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

Albert Near

Male 1877 - 1935  (57 years)


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

  • Name Albert Near 
    Born 15 Sep 1877  , Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1891  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1901  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Machinist 
    Occupation 1911  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Machinist, Foundry 
    Residence 1911  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Methodist 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-91684 
    Died 1935  [5
    Buried Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Person ID I91684  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father John Ellis Near,   b. 8 Dec 1844, Belwood, Nichol Twp., Wellington, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Oct 1929, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Jane Monahan,   b. 12 Jun 1851, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Dec 1927, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years) 
    Married 12 Jan 1871  West Garafraxa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Family ID F23854  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Euphemia Florence "Florence" Wilbee,   b. 16 Feb 1878, , Huron Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1952  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 1 Jul 1903  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Children 
     1. Myrtle Idella Near,   b. 31 Mar 1904, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Dec 1993, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years)
    Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F9808  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • 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.

  • Sources 
    1. [S86] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1901, Waterloo (South/Sud) G-2 Page 8.

    2. [S1669] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1911, Div. 23 Page 1.

    3. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration.
      Name:Albert Near Date of Birth:15 Sep 1877 Gender:Male Birth Place:Wellington, Ontario, Canada Father's name:John Near Mother's name:Elizabeth Jane Monaghan

    4. [S2560] aaaWaterloo Township South 1891, Sect. 1 Page 57.

    5. [S239] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Preston CC#6335 Cemetery Internet Link .
      [Monument] Near/ Klaassen/ [4 Flat Markers] Father/ Albert Near/ 1877 ?1935./ Mother/ E. Florence Near/ 1878 ?1952./ Father/ Peter C. Klaassen/ 1903 ?1978./ Mother/ Myrtle I. Near/ Beloved Wife Of Peter C. Klaassen ?1904 - 1993.

    6. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Name:John Near Age:26 Birth Date:abt 1845 Birth Place:Canada Marriage Date:12 Jan 1871 Marriage County or District:Wellington Father:Henry Near Mother:Margaret Near Spouse:Elizabeth Monaghan Spouse's Age:20 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1851 Spouse Birth Place:Canada Spouse Father:John Monahan Spouse Mother:Catherine Monahan

    7. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Name:Albert Near Age:26 Birth Date:abt 1877 Birth Place:Wellington Co. Marriage Date:1 Jul 1903 Marriage County or District:Waterloo Father:John Near Mother:Elizabeth Monhon Spouse:Euphemia F Wilbiee Spouse's Age:25 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1878 Spouse Birth Place:Huron Co. Spouse Father:Wm T Wilbiee Spouse Mother:Geogiena Card

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 15 Sep 1877 - , Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Machinist - 1901 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1 Jul 1903 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Machinist, Foundry - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth