Henry C. Mueller

Other Events:

• Name: H. E. Mueller
• Name: Henry Miller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-219399
• Immigration: 1852
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Other Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer Foundry

Notes:

How They Farmed Sixty Years Ago.

H. E. Mueller of Dickie Settlement has sent us an interesting tale of pioneer days, which gives a splendid insight into the neighborliness that made hard work a pleasure and paved the way for the luxury and ease of operation in all things that we now enjoy.

A neighbor out here sends me papers sometimes to read. Amongst them I found a letter written by Christian Heinrich Frederick Kraemer. I know old Fronz well. We were neighbors for years, and a nice neighbor he was. I appreciated reading his letter of his pioneer days which was very interesting to me.

I will try and give you a brief history of my pioneer days.

On the 24th of January, 1928, I celebrated my 80th birthday and as luck has it I have been confined to my room since the 15th of October, 1925, and since I am sick my eyesight has failed me as well, but on a bright day I can still see to read and write a little, both English and German as well.

On the 24th of January, 1848, I was born in Germany, Hessen, Darmstadt, and in 1852 we sailed from Liverpool to New York where my father had a brother and my mother a sister. Father and his brother had married sisters. We resided there in Brooklyn, N.Y., until February, 1855, when we moved to the promised land of milk and honey in Canada, now Ontario. We came by rail as far as Galt. That was as far as we could go at that time. A team took us a mile and a half west of St. Agatha. There we resided thirty years and there is where I spent my boyhood.

Married in 1872.

On the 27th of October, 1872, I married Miss Mary Steftel of New Dundee. The nuptials were solemnized by Rev. Herman Sagehorn pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Berlin (Kitchener). We had a family of twelve, and of these there are 4 surviving, namely, Jacob of Ayr, John of Black Horse, Margareth of Dickie Settlement, and Henry of Blair. There are 19 grand-children and 5 great grandchildren.

My Pioneer Days.

When I was 12 years old I was hired out to Jacob Litwiller, a young progressive farmer close to St. Agatha. I received two dollars per month, twelve dollars for the six months. That is where I learned to plough and how to tie a sheaf. But they were good to me. In those days we had no ten hour system. My time called from half past four in the morning till 8 or 9 at night. I went to school again during the winter. Next summer I worked for a farmer across the road and received twenty-four dollars for six months. Back to school again and the following summer I worked for the same boss and received thirty-six dollars for six months. After this I often helped to clear and break up new land. In those days there was no demand for wood until the Grand Trunk started to buy wood. Then you could buy the best of wood from $2.25 to $2.50 per cord delivered.

Cutting Down Bush

When you would have ten or twelve acres of bush to cut down you would take maybe five or six trees standing in line with each other and cut a chip out of each tree. Then you would cut a heavy tree on top of them and you would have what they called a winrow. In ten or twelve acres, if you watched yourself, you could make quite a lot, which would save you a considerable lot of chopping, and would give you a clear strip of land as well. When your bush was cut down and in logs you would have a logging bee. Those were the good old days when a friend in need was a friend indeed. If you asked your neighbor for help he would not scratch his head and think three times before he would speak, like the doctor's coachman, who was told he was always to think three times before he spoke. The old doctor was wearing a fifty dollar wig to disguise his age. One night he was reading to his tallow candles and fell sound asleep. "His wig caught fire and his coachman called "Boss, I think once" stopped a little; "Boss, I think twice." and yelled, "Boss, I think three times your wig is on fire." In those days the man would ask you when you would be ready. You mentioned the day and he would say he will be over with bells on. And furthermore they would say. we have friends living quite a distance. from here, with good oxen. If you send them word they will come too.

When the day arrived your near neighbors would be there quite early in the morning. Around nine o'clock It was no surprise to see John and Joe come along from a distance, each with a nice yoke of oxen and bundle of clover hay on the wagon for their dinner. In those days they thought just as much of their oxen as they do now of their horses and they would not come empty-handed. They always brought four or five able-bodied men with hand spikes to help skid the logs. They would come whistling and singing as happy as a meadow lark in spring. As soon as they arrive they would put a logging chain on their oxen, go amongst the logs, each trying to bring in the most logs.

There would always be lots of work for us boys. We would have to pick up chips and brush and carry it to the log piles. By night the field would be ready to start the fire. Often there would be an acre or more of a small pinery. These would be cut as close to the ground as possible and when the logs were burned the fire would burn them all up. After everything is burned you would sow your wheat and clover. Then you would have to harrow it. We could not take a 12 or 16 foot harrow. We had a harrow made specially where we could crawl between the stumps. The pinery sometimes we could not harrow at all. That would not worry the farmer. He would put his old pipe into commission, take his axe and go to the bush and cut a tree with a nice top, cut of the top, fasten the oxen to the top and draw it over the pinery. When the wheat came up you could not tell the difference between that which was harrowed and that which was done with the tree top.

He would pasture this field for four or five year and then he would summer fallow it. By that time the stumps would nearly all have disappeared and he would have a nice field. He would then sow wheat once more and it was not much of a trick to realize from 35 to 40 bushels per acre.

Saw First Grain Cutting Machine.

I can well recall the day when the first machine came our way to be tried to cut wheat. It was a heavy, clumsy machine, built by John Watson of Ayr. It took two men to work it. The grain would fall on a platform at the end. There was a place built for a man to stand on and whenever he thought it was a sheaf he would draw it off. We had no telephone, but you believe. me that field was lined with spectators to see that wonderful machine work. The field was a corner field. the road south led to Baden, north to Berlet's Corner, west to Philipsburg and east to St. Agatha. The farm was owned by David Y. Shantz, an uncle of Peter Shantz, residing in Preston. He had five brothers. namely, Jacob of Berlin (Kitchener) who had a saw mill east of Kitchener: He built his own sidewalk from his house to the city limits. Then there was Joe Jop and Amos living close, to Haysville, and Samuel, father of Peter, at Pine Hill. A year later Samuel Merner of New Hamburg built a machine called the Excelsior dropper which was a very easy running machine. When the grain stood nice and the man would watch the dropper it made nice work. Many a day I had the pleasure of binding after that machine.

In those days our oats were cradled and bound by hand. If you had 10 or 12 acres you would get 2 or 3 good men with their cradles. Our pioneers always wanted the oats to get a little rain before it was bound and put in the barn. Sometimes it would get too much rain and on a hot day you could not bind it The farmer would then have a bee, and on a moonlight night he would invite his neighbors and it was nothing unusual to see twenty or more willing hands help bind that field. As soon as the dew was on we would hike for that field and by 12 o'clock the field was tied in sheaves ready to go to the barn.

The next thing on the program was a real old country lunch. Lard was plentiful those days and our pioneer women knew how to put up a lunch with always lots of doughnuts. sandwiches with ham and cheese, and for a drink we had tea, coffee and beer as well, but our beer those days was no 2 1/ or 4.4 stuff like they have now.

I can well remember when Noah Bechtel, uncle of John B. Bricker, our genial corn borer inspector for Waterloo county, shot a large black grizzly bear in October, 1863. They had seen the bear eight miles north where there was a large bush and swamp, called Queen's Bush, where the farmers had their pigs to get acorns and beechnuts, which were plentiful. Mr. Bear came out sometimes to help them to butcher. We had no selects, a pig was a pig. One day a squad went after him but did not get him. Later in October he came trotting along through Wilmot township. Moses Bechtel and Christian Hallman were ploughing beside Noah Bechtel's cedar swamp when he came walking right up to them. They went in and Bechtel brought his rifle with him. They followed the bear's tracks for a mile from the swamp, through John Forler's swamp, then across the road into another 400 acre bush. John Forler hitched his carriage team into the democrat, drove to Petersburg, and brought a man up with a hound, and John Ernst Jr. came along with his bulldog. Wm. Miller put his hound on the trail and in a short time found Mr. Bruin sound asleep. Miller fred a shot and the bear came trotting through the swamp with the dogs after him. When he saw that he was surrounded it did not take him long to climb a tree. Noah Bechtel, with a well aimed shot, brought the bear down.

I could relate many other incidents, but there is only one more and that is about our footwear. Now we have to pay from 8 to 9 dollars for a pair of shoes. Sixty years ago when we were 18 or 20 years of age you would not see us with shoes on Sunday. Oh no, we would have a pair of French calf or other calf skin boots, the top all decorated with red, white and blue, either with an anchor or stars. The sole had to match the top. The cobbler would put on a half sole with wooden pegs, etc., and we would pay only five dollars for a pair. If you wanted your shoes half-soled the coat was 50 cents as compared to $1.00 to $1.25

Thanking you very much for your valuable space.

Yours truly, H. C. M.

Waterloo Chronicle, 5 Jul 1928, p. 9

Henry married Mary Seftel 27 Oct 1872, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Philip Seftel and Hanna Mary Tietsen) was born 3 Dec 1849, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Aft 1929. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Jacob Miller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-353856
• Residence: 1949, Coronation Blvd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario

Notes:

Jacob Mueller

PRESTON, July 9. Jacob John Mueller, 74, died at his home, Coronation Blvd., Galt-Preston highway, last night. Ill since October, his condition became serious several days ago. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mueller, he was born at Mannheim and came to Waterloo Township, with his parents in his youth. He has resided here since. Until his illness, he was a fireman at Werlich Manufacturing Co., for 22 years. Mr. Mueller was an adherent of the Lutheran Church. Surviving are his wife, the former Priscilla Wanner, whom. he married at Kossuth, 49 years ago and five daughters, Mrs. Edward Ringler, Galt, Mrs. Harry Solonik, Coronation Blvd.; Mrs. Clarence Knechtel, Rosebank; Mrs. Robert Marshall, Milton and Miss Hazel Mueller, at home. There are three sons, Clarence, Clayton and Cecil, all of Preston. Also surviving is one brother, John, of Innerkip, 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral. service will be held Monday, at 2: 30 p.m., with burial in Preston Cemetery. The body is resting at Stager-Pass Funeral Home.

Kitchener-Waterloo Record 9 Jul 1949 pg 5

John married Priscilla Wanner 26 Dec 1900, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Priscilla (daughter of John Wanner and Mary Ann Witmer) was born 9 Dec 1879, , Ontario, Canada; died 1963, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-35343

Other Events:

• Name: Margaret Mary Gill
• Name: Mary Margaretha Mueller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112092
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Domestic
• Residence: 1911, Roseville, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Margaret married James T. Gill 9 Jan 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. James was born Aug 1876, , Ontario, Canada; died 1959; was buried , Roseville Mennonite Cemetery [Formerly Detweiller], Roseville, Waterloo, ON, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-63078
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farm Laborer

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-2325

Other Events:

• Name: Henry S. Mueller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-89676
• Residence: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Henry married Ellen Woods 27 Apr 1914, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Ellen (daughter of Sampson Woods and Adeline Drake) was born 1895; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Alice Victoria Mueller
• Name: Alice Victoria Solonik
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-383408
• Residence: 1963, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1975, 1510 Queenston Rd., Cambridge, Watereloo Region, Ontario

Alice married Harry Solonik 28 Nov 1928, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Harry was born 1901, , Poland; died 12 Jun 1975, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Goldie May Knechtel
• Name: Goldie May Miller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112095

Notes:

Knetchel, Mrs Clarence (Goldie) - On Saturady, March 28 1981, at her home, 71 Water St., Ayr; the former Goldie Miller, age 75 years.
Dear wife of Clarence; mother of Rufus and Joseph; grandmother of Mrs Brenda Gillespie, Pauline, Steven and Terry Knechtel and great-grandmother of Laura Gillespie, all of Ayr; sister of Clayton Miller, Cecil Miller, and Mrs. Harry Solonik, all of Cambridge (P) and Hazel Miller of Kitchener. Predeceased by her two sisters, Violet Ringler and Eva Marshall and her parents.

Mrs. Knechtel was a member of the W.M.S. of the United Brethren in Christ, New Dundee.

Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener, after 7 p.m. this evening. Funeral and committal service in the Ratz-Bechtel Chapel, Monday, 3 p.m., Rev. R.C. Gates will conduct the service. Interment will be made in the Mannheim Mennonite cemetery.

Goldie married Clarence G. Knechtel 10 Nov 1924, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Clarence (son of Jacob Toman Knechtel and Jeannette R. "Nettie" Geiger) was born 28 Feb 1903, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 9 Jul 1988, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mannheim Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-353844

Clarence — Alfreda Daisy May Hicks. Alfreda (daughter of Frederick G. Hicks and Hilda May Major) was born 1 Oct 1913, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 2 Sep 1971, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-380067
• Residence: 1993, 207 Eagle St. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

MILLER, Clayton Frederick

Of 207 Eagle Street North, Cambridge, passed away on Monday, May 17, 1993, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, in his 84th year. Beloved husband of the late Florence Claydon (1982), dear father of Marie (Mimi) and her husband David Berry of Cambridge, lovingly remembered by four grandchildren Deb, Susan, Joanne and Terry, one great-grandchild Mitchell, one brother, Cecil and his wife Helen and two sisters, Alice Solonik and Hazel Miller all of Cambridge. He was predeceased by a daughter, Jean Proctor (1962). Mr. Miller was born in North Dumfries, but lived most of his life in Cambridge and was a retiree of Clare Brothers for the past 19 years, he was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Cambridge. Friends will be received at the Barthel Funeral Home, 566 Queenston Road, Cambridge, on Wednesday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Funeral and Committal Service will be conducted at the Funeral Home by Pastor Norris Heubner, on Thursday, May 20, 1993, at 2 p.m. Interment, Parklawn Cemetery.

Cambridge Reporter 1993

Clayton — Florence Wilhelmina Claydon. Florence was born 5 Mar 1912, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 9 Feb 1982, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 12 Feb 1982, Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Dollie Miller
• Name: Eva Pearl "Dollie" Marshall
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-185483
• Residence: 1963, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Eva married Floyd Gordon Marshall 6 Dec 1927, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Floyd (son of Henry "Harry" Marshall and Mary Barnard) was born 1907, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Jan 1961, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140536901
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-2323

Ruth-Anne — Jack Scott. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Audrey Joyce Sturgeon
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-383964
• Residence: 1975, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

STURGEON, Audrey Joyce

Passed away, peacefully, after a lengthy illness, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, on Wednesday, August 25, 1999, Audrey Sturgeon (nee Solonik) in her 63rd year. Beloved wife of Gerald; loving mother of Nancy, Susan Metz and her husband Richard, Laurie Painchaud and her husband Sylvain, and Steven Sturgeon and his wife Cheryl. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren, Kristin and Wade Metz, Ethan and Reid Painchaud, Troy and Madeline Sturgeon. Survived by brothers, Harold and his wife Annette, Douglas and his wife Maureen, Gordon, Ronald and his wife Sheila, Gerald and his wife Isobel and Larry and his wife Jane and by his sisters, Dorothy, Ruth Anne and her husband Jack. Audrey will be sadly missed by all of her family and friends. Mrs. Sturgeon was a member of St. Lukes United Church. Friends will be received at the Barthel Funeral Home, 566 Queenston Blvd., Cambridge, this evening (Thursday) from 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be from the funeral home, on Friday at 2 p.m.

The Record Newspaper 26 Aug 1999 pg B4

Audrey — Gerald Sturgeon. Gerald died Yes, date unknown; was buried , Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-62440

Notes:

KNECHTEL, Rufus Calvan "PeeWee" of Ayr, passed away at St. Mary's General Hospital, Kitchener, on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the age of 86 years. Cherished husband of Audrey (nee Armstrong). Loving father of Brenda Gillespie (Barry) and Pauline Shearer (Adrian). Beloved grandfather of Laura (Terry), Sarah (Anthony), Alison (Jonathan), Ashley (Dave), Russell (Kiela), Hayden (Jade) and Cole. Great-grandfather of Piper, Liam, Ophelia, Ronin, and Blake. Sadly missed by his brother Joe and his nephews Steve and Terry. Pre-deceased by his parents Clarence and Goldie Knechtel (nee Meuller). PeeWee began his lifelong career in trucking first for Elmer Poll. He then became a long time employee of McDonald Trucking which became Drumbo Transport, for whom he trucked for until retirement. Friends will be received at the Ayr Chapel of Wm. Kipp Funeral Home , 183 Northumberland Street, Ayr, on Wednesday, October 7th, for memorial visitation from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A private family service will be held. Donations to Heart & Stroke or to the Canadian Diabetes Association would be appreciated. Online condolences may be arranged through www.wmkippfuneralhome.com or by contacting Wm. Kipp (519) 442-3061.

Waterloo Region Record 5 Oct 2015

Rufus — Audrey Armstrong. (daughter of Robert W. Armstrong and May Violet "Violet" Sault) [Group Sheet]

Sandra — Clarence Tibetts. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-353847

Marie — David A. Berry. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Jean F.
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-379804

Jean — Michael A. Proctor. [Group Sheet]