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

John Zryd[1, 2]

Male 1835 - 1917  (82 years)

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

  • Name John Zryd 
    Born 1 Jan 1835  Frutingen, Canton Berne, Switzerland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1840  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Naturalization 1860  [3
    Elected Office 1864  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    councillor of Hespeler 
    Residence 1865  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 9
    Residence 1865  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Immigration 1866  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Elected Office 1869  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    councillor of Hespeler 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211932082 
    Occupation 1871  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Tinsmith and Merchant 
    Hespeler-Business-Zyrd,John-Tinsmith-0001.JPG
    Hespeler-Business-Zyrd,John-Tinsmith-0001.JPG
    Occupation 1881  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Tinsmith 
    Occupation CA 1890  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    store keeper Zryd & Co.'s Hardware Store 
    John Zryd - advertizing about 1890
    John Zryd - advertizing about 1890
    A two-sided trade card. One is a photographic rendering (pmt?) showing the front of the John Zyrd hardware store, Hespeler, showing a delivery wagon with painted lettering on the side: JOHN ZYRD (etc.) a few people posing in front of the store, and various goods on display in the windows and on the porch. The reverse side has lettering (in part): Zyrd & Co.'s / Hardware Store. / ... / Parlor, Heating and Cooking Stoves / ... / Sole agency for CLARE BROS. & CO.'S Famous Furnaces/ ... Circa 1890.
    From Waterloo Region Museum
    Advertizing card for John Zryd's store in Hespeler about 1890
    Advertizing card for John Zryd's store in Hespeler about 1890
    Retired 1901  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Occupation 1911  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Income 
    Residence 1911  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Lutheran 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-82999 
    Died 14 Apr 1917  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Buried New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Person ID I82999  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father Johann Joseph Zyrd,   b. 1807, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Sep 1867  (Age 60 years) 
    Mother Susanna Bieren,   b. 1795, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 May 1868, Kossuth, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Family ID F11360  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Anna Barbara Metzger,   b. 26 Apr 1842, , Bavaria, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Nov 1916  (Age 74 years) 
    Married 2 Apr 1865  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9, 10
    Children 
     1. Gustave A. Zryd,   b. 1865, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. John G. Zryd,   b. 1867, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Anna Martha Zryd,   b. 27 Jul 1870, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1957  (Age 86 years)
     4. Oscar Jacob Zryd,   b. 6 Oct 1872, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1936  (Age 63 years)
     5. Joseph Leonard Zryd,   b. CALC 14 Feb 1875,   d. 22 Feb 1875, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 0 years)
     6. Elenora Elizabeth Zryd,   b. 4 Apr 1876, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Leonara Zryd,   b. Apr 1877, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Sabina Susanna Zryd,   b. 9 Nov 1880, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Dec 1885, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 5 years)
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F21616  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • John Zryd, born at Frutingen, Canton Berne, in Switzerland, died here April 14th, 1917, aged 82 years, 2 months and 18 days. As a youth he learned the tinsmithing trade under Frederick Snyder at Berlin, Ontario, and in 1857 came here and opened a tinshop in space rented in a frame building then standing on the site of Miss Ada Shepherd's store.

      In 1866 he bought two buildings at the corner of Queen and Adam, in one of which he had started his first shop. In 1867 he bought a lot on the north side of Queen Street and built a stone store with, living quarters above. His eldest son, Gustav, was born at Adam Street in 1867; his second son, John, in the new building in 1870. Oscar, a younger son, succeeded him in business and then came Mr. Gordon, Hall and Simenton and the present occupant, all hardware men.

      And so it may be recorded that the premises now occupied by Mr. R. M. McHardy have, except for a relatively short period, been in use as a hardware store uninterruptedly for 85 years; the business to which he succeeded for 97.

      Mr. Zryd trained well a lot of apprentices in his day. I mention two. Came to his shop, a youth, his belongings in a pocket handkerchief. Came to learn the tinsmith trade. James H. Ashdown. His apprenticeship completed, this boy went west, there later to found and for many years to head the great wholesale hardware firm doing business in the tens of Millions, whose good name is known throughout the whole of Canada: "Ashdowns of Winnipeg"

      While learning his trade at Snyder's there was another apprentice named Schmidt who later started up in SebringviIle. When his son was old enough, Mr. Schmidt sent him to John Zryd to learn the trade rather than teach the boy himself. This I regard as one of the finest compliments one man could pay another.

      While his store was well enough patronized by residents of the Village, Mr. Zryd was not satisfied with the amount of business he was getting from the farmers, most of whom were going to the larger places around us. To offset this situation he put on the road what we boys used to call "Peddle Waggons" which ran trips on schedule over different routes every three or four weeks, so that the Lady of the Farm knew exactly what day Zryd's waggon would be along.

      These waggons were stocked with merchandise likely to be wanted and considerable business resulted. The Driver was always open to trade tinware (or anything else) for what the farmer had to trade. Among Zryd's waggon men were Thomas McMaster, Hugh McTearnen, John Limpert, August Wittmaak and for a longer time the two Krieg boys, Herman and Nicholas.

      Mr. Zryd served as Councillor in the years 1864-65 and from 1875 to 1891 was Treasurer of the Village. He was a life-long member of St. Jacob's Lutheran Church and when it was being built, acted as Chairman of the Building Committee.

      Le Rue De Commerce, Other Times Other Customs Other Days Other Ways, Winfield Brewster 1954

  • Sources 
    1. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 17 Dec 1885.
      08 Dec 1885 Sabina Susanna Zryd, daughter of John Zryd, died in Hespeler at age of 5 years and 1 month (poem follows)

    2. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 11 Mar 1875.
      Died 21 Feb 1875 In Hespeler, Joseph, baby son of John Zryd, died at the tender age of 8 days.

    3. [S143] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1901, Hespeler (Village) D-2 Page 15.

    4. [S508] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1871, Page 2.

    5. [S299] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1881, Page 2.

    6. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register.
      John Zryd Birth Place: Switzerland RESIDENCE: Hespeler Age: 29 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836 Father Name: J. Joseph Mother Name: Susanna Pieren Spouse Name: Anna Metzger Spouse's Age: 23 Spouse Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842 Spouse Birth Place: Bavaria Spouse Residence: Hespeler Spouse Father Name: Andrew Spouse Mother Name: Barbara Trebert Marriage Date: 2 Apr 1865 Marriage County: Waterloo

    7. [S392] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1911, Div. 21 Pg. 14.

    8. [S237] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - New Hope CC#4498 Internet Link .
      [West] John ZRYD/ 1835 - 1917/ Anna B. METZGER/ his wife/ 1842 - 1916/ Joseph L./ 1875 - 1875/ Sabina S./ 1880 - 1885/ ZRYD/
      [South] Lou MANZIE/ 1872 - 1908/ wife of/ Oscar ZRYD/
      [A] Mother
      [B] Lou

    9. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 6 Apr 1865.
      Apr. 2, 1865 John Zryd and Anna Metzger, both of Hespeler, by Rev. Wurster

    10. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register.
      Zryd John, 29, res. Hespeler, b. Switzerland, s/o J Joseph & Susanne (Pieren), married 2 Apr 1865 Anna Metzger, 23, res. Hespeler, , d/o Andrew & Barbara (Trebert)

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1840 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor of Hespeler - 1864 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1865 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1865 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 2 Apr 1865 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1866 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor of Hespeler - 1869 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Tinsmith and Merchant - 1871 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Tinsmith - 1881 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - store keeper Zryd & Co.'s Hardware Store - CA 1890 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsRetired - 1901 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Income - 1911 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1911 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 14 Apr 1917 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth