Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Winfield Brewster

Winfield Brewster

Male 1879 - 1962  (83 years)

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  • Name Winfield Brewster 
    Born 7 Oct 1879  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4
    Gender Male 
    Business Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Universal Lightning Rod Company 
    Universal Lightning Rod Company
    Universal Lightning Rod Company
    Residence 1891  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1901  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Clerk 
    Occupation 1911  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Town Cterk, Office 
    Residence 1911  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Methodist 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-84153 
    Died Nov 1962  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I84153  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father William Andrew Jackson Brewster,   b. 13 Nov 1836, , Jefferson Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Mar 1903, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years) 
    Mother Margaret A. "Maggie" Brydon,   b. 26 Apr 1843, , Dumfrieshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Jul 1936, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 93 years) 
    Married 16 Feb 1865  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Family ID F21867  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Hazel Leota Kribs,   b. 25 Jan 1884, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Feb 1973, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years) 
    Children 
     1. Jean Brewster
     2. Andrew Jackson Brewster,   b. Jul 1903, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Louis Scott Brewster,   b. 26 May 1906, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Margaret C. Brewster,   b. Sep 1908, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F26601  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Winfield Brewster
    Winfield Brewster
    from City of Cambridge Archives

  • Notes 
    • Winfield Brewster in 1900 read aloud the proclamation that incorporated Hespeler as a town. His father had done the same in 1858 when Hespeler became a village. He operated the Hespeler Fuel Co. and wrote 5 books on the history of Hespeler and the area.


      Cambridge Mosiac, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [snippet from original text in book]

      __________________

      The First Automobile owned here was a steam runabout which Jack Farnsworth bought in Brooklyn in September, 1906, and of which he and Charles Phillip Grill and I owned each an undivided one-third share.


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

      __________________________

      When we were closing the office on the evening of November 25th, 1952, I noticed Reginald Prior coming out of the Post Office and called him over and when he came, asked him if he would mind locking the door for me which he kindly did, and then, turning to me he asked what was the big idea and my reply was that some day he would come to know. Now to redeem that promise.

      My Father opened the old office at the corner of Queen and Adam Streets on November 25th, 1877, and so, Reggie, when you did me that favor you were locking up Brewster's office after 75 years on Queen Street. And How glad I am it was you and not the Bailiff!

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

      ____________________________

      Winfield Brewster entered into the political life of Hespeler when, in 1900, he was asked to read the proclamation which incorporated Hespeler as a town. In doing so he followed in the footsteps of his father, Andrew Jackson Brewster, who performed this duty in 1858 when Hespeler was incorporated as a village. Winfield followed his father in many endeavours. In 1898, he entered the conveyancing and insurance business started by his father in 1877. He was known as one of Hespeler's leading citizens and was instrumental in building up an "outstanding" Patriotic Fund during World War I. He was his father's successor as Hespeler Town Clerk and Treasurer of the Hespeler Public School Board when the elder Mr Brewster died in 1903. Mr Brewster was a Captain in the 29th Waterloo Militia and was a one third owner of the first automobile in Hespeler, a steam runabout purchased in Brooklyn, New York in 1906. Mr Brewster was the primary organizer of both the 1906 and the 1926 Old Boys Reunion and was consulted frequently by the organizers of the 1947 Homecoming. Mr Brewster was the Honorary President of the Hespeler Horticultural Society, operated the Hespeler Fuel Co., and, at one time, headed the Universal Lightning Rod Co. He was also the author of six small books on the history of Hespeler and area. They include "La Rue de Commerce; Queen St. Hespeler, Ontario", "The Floodgate: Random Writings of Our Ain Folk", "Pine-Bush Genealogy", "Hespeler Yarns", "Lot Six in the Third of Waterloo" and "J. Hespeler, New Hope C.W.". Winfield Brewster died 2 Nov 1962 and is buried in New Hope Cemetery.

      Cambridge Hall of Fame. (2019). Cambridge.ca. Retrieved 2 March 2019, from https://www.cambridge.ca/en/learn-about/cambridge-hall-of-fame.aspx

  • Sources 
    1. [S143] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1901, Hespeler (Village) D-1 Page 15.

    2. [S299] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1881, Page 12.

    3. [S392] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1911, Div. 20 Pg. 20.

    4. [S2208] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1891, Section 1 Page 5.

    5. [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 22 Feb 1865.
      Brydon, Margaret married 16 Feb 1865 to H.A. Brewster In Waterloo by Rev Mr MacKenzie. Bride, 2nd dau David Brydon, Wloo.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 7 Oct 1879 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Universal Lightning Rod Company - - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1891 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Clerk - 1901 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Town Cterk, Office - 1911 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1911 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Nov 1962 - 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