Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Reeve Lewis Lorenzo Kribs

Reeve Lewis Lorenzo Kribs[1, 2, 3]

Male 1829 - 1908  (78 years)

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  • Photos
    Lewis Kribs in 1901
    Lewis Kribs in 1901
    image from 1901 Hespeler Souvenir

  • Name Lewis Lorenzo Kribs 
    Prefix Reeve 
    Born 1 Dec 1829  Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
    Gender Male 
    Business Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Kribs Saw Mill 
    Hespeler-LewisKribsSawmill-0001-HespelerHeritageCentre.jpg
    Hespeler-LewisKribsSawmill-0001-HespelerHeritageCentre.jpg
    Lewis Kribs founded this saw mill in 1860 at the top of Forbes Park using the water power from a head pond created by damming Spring Creek. The big house was Dr. McIntyre's at the corner of Forbes & Kribs St, across from the W.G. Johnson Centre. - Hespeler Heritage Centre
    Historic Building Abt 1850  4860 Townline Rd, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 3 story stone mill first begun as a sawmill in 1850 by Peter Holm, later Lewis Kribs became owner and ran as a flour and grist mill.
    Residence 1852  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Occupation 1861  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Carpenter 
    Residence 1861  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Christian 
    Occupation 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Methodist 
    Elected Office 1880  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Reeve of Hespeler 
    Elected Office 1883  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Warden for the County of Waterloo 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105757927 
    Interesting contractor, business, bridge, public service, story, builder, politics 
    Name Louis Kribs 
    Name Ludwig Kribs 
    Occupation 1891  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Farmer 
    Residence 1891  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Presbyterian 
    Retired 1901  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Eby ID Number 00087-5106.1 
    Died 11 Mar 1908  Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6
    Cause: senility & indigestion (about 1 week) 
    Buried New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Person ID I9922  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2024 

    Father Aaron Kribs,   b. CALC 1 Nov 1803, of, Sand Beach, , Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Apr 1893, Sand Beach, Huron, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 89 years) 
    Mother Anna Steves,   b. 10 Dec 1802,   d. 22 Dec 1865, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years) 
    Family ID F21602  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Pannabaker,   b. 26 Jan 1832, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Sep 1906, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years) 
    Married 11 May 1852  Trinity Anglican Church, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Children 
     1. Sarah Ann Kribs,   b. 7 Apr 1853, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Dec 1924, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
     2. Henry Aaron Kribs,   b. 23 Apr 1855, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jul 1904, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 49 years)
     3. Louis Pannabaker Kribs,   b. 27 Feb 1857, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1898, Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 41 years)
     4. Mayor William Abraham Kribs,   b. 27 Feb 1859, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Oct 1943  (Age 84 years)
     5. George Alexander Kribs,   b. 17 Feb 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Elizabeth R. "Lizzie" Kribs,   b. 13 Aug 1863, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Aug 1910, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 47 years)
     7. Margaret M. "Maggie" Kribs,   b. 7 Jul 1865, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jul 1939, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     8. Clara Jane "Jennie" Kribs,   b. 15 Jun 1867, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Mar 1916, Victoria, British Columbia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
     9. Ella "Ellie" Kribs,   b. 31 Oct 1867, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     10. Kribs,   b. 31 Oct 1869, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     11. Mary V. "Molly" Kribs,   b. 4 Oct 1871, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Aug 1938  (Age 66 years)
     12. Florence Almira Kribs,   b. CALC 17 Oct 1873, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Feb 1878, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 4 years)
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F2872  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Died In Hespeler, on Wednesday, March 11th, 1908, at 11.30 o'clock a.m., Lewis L. Kribs, In his 79th year. Funeral Will take place from his late residence, Cooper St., Hespeler, where services will be held, on Friday, March 13th, at 2 o'clock p.m., leaving residence at 2.30, to the Hespeler Cemetery for interment. Friends and acquaintances will please accept this intimation. Hespeler, March 11th, '08

      Funeral Card of Lewis L. Kribs

      _______________________-

      Lewis Kribs was born in Eramosa Township on December 1, 1829, the son of Aaron Kribs. A carpenter by trade, Mr. Kribs soon developed a solid reputation as a skilled builder of public buildings and bridges. It was reported that all the major buildings in Hespeler were the product of his master mind as a contractor. Knox's Presbyterian Church in Galt was built under his supervision and he assisted in the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway bridge in Hespeler in 1860. In about 1864 Mr. Kribs went into the sawmill business, operating it for about eighteen years before passing it to his son William A. Kribs in about 1882 and turning his talents to flour milling. Lewis Kribs operated the Holm flour mills, located two miles north of Hespeler, for seventeen years. Here he introduced the roller system of milling, enlarged the building and added steam power where before there had been only water power. He retired from business in 1899 leaving the operation of the mill to his son William A. Kribs. Also active in local politics Mr. Kribs acted as Hespeler's first town clerk from 1859 to 1866 and served as the the village tax collector from 1859 to 1865. He served as reeve of Hespeler from 1881 to 1884, as reeve of Waterloo Township and as warden of Waterloo County. Mr Kribs died on March 11, 1908 and is buried in New Hope Cemetery. Kribs St. perpetuates the memory of both Mr. Kribs and his son William A. Kribs.

      Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge

      _____________________________________________


      LEWIS KRIBS, Reeve of the Village of Hespeler, is a native of Eramosa Township, Wellington County, where he was born in 1829. His father, Aaron Kribs, was also a native of Canada, though of German extraction. Mr. Kribs, on arriving at his majority, acquired the trade of a carpenter, and for a considerable period engaged extensively in contracting and building. He at present conducts saw, shingle, and planing mills in Hespeler, and owns as well two fine farms in the vicinity, aggregating 450 acres. His experience as a municipal legislator has been quite extended, embracing a period of membership in the Waterloo Township Council, during a portion of which he occupied the Reeve's Chair, and, since his removal to Hespeler, a term in the Reeveship of that village. Mr. Kribs is a Conservative in politics, an active and influential man in political campaigns, and holds a high position in the local councils of that party.

      Illustrated Atlas of the County of Waterloo, H. Parsell & Co., Toronto, Ont. 1881

      ______________________________

      Kribs, Lewis, contractor and builder. Born in Eramosa Tp., Wellington County, 1829. Settled here, 1846 Is present Reeve of village.

      Illustrated Atlas of the County of Waterloo, H. Parsel & Co., Toronto - 1881 (Village of New Hespeler entries)

      ___________________


      Lewis Kribs from 1853 worked here by the day as a Carpenter and from 1859 he and Ephraim Panabaker, working together, took contracts for building houses, etc. In 1863 he purchased the Oberholtzer saw mill and moved it to Forbes Street and older people will remember the huge piles of logs that accumulated during the sleighing season on the hill above the mill.

      Being then in a position to do his own sawing and mill work, Mr. Kribs was able to handle much larger jobs and in due course came to be known as one of the leading general contractors in this area. On some of his large jobs he sublet some of the work, Carpentry often to Archie Brydon, Masonry to Christian Pabst.

      Let me now digress; Jacob Hespeler was Reeve for 4 years; John Chapman for five; Lewis Kribs for five; A. W. Brodie for one; George D. Forbes for thirteen, and William McVittie for three and one-half years. Prior to their election to the high office of Chief Magistrate none of these Gentle-men had had any previous Municipal experience here as Councillor.

      This indicates the confidence held by the citizens at these different periods, in the business ability, the Probity, the Integrity of these good men. The high regard in which they were held by their fellow citizens. And I add that during one of his terms of office as our Reeve, Mr. Kribs was also Warden of the County of Waterloo.

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

  • Sources 
    1. [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..., 152.

    2. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 28 Feb 1878.
      Died 7 Feb 1878 The youngest child of Louis Kribs in Hespeler, a girl, died at the age of 4 years and 2 months

    3. [S1338] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Galt Reporter (1846-1973), Obituary of Florence Almira Kribs - Feb 15 1878 pg 3.

    4. [S143] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1901, Hespeler (Village) D-2 Page 14.

    5. [S713] Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 29557 (1908), Lewis Kribs, accessed 24 Jan 2010.
      Lewis Kribs, d. 11 Mar 1908 Hespeler, aged 78y, 4 mos., b. Erasmosa Tp., cause: senility & indigestion (about 1 week)

    6. [S890] Funeral Card - - Waterloo Historical Society - photocopies, "Funeral Card of Lewis L. Kribs," 11 Mar 1908.

    7. [S1837] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1861, Div. 1 Page 8.

    8. [S2208] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1891, Section 1 Page 16.

    9. [S2767] aaaWaterloo Township 1871 South, Sect. 2 Page 40.

    10. [S574] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican.
      Lewis Kribs of Waterloo Tp, married Elizabeth Pannabeker of, Waterloo Tp., 11 May 1852

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1 Dec 1829 - Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Kribs Saw Mill - - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHistoric Building - Abt 1850 - 4860 Townline Rd, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 11 May 1852 - Trinity Anglican Church, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Carpenter - 1861 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Christian - 1861 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Reeve of Hespeler - 1880 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Warden for the County of Waterloo - 1883 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1891 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1891 - 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 MapsDied - Cause: senility & indigestion (about 1 week) - 11 Mar 1908 - 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