Oliver A. Kummer^[1]

1880 - 1982  (101 years)

• Name	Oliver A. Kummer
  Born	1 Jul 1880	Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Elected Office	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Alderman
  Interesting	politics, horticulture
  Name	Ollie Kummer
  Residence	1881	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Presbyterian Canada
  Occupation	1901	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Apprentice
  Occupation	1904	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Cabinet Maker
  Occupation	1911	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Cabinet Maker, Furniture Factory
  Residence	1911	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-88730
  Died	20 Jun 1982  [5]
  Buried	Memory Gardens Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Person ID	I88730	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	John Kummer,   b. 28 Dec 1826, , Berne, Switzerland ,   d. 10 Mar 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 64 years)
  Mother	Marie Ann "Mary" Wagenplast,   b. 11 Aug 1840, Unterriexingen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany ,   d. 29 Jan 1919, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 78 years)
  Family ID	F34719	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Charlotte Elizabeth "Lottie" Short,   b. 17 Nov 1882, Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Oct 1968  (Age 85 years)
  Married	16 Sep 1904	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Children	1. Edward Kummer,   b. Aug 1905, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1969  (Age ~ 63 years)   2. Ruth Olive Kummer,   b. Mar 1909, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Oliver L. Kummer,   b. 15 Jun 1915,   d. 8 Jan 1999, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 83 years)
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F30494	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Oliver A. Kummer was born in Doon on July 1, 1880 and came to Preston in 1900. He worked for over fifty years as a cabinet maker but is best remembered for his love of plants and gardening and his long association with the Preston Horticultural Society. Mr. Kummer was a charter member of the Horticultural Society and served on its executive for almost seventy years. He was active in persuading the Ontario government to adopt the trillium as the provincial flower and developed a number of strains of tall bearded irises including "Okon", "Kummon" and "Centennial Gold". His other major floral interest was peonies and he is credited with the introduction of a new variety named "Mrs. C. S. Lockie" after his daughter. The Preston Horticultural Society presented him with a service award in 1939 and Mr. Kummer received an award of merit, in 1973, from the Ontario Horticultural Association. Mr. Kummer served on Preston council from 1922 to 1925, served on the Preston Parks Board Management for twenty five years and was named Preston's Citizen of the Year in 1969. He died on June 20, 1982. Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge _________________ O.A. Kummer celebrates his birthday the same day as Canada. He was born on July 1, 1880 in Doon. He is the son of the later John Kummer and his wife Marie Wagenplast. He grew to manhood in Doon and attended the Blair Public School. In 1900 he settled in Preston. The Kummer home in Doon is at the V, the second house on the right side, pink roughcast, and is now occupied by Mrs. Karges. Mr. Kummer is best known for his love of flowers, which love he inherited from his mother, who grew flowers at their Doon home when Ollie was a lad. He is a veteran gardening enthusiast. His specialty is the Iris and Peony. He introduced the Centennial Gold Iris, which he says is pure gold and a beauty. During his tenure as an executive member of the Preston Horticultural Society for almost 70 years, he was active in persuading the Ontario Government to accept the Trillium as the Provincial floral emblem. He was appointed judge of the Merican Iris Society and has served as judge in the flower shows throughout Waterloo and Wellington Counties. His hobbies besides his beautiful garden at his home in Preston are oil painting, water colors and the inlaying of wooden table tops, pictures and trays. He spent most of his wording life as a cabinet maker, first with the Grove-Werlich Company and later with the PrestonFurniture Company until his retirement. Preston's Citizen-of- the- Year Ollie Kummer was chosen the Citizen-of-the-Year 1969 of Preston by the Jaycees, junior chamber of commerce. Reeve W.C. Woods said at the banquet held in The Sulphur Springs Hotel " I am of the opinion that the choice of Mr. Kummer as the year's first person will be supported by the majority of citizens. Mr. Kummer has always been a first-class citizen of this municipality'.' Mr. W. Brittenden presented Mr. Kummer with an engraved plaque and a parchmant certificate in recognition of his service to the community during his 89 years. Mr. Kummer served for 25 years on the Preston Board of Parks management, and as an alderman for 4 years. Mr. Kummer served 67 years as member of the I.C.O.F. and is a charter member of the Queen Rebekah Lodge, Preston. He joined the I.O.C.F. as soon as he was 21 and holds all the degrees which his fraternity issues, and a meritorious