Rev. Jacob M. Oberholtzer^[1]

1800 - 1879  (78 years)

• Name	Jacob M. Oberholtzer
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	30 Mar 1800	, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  Land	Bef 1831	Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 035S, Waterloo County, Ontario   [7]
  Occupation	1852	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	farmer
  Occupation	1852	Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo, Ontario
  	Minister
  	Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929).1a 1aAmbrose, Rosemary. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide to Churches Established Before 1900. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. [used the kind permission of Rosemary Ambrose 2011]
  Occupation	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Mennonite
  Occupation	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Mennonite
  Eby ID Number	00086-5044
  Died	14 Jan 1879	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Buried	First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Person ID	I6191	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	John Oberholtzer,   b. Abt 1770, Of, Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Susannah Moyer,   b. Abt 1770, Of, Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F2311	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Hannah Erb,   b. 25 Jan 1813, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 12 Nov 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 81 years)
  Married	9 Jan 1831  [1, 2, 3, 5, 6]
  Children	1. Catharine Oberholtzer,   b. 24 Sep 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Sep 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 0 years)   2. Julia Ann Oberholtzer,   b. 18 Aug 1832, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Aug 1832, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 0 years)   3. John Oberholtzer,   b. 20 Jul 1833, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 26 Jun 1895, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 61 years)   4. Deacon Abraham Oberholtzer,   b. 30 Nov 1834, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1 Aug 1917  (Age 82 years)   5. Susannah Oberholtzer,   b. 17 Sep 1836, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 25 Jun 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 3 years)   6. Isaac Oberholtzer,   b. 24 May 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Feb 1887, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 48 years)   7. Jacob E. Oberholtzer,   b. 24 Jan 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   8. Salome Oberholtzer,   b. 8 Mar 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Jan 1858, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 15 years)   9. Elizabeth Oberholtzer,   b. 23 Sep 1844, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Apr 1889, Howick Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 44 years)   10. Hannah Oberholtzer,   b. 28 Sep 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 30 Oct 1874, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 28 years)   11. Marian Oberholtzer,   b. 19 Oct 1848, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 8 Jun 1849, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 0 years)   12. Lydia Oberholtzer,   b. 3 May 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 13 Sep 1945, Palatine, Cook, Illinois, USA  (Age 95 years)   13. Magdalena Oberholtzer,   b. 26 Jul 1853, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 15 May 1892  (Age 38 years)   14. Henry Erb Oberholtzer,   b. 4 Mar 1855, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Mar 1923, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States  (Age 68 years)   15. Fanny Oberholtzer,   b. 1856, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F1021	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Jacob M. Oberholtzer, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, March 30th, 1800. He came to Canada in 1826 and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario. On January, 9th, 1831, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Jacob and Salome (Graybill) Erb. She was born January 25th, 1813 and died November 12th, 1894. Soon after their marriage they moved two miles west of Berlin on their farm, then all forest, which was composed of part of lot No. 35, German Company's Tract. Here they resided some forty years, then he sold the farm and moved to Berlin where he and his aged wife spent the evening of their life in comfort and ease. When a young man he was ordained as a minister of the church of his choice, 'The Mennonite', which body he served faithfully unto his end. He died January 14th, 1879. His family consisted of fourteen children" 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.]. ___________________________ Erb Street (David Eby) Mennonite Church Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929). Due to a difference of opinion in the David Eby congregation, Sunday School classes were held at first in a private home, that of Levi Groff, beginning in 1887. The dissension which resulted culminated in a division in the church in 1889; the minister, Elias Schneider, and the deacon, Menno S. Shantz, left the church and joined with the Old Order Mennonites of Woolwich Township. The following year, 1890, saw the commencement of "Edification Meetings", which were held in the homes of members of the David Eby congregation. These meetings later became the Young People's Bible Meetings. By the beginning of the twentieth century, it was recognized that the church building was either in need of repair or in need of complete replacement. Consideration was given to building a new church on the same site or on a site on King Street North. A decision was made to accept from Samuel S. Snider the donation of a parcel of land which was also on Erb Street, but nearer town. Excavation of the foundation for the new church began in the Spring of 1902. A dedication service was held on August 17, 1902. A parsonage was built in 1929 on land donated by Herbert Snider, the son of Samuel Snider. The church building was renovated and enlarged in 1949-1950; a dedication service was held on April 9, 1950. Further renovations were made in 1974.. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

  
  

• 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..., 636. [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..., 142. [S33] Bible - Oberholtzer, Jacob. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 21. Jacob M. OBERHOLZER Farmer Birthplace: USA Age 52 Mennonite b. 31-Mar Hanah OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 36 Mennonite b. 25-Jan John OBERHOLZER Labourer Birthplace: Canada Age 19 Mennonite b. 20-Jul Abraham OBERHOLZER Labourer Birthplace: Canada Age 18 Mennonite b. 30-Nov Isaac OBERHOLZER Labourer Birthplace: Canada Age 14 Mennonite b. 24-May Jacob OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 13 Mennonite b. 25-Jan Salomea OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 10 Mennonite b. 8-Mar Elisabetha OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 8 Mennonite b. 24-Sep Hanah OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 6 Mennonite b. 28-Sep Lydia OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 2 Mennonite b. 3-May Wilhelmina SCHNEIDER Birthplace: Germany Age 18 Evangelical b. 12-Oct [S1887] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861 (North Division), Div 3 Page 14. [S514] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1871, Sect. 1 Page 42. [S1322] Land - Founding Families of Waterloo Township 1800-1830, 41. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 21. [S47] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - First Mennonite CC#4507 Internet link First Mennonite Cemetery online.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 30 Mar 1800 - , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania Occupation - farmer - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Minister - 1852 - Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo, Ontario Occupation - Farmer - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 14 Jan 1879 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth