Jeptha Gilbert Dekay

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-59626

Notes:

Death date and burial location have never been determined. In his Bible, which has been passed down to descendants, he prefaced his signature with the title "Commodore". This vocation has never been proven. Why he moved from NY state into Ontario has also left his descendants with a question. Unfortunately those who would have known the answers passed on before these questions became a matter of interest.

Jeptha located in Waterloo County to the community of Waterloo-Berlin (now Kitchener) and was a teacher there. He also farmed in the area. About 1827 he married Mary Moxley, native of VA, whose mother, Delilah, and step-father, Daniel Eby, moved from near McClellandtown, PA to Waterloo in 1818.

Jeptha Gilbert DeKay (1802 - ) - Find A Grave Memorial. (2017). Findagrave.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017, from https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=166019805

__________________________

THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE

An interesting meeting took place the Saturday before last in the old log cabin in Waterloo Park.

This house was, of course, the first schoolhouse in this area and stood originally on the school-house square at the corner of King and Church Streets in Waterloo. It was built in 1820 and served its purpose until 1842, when it was torn down and a 1-storey stone house was constructed on the site. The dismantled log house was erected again in Greenbush and served as a residence for a long time for the coloured man, Mr. Carroll and his family. In the course of this year, the Waterloo Park Commissioners purchased the house, moved it to their park and furnished it again as it was when it was a school-house.

At this gathering, in addition to many other ladies and gentlemen, the following (male and female) former pupils attended, took their places on the benches, and were called to order by the 82-year-old teacher, Benjamin Burkholder, who held the scepter, or rather, the switch, from 1831 to 1842 in the old log-house: Joel Guth, 80 years old; Abraham Scherk, Blair, 79; Jakob Bricker, Waterloo, 77; Sarah Burkholder, nee Erb, Bridgeport, 75; Amos Weber, Berlin, 73; John C, Bricker, Hawksville, 71; Maria Erb, nee Quickfall, Norwich 69; David B. Eby, Waterloo, 69; Wendel Baumann, Woolwich, 68; Henry Stauffer, Erbsville, 67; Simon Beatty, Elmira, 67; Jakob Ratz, New Hamburg, 67; Israel Baumann, Berlin, 65; George Elbert, Moorefield, 63; George H. Baumann, Elmira, 63; John Devitt, Waterloo, 62; Richard Quickfall, Bridgeport, 62; Isaak Hoffmann, Waterloo, 61; Robert Barkwell, Peel, 60; Diana McMahon, nee Dekay, Berlin, 60; Thomas Quickfall, Floradale, 60; Benjamin Devitt, Waterloo, 60; Isaak Devitt, Floradale, 58; John Longmann, Peel, 57. In addition, to these, the teacher read the names of 25 pupils from the roll; they were, however, absent.

Mr. Burkholder gave an interesting talk about the history of the old school-house, and after him, Rev. J.A. MacLachlan, Rev. J. McNair, Mr. J.E. Baumann, M.P., and Mr. Jakob Ratz spoke about the old days which brought many things out of the past to mind again. School was, as a rule, only in session in winter and the costs were borne by the parents of the children. There were few subjects taught, namely: Reading, Writing and Sums. The children heard little about language, and geography; no child had more than 2 or 3 books. The predominant language was German. The pupils learned to read and write English, but didn't understand a word of it. Among the teachers in the old school-house from 1820-1842, with the exception of Mr. Burkholder, were the following whose names are still recognized: Jephtha DeKay, Joseph Guth, John Herringer, Peter Otto, John Dobbin, Elias Eby, Robert Barber, & Joseph Eby.

After those present, on hearing the various speeches felt themselves transported back to the past, the school was closed at four o'clock and the pupils were gathered together in front of the school and photographed as a group. On their return into the school, they found it had been transformed into a dining room with heavily-laden tables, which the old-timers thoroughly enjoyed. After everyone had chatted cordially for a while longer, the gathering broke up. The company will not meet again in complete numbers, nor in such a way.

Berliner Journal September 26, 1895 Page 4 Column 4

Jeptha — Mary Moxley. Mary (daughter of Moxley and Delilah) was born 29 Aug 1806, , Virginia, USA; died 29 Dec 1892, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Minerva Cordelia Nickles
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-189771

Minerva — Thomas Nickles. Thomas was born CA 1825; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-54483
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; carpenter
• Occupation: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Methodist
• Residence: 1886, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farm Labourer

William married Anna Bailey 27 Oct 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Anna (daughter of James Bailey and Jane Taylor) was born 6 Apr 1839, , Quebec, Canada; died 30 Jul 1883, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

William married Agnes Scott 9 Feb 1886, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. Agnes (daughter of John Scott and Catherine Smith) was born 27 Dec 1845, , Ontario, Canada; died 12 Oct 1911; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-59635

Other Events:

• Name: Diana McMahon
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-59627
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Matron
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE

An interesting meeting took place the Saturday before last in the old log cabin in Waterloo Park.

This house was, of course, the first schoolhouse in this area and stood originally on the school-house square at the corner of King and Church Streets in Waterloo. It was built in 1820 and served its purpose until 1842, when it was torn down and a 1-storey stone house was constructed on the site. The dismantled log house was erected again in Greenbush and served as a residence for a long time for the coloured man, Mr. Carroll and his family. In the course of this year, the Waterloo Park Commissioners purchased the house, moved it to their park and furnished it again as it was when it was a school-house.

At this gathering, in addition to many other ladies and gentlemen, the following (male and female) former pupils attended, took their places on the benches, and were called to order by the 82-year-old teacher, Benjamin Burkholder, who held the scepter, or rather, the switch, from 1831 to 1842 in the old log-house: Joel Guth, 80 years old; Abraham Scherk, Blair, 79; Jakob Bricker, Waterloo, 77; Sarah Burkholder, nee Erb, Bridgeport, 75; Amos Weber, Berlin, 73; John C, Bricker, Hawksville, 71; Maria Erb, nee Quickfall, Norwich 69; David B. Eby, Waterloo, 69; Wendel Baumann, Woolwich, 68; Henry Stauffer, Erbsville, 67; Simon Beatty, Elmira, 67; Jakob Ratz, New Hamburg, 67; Israel Baumann, Berlin, 65; George Elbert, Moorefield, 63; George H. Baumann, Elmira, 63; John Devitt, Waterloo, 62; Richard Quickfall, Bridgeport, 62; Isaak Hoffmann, Waterloo, 61; Robert Barkwell, Peel, 60; Diana McMahon, nee Dekay, Berlin, 60; Thomas Quickfall, Floradale, 60; Benjamin Devitt, Waterloo, 60; Isaak Devitt, Floradale, 58; John Longmann, Peel, 57. In addition, to these, the teacher read the names of 25 pupils from the roll; they were, however, absent.

Mr. Burkholder gave an interesting talk about the history of the old school-house, and after him, Rev. J.A. MacLachlan, Rev. J. McNair, Mr. J.E. Baumann, M.P., and Mr. Jakob Ratz spoke about the old days which brought many things out of the past to mind again. School was, as a rule, only in session in winter and the costs were borne by the parents of the children. There were few subjects taught, namely: Reading, Writing and Sums. The children heard little about language, and geography; no child had more than 2 or 3 books. The predominant language was German. The pupils learned to read and write English, but didn't understand a word of it. Among the teachers in the old school-house from 1820-1842, with the exception of Mr. Burkholder, were the following whose names are still recognized: Jephtha DeKay, Joseph Guth, John Herringer, Peter Otto, John Dobbin, Elias Eby, Robert Barber, & Joseph Eby.

After those present, on hearing the various speeches felt themselves transported back to the past, the school was closed at four o'clock and the pupils were gathered together in front of the school and photographed as a group. On their return into the school, they found it had been transformed into a dining room with heavily-laden tables, which the old-timers thoroughly enjoyed. After everyone had chatted cordially for a while longer, the gathering broke up. The company will not meet again in complete numbers, nor in such a way.

Berliner Journal September 26, 1895 Page 4 Column 4

Diana married Richard McMahon 30 Dec 1857. Richard was born 5 Mar 1826, , Ontario, Canada; died 31 Mar 1894; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-59634

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Elizabeth Burnett
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-59628
• Residence: 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1875, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

Death of Mrs. Burnett Following an illness of two weeks, Mrs. M. E. Burnett, 74 Suffolk St., passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital yesterday. Mrs. Burnett was born in Kitchener, taught school for seven years, and came to Guelph twenty- three years ago. She is survived by her husband, one son, A.H. Burnett of Mimico, and one daughter, Miss M. Burnett, Toronto. The funeral will take place from her late residence tomorrow at 3: 30 to Guelph Cemetery

Mary married John Burnett 5 Oct 1875, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. John (son of William Burnett and Jane McElwain) was born 21 Jan 1849, Linwood, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 6 Dec 1925, Mimico, Etobicoke Twp., York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-189790

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-106445

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-137963
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Methodist
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

James married Lavina Kinzie 20 Jun 1893, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lavina (daughter of Samuel Kinzie and Anna "Nancy" Betzner) was born 14 May 1863, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 15 Oct 1940, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Interesting: misfortune, accident
• Misfortune: boiler accident
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-59629
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Student
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Methodist

Notes:

"Percy DeKay's Death"

The remains of Percival DeKay reached here on Wednesday evening in charge of two of his railway associates, Oscar Hamilton and George Cribb, both Canadians. The funeral took place on Thursday and was well attended, the Odd Fellows having charge of it, and performed the burial rites of the society. The Rev. Mr. Howell was the officiating clergyman. While the sudden and unexpected death of such a promising young man is sad in the extreme, a bright light shines through the dark cloud. A year ago while attending a series of meetings here, he professed faith in Christ, was without doubt soundly converted, and died trusting the Saviour. The particulars of his sad death are learned from the Huntington, Indiana Democrat. He was a brakeman on a freight train of about 35 cars and was going down a grade. The engineer and fireman saw something wrong in a switch, when in an instant the engine, on which DeKay happened to be at the time, was derailed. We copy as follows from the paper mentioned above:-

DeKay told the story of his miraculous escape from instant death as follows: "Toohey jumped first and Coppins followed. Then I tried to go, but before I could jump, the engine turned over and I was caught in the cab with my left hand fast between two pieces of something. I tried to get loose , but couldn't. The steam was escaping and scalding my legs, but I closed my mouth tight to keep from inhaling any of it. I reached out with my right hand and got hold of something, and then bracing my feet against the cab, pulled my left arm out, even if it did break the bones."

Eye witnesses say they never saw more nerve exhibited by an injured man than that of DeKay. He boarded at the Canfield House and he was taken there upon arrival. Dr. Loring, of Rochester, who accompanied the men from the wreck, and Dr. Severance, attended him and found it necessary to amputate his left arm near the elbow. His legs were very badly scalded from the hips clear to the feet, the burns being deep. He showed remarkable grit and bore up under the trying time with great nerve. During the afternoon he called his particular friend, Oscar Hamilton, also employed on the road, and when Attorney R.G. Wyman had been called, DeKay made a will. He is of a good family, his father being a wealthy man in Berlin, Ontario, and the son was possessed of considerable property in his own right. After he had made the will he apparently began failing, and at 8 o'clock in the evening he died. He was a well educated man, twenty-five years of age and had only been here about four months.

Misfortune:
He worked as an brakeman on trains. He died from injuries resulting from a boiler accident, was scalded and had to have an amputation but died soon after. His body was returned to Kitchener for burial in the family plot. The accident happened outside of Huntington, Indiana.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-189772

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138781
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; W. Methodist
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-121658

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-189778

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-325874
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Name: Ida Eleanor Cram
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-59632
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Librarian
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1902, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, 15 Weber St. E. Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christian Science

Notes:

The "Berlin" YWCA was founded on April 14, 1905 by a group of women who first met at Zion Church, Weber Street, Kitchener. Following the example of groups in other cities, these women wanted to set up an organization which would provide for both the spiritual and the physical needs of young women--particularly those women and young girls who were coming from rural areas to work in the rapidly industrializing Kitchener area at the turn of the century. To serve this purpose the YWCA set up a wide variety of programmes and facilities for working women as well as programmes for students and mature women.

The fact that these women were undertaking to establish a YWCA did not go without comment in the community--the local YMCA had just closed due to monetary difficulties and the men felt it would be impossible to finance the new organization!

The founding Board of Directors consisted of the following women:

President: Mrs. Mary Kaufman
Vice President: My. W. H. Becker
Recording Secretary: Mrs. C. L. Laing
Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. E. P. Clement
Assistant Secretary: Miss Alice Moyer
Treasurer: Mrs. W. H. Breithaupt
Directors:

Mrs. J.F. Honsberger
Mrs. G. Harrison
Mrs. W.A. Bradley
Mrs. W.M. Cram
Mrs. W.L. Schmidt
Mrs. J.C. Breithaupt
Mrs. E.D. Heist
Miss M. Tier
Miss A.A. Uttley
Mrs. W.H. Bowlby
Mrs. S. Rumpel
Mrs. R.L. Janzen
Miss Zoeliner
Miss S. Boegmer
Miss. R. Weaver
Miss Breithaupt
Miss Collard

Ida married William Moffatt Cram 3 Jun 1902, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. William was born 19 Nov 1869, Beckwith Twp., Lanark Co., Ontario; died 30 Mar 1923, Brattleboro, Windham, Vermont, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-136756
• Residence: 1881, , Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-376776
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-106411

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-106422
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Name: Herbert Burnett
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-376778
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Name: Percy Dekay
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-54482
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer Son
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Percival — Edna Muriel Gray. Edna was born 19 Sep 1897, , Middlesex Co., Ontario, Canada; died 8 Sep 1992, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cemetery, London, Middlesex Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-168930
• Adopted: Bef 1911
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist