 3 Pg 21.

    2. [S915] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1861, Township of Woolwich 1861 Div. 4 Page 32.

    3. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Sect. 2 Page 19.
      John F. Metzger 43, b. Sierra Leone, West Africa School Teacher - German
      Sarah A. 36 Ontario - Black
      Mary M. 14 Ontario - Black
      Temotheus J. 13 Ontario - Black
      Jemima A. 11 Ontario - Black
      Ezekiel E. 10 Ontario - Black
      Harriett E. 7 Ontario - Black
      Sarah A. 4 Ontario - Black
      Frederica R. 2 Ontario - Black

    4. [S3038] Journal of the Proceeding & By-laws of the Municipal Council of the County of Waterloo 1866. 1st, 2nd, 3rdc, 5th and 5th Sessions,...
      COMMON SCHOOL FUND
      Feb'y 2 - John F. Metzger 43 64
      July 21 - 42 56

    5. [S1668] Directory - ON, Waterloo - 1867 - Gazetteer and directory of the County of Waterloo. 1867, pg 59.

    6. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Sect. 2 Page 19.

    7. [S2] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian).
      BRIDEGROOM
      Name: Charles Duglas
      Age: 43
      Residence: Peel Tp.
      Place of Birth: Virginia U.S.
      Names of Parents: Winston & Betty Duglas
      BRIDE
      Name: Isabella Johnson
      Age: 33
      Residence: Peel Tp.
      Place of Birth: Baltimore
      Names of Parents: Danis & Minny Johnson
      WITNESS
      Name: J. F. Metzger
      Residence: Berlin
      Name: Samuel Braun
      Residence: Peel Tp.
      Date of Marriage: March 19, 1874

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - teacher - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Carl Schafer's - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Teacher - 1861 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1861 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - teacher - 1866 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - teacher - 1867 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Teacher - 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 MapsResidence - 1874 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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