jewel as well. In 1904 he married a sweetheart of his Blair Public School days, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Short. They were married by Rev. J.R. Johnson, minister of the Doon Presbyterian and Knox Presbyterian Church, Preston. They had three children: Ruth, (Mrs. Stewart Lockie ) Milton, Edward of Galt, who died in Sept. 1968, and Oliver who is living in Preston. Mr. and Mrs. Kummer celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Wednesday September 1964. They are members of the Knox Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Kummer died in October 1968. On his 89th birthday Mr. Kummer enjoyed his first plane ride, as a birthday gift from his son Oliver. Mr. Kummer came to Doon and addressed our Women's Institute meeting on the ''Hybridization of Iris and Peonies" and showed colored slides of his garden. As Mr. Kummer is a personalfriend of Miss Susan Eshleman she chose this interesting talk for her spring meeting in 1969 As Mr. Kummer does not drive a car he son Oliver brought him to Doon. This talk was enjoyed by the members. Women's Institute Doon and Blair __________________ I REMEMBER By O. A. KUMMER Long Time Resident of Preston EDITOR'S NOTE -This is the third in a series of articles being written for The Preston Reporter by long-time resident O. A. Kummer. Dealing with Preston's past, as Mr. Kummer remembers it, the article swill [sick] appear in these columns from time to time. BICYCLE MEETS used to be a popular pastime in the area; the Town of Preston had many of them. Riverside Park was usually the scene, and hundreds of cyclists attended. I remember one particular day when there seemed to be only one winner. It was none other than Herbert Clare. Two other noted cyclists from the area, who were famous for their long distance ability, were Ernie Evans and Albert Near. I REMEMBER when Preston was famous for its horse racing meets in Speed Park. as it was called then. Trotting and pacing races were held periodically, and usually attracted fine crowds. The track was noted as a fast one, and I can recall being in conversation with some of the horsemen. who said it "had a kind of bounce to it." This, no doubt, was because the base upon which the raceway rests is more liquid than solid. Preston horsemen included Perc Sauerson, Ed Perine, Blarrs Wilkes, J. Wetherall and H. Osgood. I CAN RECALL when Preston had very little in the way of fire protection for the village-mostly water from the Speed River and the Klotz Dam. A tank was constructed across from the Commercial Hotel to supply water and the pumping equipment consisted of a contraption resembling a railroad jigger upon with four men, two on each side, operated it in unison. I REMEMBER when W. A Husband lived in the cottage which stands on the opposite corner of our municipal complex, and when he was clerk of the village. He was also greatly interested in growing things and in horticulture in general. He had a beautiful vine growing upon the verandah posts. the most beautiful vine I have ever seen, and he also took delight in presenting the earliest flower in the spring to the local editor of The Preston Progress, Mr. Blackstock. ____________________ OLIVER KUMMER Local horticulturalist, Oliver A. Kummer of Fairview Mennonite Home, died June 20, 1982 at age 101. Mr. Kummer was born in Doon, and a resident of Preston for for more than 80 years. Mr. Kummer was awarded the Ontario Horticulture Association meritorious award; was a charter member of the Preston Horticulture Society. an honorary director of the Canadian Iris Society, member of the Queen Rebekah Lodge 54; charter member of the Cambridge Oddfellows Lodge 188, a veteran member of the old Preston Parks Board and alderman of Preston Council. He was predeceased by his wife Charlotte Short in 1968, and a son Edward in 1969. Surviving are a son Oliver L. Kummer of Preston, daughter Mrs. Stewart (Ruth) Lockie of Milton, 11 grandchildren, 17 great grand children and one great great grandchild.

  
  

• Sources

  [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 018691-04. Oliver A. Kummer, 24, Occ. Cabinet Maker, b. Doon, Res. Preston, son of John Kummer and C. Waganast married Lottie E. Short, 21, b. Bridgeport, Res. Preston, daughter of William Short and Adaline Wismer, Witn: William and Mrs. William Short of Preston, 16 September 1904 in Preston. [S204] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1901, Preston (Village) F-1 Page 16. [S178] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1881, Waterloo S. Twp. 1881 Div 3 Page 52. [S1669] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1911, Div. 24 Pg. 25. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183049850/oliver-a-kummer.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1 Jul 1880 - Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Alderman - - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian Canada - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Apprentice - 1901 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Cabinet Maker - 1904 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 16 Sep 1904 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Cabinet Maker, Furniture Factory - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Memory Gardens Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth