Rev. Heinrich Wilhelm "Henry William" Peterson

1793 - 1859  (66 years)

• Photos

  Heinrich Wilhelm Peterson from Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

  
  

• Name	Heinrich Wilhelm "Henry William" Peterson
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	27 May 1793	Quakenbrück, , Niedersachsen, Germany
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1835	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	newspaper editor
  Died	12 Jun 1859	Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	newspaper editor, registrar
  Interesting	story, news, politics, military
  Name	Henry William Peterson
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-120035
  Person ID	I120035	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2024

  
  

  Father	Johann Dieter Diedrich Peterson,   b. 23 Nov 1756, Bremen, , Germany ,   d. 18 Jan 1848, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario  (Age 91 years)
  Family ID	F18565	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Hannah Ann Hendrickson,   b. CALC 31 Aug 1806, of, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States ,   d. 26 Jun 1830, Dover, Kent, Delaware, United States  (Age ~ 23 years)
  Married	9 Jun 1825	Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, USA
  Children	1. Peterson
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F48110	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Harriet Middleton Clayton,   b. 6 May 1798, Dagsboro, Sussex, Delaware, United States ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	12 Feb 1831	Dover, Kent, Delaware, United States
  Children	1. Henry William Peterson,   b. 13 Dec 1831, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Harriet Clayton Peterson,   b. 28 Apr 1834, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1 Oct 1834, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 0 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F8000	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  PETERSON, HEINRICH WILHELM (later Henry William), printer, publisher, editor, justice of the peace, and office holder; b. 27 May 1793 in Quakenbrück (Federal Republic of Germany), son of Johann Dietrich Peterson and Julianna Sophia Amelia von Borck; m. first 9 June 1825 Hannah Ann Hendrickson, and they had one daughter; m. secondly 12 Feb. 1831 Harriet Middleton Douglas, née Clayton, sister of John Middleton Clayton who later became American secretary of state (1848-50), and they had two children, one of whom died in infancy; d. 12 June 1859 in Guelph, Upper Canada. Heinrich Wilhelm Peterson was two years old when, in August 1795, his family left Germany and immigrated to Baltimore, Md. In 1796 his father, a former printer and a Lutheran pastor, moved the family to Pennsylvania where Heinrich Wilhelm received his schooling. From August 1814 to March 1817 the younger Peterson published the German Liberty Flag at Carlisle, Pa. In February 1819 his father accepted a call to minister to Lutheran congregations in Markham and Vaughan townships, Upper Canada. Heinrich Wilhelm did not accompany his parents but he did visit them in 1823 or 1824. Within a year of his marriage in 1825 Peterson had moved to Markham where, according to his son's later account, he printed a small news-sheet "more I think for his private amusement than anything else." By March 1827 he was working in Ancaster for George Gurnett* on the Gore Gazette. A short time thereafter he went to Dover, Del., where he opened a printing-shop and published the Legislative Reporter and then briefly the Christian Magazine. In 1830 both ventures failed for lack of support and in the same year Peterson's wife died, leaving an infant daughter. Peterson remarried the following year and returned to Upper Canada, staying temporarily at his parents' home in Markham before settling in Berlin (Kitchener) in 1832. Although not an ordained clergyman, Peterson ministered to German settlers of the Lutheran and Anglican faiths in the Waterloo area during the 1830s. In December 1832 he was appointed catechist for the Church of England, assisting the itinerant Vincent Philip Mayerhoffer. Peterson later joined the Methodist meeting at Berlin and he continued in the Methodist connection until his death, being a strong supporter of the Norfolk Street Methodist Church in Guelph during his later years. By 1835 Peterson was in the printing business again. He himself lacked sufficient capital to open a publishing establishment, but local supporters interested in a German newspaper purchased stock at $20 a share so that he could procure the necessary equipment. Peterson's printing-press was transported by oxen from Pennsylvania to Berlin where it was installed in August 1835, and the first issue of the Canada Museum, und Allgemeine Zeitung appeared on 27 August. The Museum was printed on good quality paper, and its format revealed a skilled and experienced hand. The weekly paper concentrated on international news, giving particular attention to events in Pennsylvania. Drawing from German newspapers printed in the United States, the Museum ran serialized stories and other contemporary German literature to keep up local interest in German language, literature, and social customs. In Canadian political affairs the Museum tried to pick a middle course, although Peterson made no secret of his support for government authority and was concerned that some Germans who opposed the government might become involved in the violence associated with the rebellions of 1837-38 [see William Lyon Mackenzie*]. In the aftermath of the uprising, Peterson urged the German community to accept the recommendations made by Lord Durham [Lambton*], hoping that such action would help restore civic peace in Upper Canada. The paper was also concerned with local affairs. It published news of town meetings, political rallies, and religious events in Wellington District. German poetry by Upper Canadian authors, including Peterson himself, was also published. For four and a half years the Museum, which sold for an annual subscription of two dollars, played a dominant role in introducing German immigrants to Canadian mores. According to a later report in the Guelph Advertiser, "the circulation of this journal extended beyond the Province, and exerted a considerable influence in promoting and encouraging German emigration to Canada. It was also the means of inducing many mechanics and others, to settle in Berlin, which was then composed of but a few houses." In addition to the newspaper, Peterson published a number of secular and religious titles for the German community. One of the earliest German books printed in British North America was a hymn-book, Die Gemeinschaftliche Liedersammlung, compiled in 1836 by Benjamin Eby, the local Mennonite bishop. Between 1838 and 1841 Peterson published a series of German almanacs and in 1839 he printed a German primer prepared by Eby for use in schools. The Museum office further served as Berlin's first post office receiving bi-weekly mail deliveries from Toronto. Peterson's interest in public affairs, his fluency in English and German, and his reputation as a friendly arbitrator in the community resulted in his appointment as a justice of the peace in August 1838. He was named registrar of Wellington District in 1840 and by December had decided to cease publication of the Museum. He sold his press to Heinrich Eby and Christian Enslin, his former assistants, who continued the paper as the Deutsche Canadier und Neuigkeitsbote. In 1842 Peterson supported efforts to establish a tory newspaper, the Guelph Herald and Wellington District Advertiser, which lasted only nine months. The paper was reconstituted as the Guelph Herald and Literary, Agricultural and Commercial Gazette in 1847 and was funded for a short time by a joint-stock company formed by Peterson and several Guelph businessmen. In the mean time, Peterson had settled in Guelph. He continued to serve as registrar, for the district until 1849 and thereafter for the county until his death. Herbert K. Kalbfleisch Works published by Heinrich Wilhelm Peterson include German Liberty Flag (Carlisle, Pa.), 27 Aug. 1814-25 March 1817; Christian Magazine (Dover, Del.), 1 (1830); Legislative Reporter (Dover), 1830; Canada Museum, und Allgemeine Zeitung (Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]), 27 Aug. 1835-18 Dec. 1840; Die Gemeinschaftliche Liedersammlung . . . , [comp. Benjamin Eby] (1st ed., Berlin, 1836; 2nd ed., 1838); and Benjamin Eby, Neues Buchstabir- und Lesebuch . . . (1st ed., Berlin, 1839). As a lay minister in Berlin, Peterson kept a register of baptisms and burials presided over by himself and by visiting clergymen between 1833 and 1835, much of it written in German. This register has been translated by Paul Eydt et al. and published as "The records of H. W. Peterson of Kitchener, 1833-1835" in Ontario Reg. ([Madison, N.J.]), 1 (1968): 133-40. AO, MU 2955, H. W. Peterson [Jr.] to Matthew Teefy, 13 July 1864. PAC, RG 5, A1: 92190-93. Der Deutsche Canadier (Berlin), 7 July 1859. Gore Gazette, and Ancaster, Hamilton, Dundas and Flamborough Advertiser (Ancaster, [Ont.]), 3 March 1827-8 June 1829. Guelph Advertiser, and Elora and Fergus Examiner (Guelph, [Ont.]), 23 June 1859. Guelph Herald and Literary, Agricultural, and Commercial Gazette. Guelph Herald and Wellington District Advertiser, 1842. C. A. Burrows, The annals of the town of Guelph, 1827-1877 (Guelph, 1877). A. E. Byerly, The beginning of things in Wellington and Waterloo counties . . . (Guelph, 1935). C. R. Cronmiller, A history of the Lutheran Church in Canada (1v. to date, n.p., 1961- ). Johnson, Hist. of Guelph. H. K. Kalbfleisch, The history of the pioneer German language press of Ontario, Canada, 1835-1918 (London, Ont., and Münster, German Federal Republic, 1968). Millman, Life of Charles James Stewart. W. H. Breithaupt, "'The Canada Museum,'" Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report, 1939: 62-70; "Some German settlers of Waterloo County," 1913: 11-15; and "Waterloo County newspapers," 1921: 152-60. A. E. Byerly, "Henry William Peterson," Waterloo Hist. Soc., Annual report, 1931: 250-62. A. B. Sherk, "The Pennsylvania Germans of Waterloo County, Ontario," OH, 7 (1906): 98-109. Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online 2000 University of Toronto/Université Laval _________________________________________ HENRY WILLIAM PETERSON By A. E. Byerly, D.O. Henry William Peterson, distinguished as the publisher of the first German newspaper in Canada, was born at Quaken-brueck, Germany, May 27th, 1793. He was two years of age when his parents moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and he was educated in the schools of Pennsylvania. He received a deep religious training, and from his youth took an active interest in spreading the Gospel. He also had a literary trend and at an early age entered newspaper work. When only 21 years old. he founded one of the first German newspapers in America. It was published from his print shop in Carlisle, Pa. This paper was called "The German Liberty Flag" and ran March 25th, 1814 to Mach 25th, 1817. The only volumes of this paper are now in the University of New York. They are a fine example of printing equal or better than that produced by printers with years of experience. In or about the year 1824, Peterson came to Canada to see his parents and look over the country. He could not keep out of the printing trade and assisted his old friend Mr. Gurnett, in the publication of the "Gore Gazette" at Ancaster, then a town of much more importance than Hamilton. On June 9th, 1825, he was married at Wilmington, Delaware, to Miss Hannah Ann Hendrickson. About the same time he started a printing shop in Dover, Delaware. Here he published for a session or two the "Legislative Reporter." In June, 1830, he began the publication of "The Christian Magazine," an un-denominational journal. These papers were in the English language. Six issues of the "Christian Magazine" appeared but for want of support it was discontinued. While publishing this paper, Peterson's young wife died and the only account of her death appears in the second number of his little magazine. She died in Dover, Saturday, June 26th, 1830, aged 23 years, 9 months and 26 days. She left one daughter who in later years married A. M. Jackson, who 75 years ago was a well-known resident of Guelph. Mr. Peterson spoke very feelingly of his wife and wrote a poem to her memory, which he published in "The Christian Magazine." On Feb. 12th, 1831, Mr. Peterson married at Dover, Delaware, Mrs. Harriett Middleton Clayton Douglas. She was the widow of Walter Douglas, and was born May 6th, 1798 at Dagsboro, Sussex County, Delaware. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. James Clayton, leading residents of that community. Her father was descended from one of the most noted families of colonial days. His great grandfather was Joshua Clayton who was said to have come to Pennsylvania with William Penn and his sons and located in Kent County, Delaware as early as 1895. Mrs. Douglas was a woman of rare ability, and made Mr. Peterson a devoted wife. By her first husband she had three children one, Harriett, dying in youth. The others were Margaret Ann and James Clayton Douglas. Margaret married Joseph P. Comegys, a son of C. P. Comegya, Governor of Delaware. He became one of the leading jurists of America, and Chief Justice of his State. One child of this union who survived until 1928 was Harriett Comegys of Dover, Delaware. In her declining years she was cared for by Margaret Peterson, of Guelph, Ontario, her niece, the grand-daughter of Henry William Peterson. James Douglas had two children, one of whom married Francis Buck of Delaware, and their son is now Governor of that State, and A married to a daughter of Coleman DuPont. Mrs. Peterson was a sister of John M. Clayton, one of the most beloved men of America, one of its great orators and statesmen. He was for many years a United States Senator, serving with Webster, Clay, Calhoun and Benton with whom he ranked as an equal. He was Secretary of State of the United States under President Taylor, and was joint author of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, between the United States and Great Britain. His life was greatly saddened by the early death of his wife, and both his sons died as promising young men, leaving the father alone. Thus he took a kindly interest in relatives, and was ever a close friend and adviser of his brother-in-law, Henry William Peterson. and his son, Henry William, Jr. After the marriage of Henry William Peterson to Mrs. Douglas, they came to Canada, going to his father's home in Markham township, York County. It was there that Henry William, their son was born, Dec. 13th, 1831. Henry William Peterson, Sr., is believed to have made his first visit to Waterloo township in November of 1832. He came to look over the German settlement and to minister to the people of the Lutheran faith, those of the Mennonite following being under the care of Bishop Eby He made the difficulty journey from York on horse Mack and on his arrival was made welcome by the German settlers. On Sunday, November 18th, 1832, he recorded the following, "Stayed all day at Benjamin Eby's, went with him and his family to the meeting or church. He prayed and preached well. He is Bishop of the Mennonite Society of Waterloo. He is a good man." Peterson's first burial service was at Berlin, August 8th, 1833, over the remains of Susan Bettschen who was buried in the new burying ground, where he had founded the church. Here also was buried Harriett Peterson, his own little daughter. She was born at Berlin, Waterloo township, August 28th, 1834, and died October 1st, the same year. Her death was a sad blow to the parents who so dearly loved their children. Henry William now became their idol and many, are the written words of love and affection recorded by the parents with regard to him. Mrs. Peterson came to Berlin shortly after her husband but as it was difficult to find a dwelling place, they suffered considerable inconvenience. They were very poor. Young Peterson had been making his own way in life for many years, and his printing ventures had not been a success as far as making money was concerned. The new conditions under which they lived at Berlin must have been very trying to Mrs. Peterson. Reared in luxury and comfort, amidst the aristocracy of Maryland, she was now 'living in about as primitive a condition as could be found. But history tells us that she met every difficulty with courage and cheerfulness, and proved to be a worthy mate for the young pioneer settler. Mr. Peterson though not ordained as a minister, was a true follower of God and a worthy son of his father, the minister at Markham. I have Mrs. Peterson's New Testament, and on the fly leaf is written by her son the following, "This was my dear Mother's Testament, and to my knowledge always faithfully and constantly read, her constant companion. Her last words evidenced the peacefulness of a life always that of a true Christian." It was natural that Mr. Peterson should drift into his old profession or trade, that of a printer. But what a small place to start in Berlin was then only a tiny settlement, without a post office, and its stores very small indeed. Yet the community consisted of an industrious people, hardy, thrifty Pennsylvania Dutch, whose farms to this day bear evidence of the ability of their founders. In 1831 Adam Fergusson, the founder of Fergus, who travelled through the German settlements, writes of the fine farms he saw and noted what an industrious people he found. This was the class and type of people Henry William Peterson chose to serve, and as early as 1835 he established a printing shop in Berlin. In his venture he had the help of many settlers as is shown in the first issue of the newspaper, which appeared August 21th, 1835 and in which Mr. Peterson writes the following, "I owe it to you in the first issue of this paper to make known who were my friends in establishing this printing office. I have only time now to say that I am very thankful to all my good friends and real supporters. I owe thanks in particular to Benjamin Eby and Jacob S. Schumacher. Below I give the list of subscriptions and the names of my supporters." Then followed a long list of names, pioneer settlers of Waterloo who were generous in their support of Peterson. Their proposition was as follows, "It is the general and hearty wish of the German people in Upper Canada that a German paper and German books be printed in this country and since there is an opportunity to attain this and the printer has no means himself, the undersigned offer to provide the printing office. Each one of us who pays $20 will receive one share. All shareholders give their money for five years without interest. If Peterson, the printer, wants to become owner of the printing office after five years he may do so by returning the money which we are providing. Each year he must give us $2 in return and whatever is not paid after five years is subject to interest." This was the beginning of the first newspaper in the German language in Canada. The long list of subscribers to the above document testifies to the intelligence of the German people and their desire to have newspapers and books in their own tongue. If the neighboring English communities had had as long before they did. In the first issue of the newspaper Mr. Peterson describes the village as follows, "The town of Berlin is located in the centre of Waterloo Township which is thickly settled with German farmers who came many years ago from Pennsylvania. Berlin is in a flourishing condition with all kinds of diligent tradesmen among them a maker of spinning wheels and chairs, a hat maker, four cabinet makers and car-penters, one blacksmith, three storekeepers, two shoemakers, one weaver, one tailor, one mason, one wagon-maker, one hotel-keeper, one doctor. There are to-day 25 dwellings. The large hotel erected by Frederick Gaukel is very noteworthy." The printing press used by Peterson was brought from Pennsylvania by oxen. The first printing done on it at Berlin and still in existence is an announcement sheet dated 8th of August, 1835. It is the oldest existing printing done in British North America in the German language. It announces that church services will be held by the Rev. John Bernheim at Berlin, August 9th; at Tromps, Sunday, August 16th; Wilmot, that afternoon; Aug. 19th in Berlin; Aug. 23rd in Berlin and also at Hilborn's Meeting House, August 30th, in Preston in the morning and in the afternoon at Berlin. On August 27th, 1835, the first number of the newspaper, 'The Canada Museum" appeared at Berlin from Peterson's newly established printing shop. It was the first German news-paper in Canada. It is fortunate that a complete set of the issues of this newspaper is in existence. There are two volumes of the first year, the writer owns volumes number two and three, while four and five are owned by relatives. These are the only known volumes and they are an example of beautiful workmanship. They show an able editorship, not surpassed in any of the English Canadian papers of that day. Mr. Peterson had associated with him for a time in the publishing of his paper, Mr. Christian Enslin, who became a well-known man in Waterloo County. Mr. Enslin had come to Berlin in 1833 where he died March 30th, 1856. He also established a bookbindery in Berlin, and, after Mr. Peterson sold out to Henry Eby, who learned the trade in his shop, Mr. Enslin edited the paper then started by Mr. Eby. The first book in the German language printed in Canada was compiled and published by Mr. Peterson It was a collection of songs or hymns for the Christian people of Berlin and district. It is dated the 24th of September, 1836, and is called the first edition. A very fine copy of this book is now in my possession, and so far as can be ascertained is the only copy known. It was Mr. Peterson's personal copy and is inscribed with his name. The second edition of the book appeared in Berlin by the same printer in 1838. He also published other books of a religious nature, only a few copies now being known. A very great rarity printed by Peterson is an almanac, issued in the years 1838, 1839 and 1840. Copies are now in my possession and contain in addition personal notes by the printer. Mr. Peterson. No other copies of these almanacs are known to be in existence. Some of notes in these almanacs in Mr. Peterson's hand writing are as follows: March 20th, 1838-Mr. John Dobbin discontinued school. August 29th, 1838-My dear Harriet left Berlin for Dundas. September 1st, 1838-My dear Harriett left Dundas for Toronto on her journey to Dover. Sailed from Toronto in the Commodore Barrie. September 7th, 1838-My dear Harriett arrived at Dover. November 7th, 1838-My dear wife returned from Dover, Del., this evening-safe--thank the Lord. April 6th, 1839-- Received today 104 signers to a petition praying for a County Registry in Berlin April 17th, 1839-Jonas Eby began my wood house, on Wednesday at noon. Price $13. May 27th, 1839-Received a white cow calf named Milky from Samuel Shantz. The calf aged about 5 weeks. On Saturday, June 15th, 1839, Andrew Jackson Peterson arrived at Berlin, U. C. He will be 16 years old on the 12th day of Dec. 1839. Saturday, July 27th, 1839- Henry B. Eby became free from his apprenticeship to me. Monday, August 19th, 1839, Henry B. Eby went to Hamilton to seek employment as a journeyman printer. Monday, September 2nd. 1839-My son, H. William P. for the first time alone, "carried out" my paper, The Canada Museum, No. 34, Vol. 4. Friday, Oct. 11th, 1839-Our son William became exceeding-ly ill-caught bilious fever, and continued ill for two weeks. Sunday, Nov. 10th, 1839-This day our clear little son William is so far recovered that be has gone to the German Sunday school in Berlin. The day is fine. December 17, 1840 -- Henry William Peterson joined Methodist Meeting. On the 20th received a certificate. This concludes his notes. Mr. Peterson was for many years a prominent Methodist. His name was in the list of the first pew-holders in the Norfolk street Methodist Church in Guelph when it was opened in 1856. Although he died before his subscription to the building fund became due, it was paid by his son. In this same church and also a first pew-holder was John McLean, the discoverer of the Grand Falls of Labrador and a personal friend of both the Petersons, father and son. He taught the son, Henry William, how to play chess. Mr. Peterson worked hard while in Berlin to secure a post- office for the village, and at last succeeded. He also led the movement to give the district a magistrate, and in 1838 was appointed the magistrate himself. He was thus one of the earliest magistrates in the province and especially in the Western District. He carefully recorded the deaths, births and baptisms in the infant village and these constitute a valuable record to-day. In 1838. the District of Wellington was set apart as a separate district, comprising the present counties of Waterloo, Wellington, Grey and part of Duffer,. After a contest between Guelph, Galt and Fergus for the County seat, Guelph won out, and in 1842 the first Council meeting was held there. Henry William Peterson of Berlin was appointed the first Registrar, and in 1843 moved to Guelph where he assumed the duties of office. The old home was on Waterloo Avenue, only a block from the Hamilton highway. This house is still standing and is a very desirable residence. The Peterson home was in later years a magnificent residence in beautiful grounds on Water street. This was where all the early day records of Berlin be-longing to its first publisher were preserved. Hen, William Peterson, Sr., was received into the Masonic Order in 1821 at Mount Lebanon, Pa. His son also joined the same order at St. Andrew's Lodge, Toronto, 23rd of May, 1859. Mr. Peterson's wife, formerly Harriett Clayton, died in Guelph, April 18th, 1852, and was buried in the old cemetery on the Square, but was later removed to the present cemetery where she rests with her husband under a fine monument erected by the son. Henry William Peterson. Mr. Peterson died in Guelph on Sunday, June 12th, 1859. He had been taken ill on the 30th of May of peritonitis, and was attended by Drs. Howitt and Parker, but medical skill proved of no avail, and one of the finest men of the Province passed away. He dearly loved his home and family. Life had been a long hard struggle for him, beginning with the days of a printer's "devil" and ending at Guelph, where for a considerable number of years he was blessed with more comforts than had been his lot in the pioneer struggles in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Waterloo township in Canada. It is indeed fitting that he should be remembered on the 100th anniversary of his coming to Canada. In December it is just a hundred years since his son Henry William was born in Markham township, York County, Ontario. the parents arriving there in 1831. This son born on Dec. 15, 1831 was named Henry William. At an early age he assisted his father in his printing shop in Berlin, Ont. After the family moved to Guelph, he attended the first District Grammar School under A. C. Verner. He attended Upper Canada College from 1846 to 1849 and was one of its most brilliant pupils, winning many honors and prizes. He established a law office in Guelph, and was for many years in partnership under firm name of Lemon and Peterson. He held the office of County Crown Attorney of Wellington County for a long time, and was recognized as one of the ablest lawyers of his day. Mr. Peterson served as Mayor of Guelph and for years was the leading member of the School Board, He married Emma, daughter of Sheriff Grange of Guelph, and to them were born, Douglas, William, Ellen, Clayton, John and Margaret Peterson Of these only three are now living, Clayton in Toronto John in Detroit, and Margaret in Dover, Delaware. Mr. Peterson died in Guelph July 17th 1913 in his eighty-third year What a change there is to-day from the days of Henry William Peterson! Then it took many hours to set up and print a small newspaper and now modern devices make it a work of a few. But the efforts of to-day are small in comparison with the struggles and successes of a 100 years ago. Much better it would be for many of us if we had to live under the self same conditions to-day. _________________ King Street , North Side Frederick Street. Bishop Benjamin Eby's farm came to the corner of King and Frederick Streets. Next to Frederick Street, Frederick and William Miller erected a frame building and used it as a general store. After the grading operations spoken of this building had to undergo the same process as the St. Nicholas Hotel. It was considered a fine building in its day with large windows on each side of the centre door. Henry Stroh finally bought the building and tore it down in 1868. Jacob Stroh has some of the window sash, shutters, stairway, etc., still in his possession. Later the building was occupied by Jacob Eckstein cigar maker and tobacco dealer. Mrs. Warren with a family lived on the second story for a number of years. Vacant lot. Next a large brick building with double deck porch along the front, the Queen's Arms Hotel, built about 1840 and continued as a hotel until about 1860. A Mr. Butchard was the first landlord and later Levi Weber. From this hotel the first omnibus met the trains at the G.T.R. station in Berlin in 1856. Before that day it was a stopping place of stage coaches operating from Hamilton and Galt to Berlin and beyond. The old Queen's Arms long vacant and practically ruined as a building was sold finally and made room for the Market Building and Town Hall in 1869.* Next we come to the John Roos house. This also had a double-deck veranda with heavy posts as was the style 1840-50. The building was later turned into a hotel known as the Market Hotel and kept by Casper Heller. A lot with a log cabin in the rear, occupied by Jacob Sauer, who had come from Pennsylvania, father of Mrs. John Roat. * See 1922 Annual Report W. H. S., p. 210. A harness shop occupied by John Roat, then by his son John and later by John Haugh, a son-in-law of John Roat. A garden. A dwelling, 4 or 5 feet lower than the street which had been filled up, where lived the Susand family. Mrs. Susand had a reputation with juveniles for tarts and molasses taffy sold in lc. bars. Her children were in the habit of selling these wares to passengers at the G.T.R. station. After her husband's death about 1860, widow Susand moved her shop to Foundry Street North, and there continued until she died. Susand was an ex-slave. In 1857 at a nomination meeting for Council, he was nominated and stood a good chance of being elected, as a joke. However, the more thoughtful element among the voters prevailed. A two story, frame building, lengthwise with King Street, built in the '30's. After street grading this had to be raised so that what had before been the ground floor became the cellar or basement. A house occupied by Wm. Hawke,-known as Bill Hawke- a mason. A stout, easy-going man. His wife was in the habit of standing in the door way, with white lace cap, smoking a clay pipe. The east end of this building was occupied by Winters, a hatter, the first hat maker in Berlin. He made the old style, broad brim, Mennonite hats in fashion up to about 1845. At the corner of Scott stood a brick building of good size with gable toward King Street, used to stable the first fire teams for a number of years. Later John Wagner had a waggon shop above and George Ward a blacksmith shop underneath. Scott Street was, however, not opened until many years later. A one and one-half story building rough cast, gable facing King St., occupied by H. W. Peterson, [Henry William]who began publishing the "Canada Museum", in 1835 and so continued until 1840 when he went to Guelph as first Registrar of the County of Wellington. This was the first newspaper published in Waterloo County. Jacob Hailer's house, a one and one-half story, frame building with porch along the front partly enclosed by lattice work. In this house was born in 1834, Catherine Hailer, who married Louis Breithaupt. She is said to have been the first child born in Berlin of parents who came from Germany. Hailer's barn was some distance back from the street and next along on the street front was his shop where he manufactured spinning wheels, etc., and chairs which had a large distribution. Hailer was an expert wood turner. He had two foot-power lathes and a number of German assistants from time to time, continuing his shop for about 40 years. A two story frame building lengthwise with King Street, erected by Dr. John Scott. He had a drug store with two good-sized windows at the front. On the east gable of the building was a sign, "Med. Hall" in large letters. The sign was legible long after Dr. Scott's death. The doctor pursued his practice on horseback for which he used three horses. He was the first medical practitioner in Berlin, coming in 1834, at the time of the cholera epidemic. For a few years before he was married he boarded at the Gaukel Hotel. His later house, after the one described, is still standing on Weber Street at the rear of the Kitchener Public Library. The old Scott house on King Street was later occupied by Franz Martin who kept a saloon. Martin had a musical family, with the zither as their principal instrument, which all the children could play. A one and one-half story, frame building, painted, occupied by Anslm Wagner, a potter. A brick building 1 ½ story lengthwise with King Street, the west end of which was John Eby's drug store, the rest of the building being his dwelling. This was the first regular drug store in Berlin. A brick building with a frame extension in the rear used by David Eby as a pump shop. Part of the brick building is still standing, the rest having been cut olT for the opening of Eby Street North. A one story hip roof brick cottage occupied by Geo. Eby, a Notary, who came to Canada in 1804. He died in this house. A considerable fish story is told of how he followed a sturgeon in the Conestoga River, part of Grand River, and finally speared it. A one and one-half story building, probably rough cast, occupied by Hy. Wurm, a carpenter employed at the Simpson factory. A two story brick building painted red occupied by Henry S. Huber.' A handsome brick building, two story, with veranda along the front and ground floor considerably above the street level, with broad steps, the width of the building, leading to it, was built in 1850. Some time later it was occupied by Casper Heller and known as the Royal Exchange hotel. Following the old custom its swinging sign had "Last Chance" on the side toward the village and "First Chance" outward, referring to liquid refreshments. Heller kept a good hotel and had also a large shed and ham next east of the hotel. On the corner a steam grist mill was erected, about 1860. Louis Seyler, a German, was the miller. The custom was for farmers to bring in their wheat to have it ground, getting in return flour, bran and middlings, the miller retaining his toll. Later Lehnen & Shelly operated this mill. REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder. Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

  
  

• Sources

  [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), 14 Jun 1859. At Guelph,on the 12th inst., Mr. H. W. Peterson, Registrar of the County of Wellington, and Uncle of A. J. Peterson, esq., of Berlin [S20] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Telegraph (title varies: Berlin Telegraph, Berlin Daily Telegraph) (1853-1922), 17 Jun 1859. Peterson: At Guelph, on the 12th inst., H. W. Peterson, Esq., Registrar of the County of Wellington, and Uncle of A. J. Peterson, Esq., of Berlin, aged 66 years. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 27 May 1793 - Quakenbrück, , Niedersachsen, Germany Married - 9 Jun 1825 - Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, USA Married - 12 Feb 1831 - Dover, Kent, Delaware, United States Occupation - newspaper editor - 1835 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 12 Jun 1859 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - newspaper editor, registrar - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth