Christian Gordon "Gordon" Eby

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• Interesting: story
• Name: Christian Gordon Eby
• Name: Gordon C. Eby
• Name: Gordon Eby
• Residence: 409 Mill St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00023-1793.7
• Birth: 20 Sep 1890, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Military: 1914, WW1; WW1, 108th Regiment, Service #126368
• Military: 1914, WW1; WW1, Private, 108th Regiment / 118th Battalion

Notes:

Eby, Gordon C., son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Eby, was born at Kitchener, Ont., Sept. 21, 1890; died at the K-W Hospital, Kitchener, Aug. 17, 1965; aged 74 y. 10 m. 27 d. In 1921, he was married to Elsie Hewitt, who survives. Also surviving are 4 sons (Ward, Foster, Gary, and Timothy), 3 daughters (Ruth - Mrs. Murray Hill, Anne - Mrs. Douglas Millar, and Louella), and 16 grandchildren. One son preceded him in death. Two months previous to his death he renewed his faith in Christ. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church, Aug. 20, in charge of C. F. Derstine.

Gospel Herald - Volume LVIII, Number 37 - September 21, 1965 - pages 841, 842

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Gordon Eby's diaries shine a light on Kitchener's past

KITCHENER Berlin was to become a city at the stroke of midnight, and young Gordon Eby did not want to miss the chance to record history in the making.

He loaded his gramophone into the back of his horse-drawn wagon, and headed downtown to record the celebrations. There was to be music, fireworks and parties, and Eby aimed to capture it all. But he was left heartbroken instead. "I started setting up the machine, while putting the horn on I bumped my coat pocket against the side of the rig, smashed the blank record which was in it … that of course put an end to record-making tonight," he wrote in his diary in June 1912.

Berlin, as Kitchener was then known, was a happening place in Eby's time. Electricity had only arrived two years earlier, and Eby - a Mennonite farmer who'd spent almost four months wages on his beloved gramophone - was busy documenting the exciting changes in his hometown....

Eby's diary entries are full of his observations on everyday life in Waterloo Region more than a century ago. While his father, a traditional Mennonite "charmer" was a remnant of different era, Eby was intrigued by anything new.

"He turned his back in some ways on his Mennonite heritage. He spent most of his time going to movies and plays," said Harper, a teacher at Elmira District Secondary School who also works with the Rural Diary Project at the University of Guelph.

Like a lot of citizens at the time, Eby was swept up the city's emerging status, with its growing population of 15,000 and bustling factories. "Berlin was coming into its own," she said. "We see Kitchener become a city through his eyes. He was very excited about it." Eby didn't just document early Kitchener with his diary entries. He also took hundreds of photos of people and things he saw, and owned one of the city's first flash-photography cameras while still in his early 20s.

Eby, who earned his living collecting manure and growing vegetables on land that is now Rockway Golf Course, used new technology as a social outlet, Harper said. His camera and gramophone were novelties, and drew crowds wherever he went. What he didn't realize is how he was helping historians more than a century later....by Greg Mercer

"Gordon Eby'S Diaries Shine A Light On Kitchener'S Past". Therecord.com. N. p., 2016. Web. 9 July 2016.

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Eby, Gordon C., son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Eby, was born at Kitchener, Ont., Sept. 21, 1890; died at the K-W Hospital, Kitchener, Aug. 17, 1965; aged 74 y. 10 m. 27 d. In 1921, he was married to Elsie Hewitt, who survives. Also surviving are 4 sons (Ward, Foster, Gary, and Timothy), 3 daughters (Ruth - Mrs. Murray Hill, Anne - Mrs. Douglas Millar, and Louella), and 16 grandchildren. One son preceded him in death. Two months previous to his death he renewed his faith in Christ. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church, Aug. 20, in charge of C. F. Derstine.

Gospel Herald - Volume LVIII, Number 37 - September 21, 1965 - pages 841, 842

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Kitchener Pioneer's Kin Dies


Gordon C. Eby, 74, the last surviving great-grandson of Kitchener pioneer Benjamin Eby, died today at K-W Hospital after an illness of several months. Mr. Eby was born in Kitchener, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Christian Eby. He lived at 409 Mill St. He was a member of First Mennonite Church, the first church in the community, founded by Bishop Eby in 1813. Mr. Eby unveiled a plaque commemorating Bishop Eby at the church six years ago. Kitchener got its original name, Ebytown, from the bishop. Mr. Eby was an assistant foreman at J. M. Schneider Ltd. for 34 years until his retirement in in 1960. He was a member of the Schneider's Veterans Club and the firm's 20 Year Club. He served overseas with the 118th Battalion from 1915 to 1919, and after the armistice served in Germany as an interpreter, using the High German he learned in the Mennonite school that his great-grandfather founded. He was a member of the Kitchener branch of the Canadian Legion and the Waterloo Historical Society. Mr. Eby's main hobby was gardening, and he developed a new type of apple that is now being tested at the University of Guelph, the Vineland experimental nurseries and Stark Nurseries in the United States. Surviving are his wife, the former Elsie Hewitt whom he married in Kitchener in 1921; four sons, Ward of New Westminster, B.C., Foster of Baden, Gary and Timothy of Kitchener; three daughters, Mrs. Murray (Ruth) Hill of Blair, Mrs. Douglas (Anne) Millar and Loella of Kitchener and 16 grandchildren. One son predeceased him. The body is at the Schreiter Sandrock Funeral Home until Friday when removal will be made to the First Mennonite Church ofr a service at 2: 30 p.m. with Bishop C.F. Derstine officiating. Burial will be in East End Mennonite cemetery. Contributions to the crippled children's centre will be accepted as expressions of sympathy.

Christian — Elsie Maude Hewitt. Elsie (daughter of George Morton Hewitt and Elizabeth "Eliza" Ward) was born 4 Oct 1900; died 16 May 1974; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Annie — David Douglas "Doug" Millar. (son of Frederick Blain Millar and Ida Bergey) [Group Sheet]

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-180822

Notes:

EBY, Foster David Clemens - Our family sadly announces, the passing of our loved and respected father, on Wednesday, Sept. 27. 2000.

Born in Kitchener on January 31, 1931, son of the late Gordon Christian and Elsie Maude (Hewitt). Husband to Mary Lucille (Mohr) for the past 50 years. Foster lived with his family at 252 Snyders Rd. E., Baden, Ontario since 1958.

Father of Todd (Ursula) of Mississauga, Kim (Lynda) of Wellesley, Rene (Sandy) of New Hamburg, Robin (Donna) of Guelph, Cindy at home, Nita (Jim Fergusson) of Blind Bay, B.C., Donn (Nancy) of Kitchener, Tawn (Anne) of Comox, B.C., Monty (Sandra) of Tavistock, Kris (Tammy) of St Agatha; grandfather of Ryan, Shaun, Tanya, Stephanie, Martin, Kerry-Anne, Chett, Sonya, Laura, Lisa, Amanda, Melissa, Tyler, Kylee, Jason, Jenna, Geoffrey, Katlyn, Ben. Nick and Cody; great-grandfather of Hugh, Willie. Melody, Kayla and David. Survived by brothers, Ward of Coquitlam, B.C., Gary of Kitchener, Timothy of Rockwood, Anne (Millar), Ruth (Hill) and Loella Eby, all of Kitchener. Predeceased by his brother, Gordon.

Dad had a tremendous knowledge and interest in Geography and History, which led to many travels around the world with his wife to many historic destinations. His love for nature and horticulture spawned a successful beekeeping business and the establishment of an arboretum at their beautiful homestead. His interest in many forms of music, especially classical and the appreciation of art were passions that greatly influenced his children. Cremation has occurred with a private family funeral service on Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 at First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener. Friends and relatives may come and celebrate the life of Foster Eby at the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, 291 Huron St., New Hamburg on Friday from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

A special thank you for the members of the Baden Fire Department, attending physicians, nurses and staff at St. Mary's Hospital. As expressions of sympathy. do-nations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Rotary Children Centre, Kitchener.

Foster — Mary Lucille Mohr. Mary (daughter of Victor Mohr and Lucinda "Lucy" Mogk) was born 5 Jul 1932; died 14 Sep 2018; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-180816

Notes:

MILLAR, D. Blaine Embraced by family and surrounded by friends, Blaine passed away at his home on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at age 61. Beloved husband and best friend of Esther (Konrad) for 33 years; loved father of David and his partner Valerie Shaw and Ben; loving son of Anne and the late D. Douglas Millar; dear brother of Christine Johnson and her husband Jim; brother-in-law to Bill and Angie Konrad, Harry Konrad, Paul Konrad and his fiancée Trina Hoekstra. Blaine will be missed by extended family, friends from church, past co-workers, and the many others he welcomed into his life. Predeceased by his father D. Douglas Millar. Blaine was an active member of Rockway Mennonite Church throughout his adult life - he served the church in a wide range of roles over the years, and loved teaching Sunday School. During his career as a social worker, Blaine worked as a case manager for Big Brothers before moving on to become an addictions counselor for House of Friendship. In semi-retirement, Blaine drove school bus for Shantz Coach Lines (now Stock Transportation). Memorial visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home , 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Saturday, May 4th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Memorial Service to celebrate Blaine's life and faith will be held at Rockway Mennonite Church, 32 Weber St. W., Kitchener on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 2 p.m. Reception to follow at the church. Interment in First Mennonite Cemetery at a later date. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Mennonite Central Committee or the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.