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Levi Carroll

Levi Carroll[1]

Male 1804 - 1897  (93 years)

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  • Name Levi Carroll 
    Born 1804  , Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] 
    Gender Male 
    Race black  [7] 
    Residence 1846  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Residence 1851  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Episcopal 
    Occupation 1852  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    labourer 
    Occupation 1854  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    shinglemaker 
    Occupation 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 10] 
    laborer 
    Occupation 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Labourer 
    Residence 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Residence 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    ME 
    Occupation 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Labourer 
    Residence 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1881  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Labourer 
    Residence 1881  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Gardener 
    Residence 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Methodist 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-59616 
    Died 15 Jul 1897  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [12, 13] 
    Buried House of Industry and Refuge Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I59616  Generations
    Last Modified 28 Jan 2025 

    Father Russ Carroll,   b. Abt 1775, Of, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Mary M. Sims,   b. Abt 1775, Of, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F15464  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Anna Emile Timlet,   b. Abt 1825, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1861  (Age ~ 35 years) 
    Married 17 Dec 1854  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 14] 
    Last Modified 29 Jan 2025 
    Family ID F15456  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Lucrecia Brown or Brook,   b. 1802, , USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1852  (Age 50 years) 
    Married 22 Feb 1846  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Children 
     1. Charles Carroll,   b. 1835, , USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. ? Carroll,   b. 1836,   d. 1860, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 24 years)
     3. Elizabeth Ann Carroll,   b. 1852, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 29 Jan 2025 
    Family ID F15463  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Margaret M. Moore,   b. 1821, Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Feb 1890, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Married 1 Oct 1861  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4, 15] 
    Children 
     1. John Carroll,   b. 1865, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Melissa Carroll,   b. 1871, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Bismark Carroll,   b. 1875, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 29 Jan 2025 
    Family ID F15466  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Levi Carrol with family at his home.    		Levi Carrol with family at his home.
    Notice Levi has a wooden leg. This home was Waterloo's first school house and has in 2012 been designated. It now is a Waterloo Park on permanent display.
    The News Record 17 Jul 1897 pg 21    		The News Record 17 Jul 1897 pg 21

  • Notes 
    • THE LATE LEVI KARL

      A Few Interesting Notes on His Life

      Doubtful Whether He Was 100 Years Old

      The News-Record is indebted to Mr. Bachman for the following interesting reminiscences of the history of Levi Karl, the colored gentleman who died at the House of Industry on Thursday Last. Though generally reported to be a centenarian, Mr. Bachman stated that the figures of history would hardly bear out this statement, according to narratives related by Karl himself about his boyhood days. He was born in slavery and stated he remembered quite distinctly when the British, under Rear Admiral Cockburn, worsted the Americans, and advanced upon Washington. He relates the fact of being carried away by his master and hidden away in a large storehouse to escape from the British. As he was only about 5 or 6 years old at the time, he could hardly have reached the century mark. About 60 years ago he first came into this vicinity and was engaged by a Weaver family, who presented him with the land near the High School, on which he lived for many years. After the death of his wife, about 8 years ago, he became involved in difficulties, and for some years was an inmate of the Poor House, his step-daughter and her son being also committed. A son of Karl's, a sailor, met his death on Lake Erie, during a gale and shipwreck many years ago.

      New Record 17 jul 1897 pg 1

      _______________________


      Mr. Levi Carroll, of Greenbush, declares he is 102 years old, and has lived 53 years in Canada. He was born in slavery, and on making his escape came to this locality where he has ever since been a quiet and respected citizen. He has lived for many years in an old building which has the honor of being the first school house in Waterloo County.

      The Qu'Appelle Progress 29 Nov 1894
      ________________

      Levi Carroll was an ex-slave who had escaped and came to Kitchener. He lived in the log house that had originally been Waterloo's first school. This log house preserved is now located in Waterloo Park. Buried in an unmarked grave in the House of Industry and Refuge cemetery on Victoria Street, Kitchener.

      ___________________________


      THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE

      An interesting meeting took place the Saturday before last in the old log cabin in Waterloo Park.

      This house was, of course, the first schoolhouse in this area and stood originally on the school-house square at the corner of King and Church Streets in Waterloo. It was built in 1820 and served its purpose until 1842, when it was torn down and a 1-storey stone house was constructed on the site. The dismantled log house was erected again in Greenbush and served as a residence for a long time for the coloured man, Mr. Carroll and his family. In the course of this year, the Waterloo Park Commissioners purchased the house, moved it to their park and furnished it again as it was when it was a school-house.

      At this gathering, in addition to many other ladies and gentlemen, the following (male and female) former pupils attended, took their places on the benches, and were called to order by the 82-year-old teacher, Benjamin Burkholder, who held the scepter, or rather, the switch, from 1831 to 1842 in the old log-house: Joel Guth, 80 years old; Abraham Scherk, Blair, 79; Jakob Bricker, Waterloo, 77; Sarah Burkholder, nee Erb, Bridgeport, 75; Amos Weber, Berlin, 73; John C, Bricker, Hawksville, 71; Maria Erb, nee Quickfall, Norwich 69; David B. Eby, Waterloo, 69; Wendel Baumann, Woolwich, 68; Henry Stauffer, Erbsville, 67; Simon Beatty, Elmira, 67; Jakob Ratz, New Hamburg, 67; Israel Baumann, Berlin, 65; George Elbert, Moorefield, 63; George H. Baumann, Elmira, 63; John Devitt, Waterloo, 62; Richard Quickfall, Bridgeport, 62; Isaak Hoffmann, Waterloo, 61; Robert Barkwell, Peel, 60; Diana McMahon, nee Dekay, Berlin, 60; Thomas Quickfall, Floradale, 60; Benjamin Devitt, Waterloo, 60; Isaak Devitt, Floradale, 58; John Longmann, Peel, 57. In addition, to these, the teacher read the names of 25 pupils from the roll; they were, however, absent.

      Mr. Burkholder gave an interesting talk about the history of the old school-house, and after him, Rev. J.A. MacLachlan, Rev. J. McNair, Mr. J.E. Baumann, M.P., and Mr. Jakob Ratz spoke about the old days which brought many things out of the past to mind again. School was, as a rule, only in session in winter and the costs were borne by the parents of the children. There were few subjects taught, namely: Reading, Writing and Sums. The children heard little about language, and geography; no child had more than 2 or 3 books. The predominant language was German. The pupils learned to read and write English, but didn't understand a word of it. Among the teachers in the old school-house from 1820-1842, with the exception of Mr. Burkholder, were the following whose names are still recognized: Jephtha DeKay, Joseph Guth, John Herringer, Peter Otto, John Dobbin, Elias Eby, Robert Barber, & Joseph Eby.

      After those present, on hearing the various speeches felt themselves transported back to the past, the school was closed at four o'clock and the pupils were gathered together in front of the school and photographed as a group. On their return into the school, they found it had been transformed into a dining room with heavily-laden tables, which the old-timers thoroughly enjoyed. After everyone had chatted cordially for a while longer, the gathering broke up. The company will not meet again in complete numbers, nor in such a way.

      Berliner Journal September 26, 1895 Page 4 Column 4

      ______________


      King St. South Side

      We come to a log cabin, moved there, occupied by a negro, Levi Carroll, a one-legged ex-slave from the Southern States. He lived there for a number of years. This building had been erected in Waterloo in 1820 and was Waterloo's first school house. Carroll owned several acres between his dwelling and Agnes Street. His land, which he did not plough but cultivated with a long handled hoe only, was planted with corn from year to year and looked something like a plantation field in the south. Descendants of his lived in the log cabin after his death. Later, this building was moved to the Waterloo Park and in its place a concrete two-story building with a hip roof was erected by Dr. Schnarr, his house and surgery.

      REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER)

      BY JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

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

      ____________

      In the Berlin House of Industry there is a little old colored man named Levi Carroll, who as nearly as can bo ascertained is upwards of 100 years old. He was a slave in Maryland before the war, but escaped to Canada in 1844 Berlin was nearly all bush when he came there. He had been married twice, his first wife being given to him to live with while he was on the plantation She accompanied him when he made his escape.

      New Hamburg Independent 12 Mar 1897

  • Sources 
    1. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 17 Oct 1861.
      Married 1 Oct 1861 By Rev. Bindemann, Levi Carroll of Berlin was married to widow Margareth Johnson of Peel.

    2. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 3 Pg 28.
      Levi CARROL Labourer USA 30 Episcopal
      Creasia CARROL wife USA 50 Episcopal
      Chales CARROL son USA 16 Episcopal

    3. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library.
      Levi Carroll aged 56, res. Berlin, b. Maryland, s/o Ros, Carroll & Margareth Sims, married 1 Oct 1861 to Margareth Johnson (widow) aged 39, b. Montreal, res, Peel d/o Robert Moore & Sinty Hutson, witnesses: Daniel Brown of Wellesley

    4. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Levi Carroll Born: MD Res: Berlin Age: 56 Father: Russ Mother: Mary M. Sims Born: 1805 Spouse: Marg M. Johnson Age: 39 born: Montreal Quebec Canada Res: Peel Township Born: 1822 Father: Robert Moore Mother: Senty Huston married 1 Oct 1861 county: Waterloo

    5. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 59.

    6. [S158] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1881, Div. 2 Pg. 76.

    7. [S123] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1861, Div. 3 Page 27.

    8. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 1 Page 48.

    9. [S12] Vit - ON, Gore - Gore District Marriage Register - Waterloo Entries, John Low Minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Minister not Hamilton area (pg. 50).
      Levi Carrol, married Lucrecia Brook, both of Waterloo. 22 Feb 1846, by publication, Witnesses: Samuel Moxley and Joseph Sowder

    10. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 3 Pg 28.

    11. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library.
      Levi Carroll, shinglemaker of Berlin married 17 Dec 1854 Berlin by banns to Anna Emile Timlet of Berlin, witnesses: Mary France of Berlin & Wilh. Bindemann of Berlin

    12. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 29 Jul 1897.

    13. [S1848] House of Industry and Refuge Burial Register - Kitchener.
      Levi Carrol, d. 15 Jul 1897, aged 99, cause: old age.

    14. [S244] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Deutsche Canadier (1841-1865) - Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages Announced in the Deutsche Canadier, Berlin, Canada West. originally indexed by Simone Nieuwolt and Sylvie Kuppek..organised by Rosemary Ambrose.
      CAROLL, Levy married 17 Dec 1854 To Anna Emilie TIMLET. Both of Berlin. minister F.W. Bindemann newspaper date 21 Dec 1854 Pg: 51

    15. [S244] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Deutsche Canadier (1841-1865) - Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages Announced in the Deutsche Canadier, Berlin, Canada West. originally indexed by Simone Nieuwolt and Sylvie Kuppek..organised by Rosemary Ambrose.
      CARROLL, Levy married 1 Oct 1861 Of Berlin. To Hargaretha JOHNSON, widow, of Peel Township minister F.W. Bindemann newspaper date 17 Oct 1861 Pg: 42

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1804 - , Maryland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1846 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 22 Feb 1846 - , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Episcopal - 1851 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - labourer - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - shinglemaker - 1854 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 17 Dec 1854 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - laborer - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Labourer - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - ME - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1 Oct 1861 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Labourer - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Labourer - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Gardener - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 15 Jul 1897 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - House of Industry and Refuge Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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