Herbert Benson Heller

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-82758
• Occupation: 1901, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Moulder
• Residence: 1942, 50 Queen St. W., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

FATAL RAILROAD WRECK ON THE ELMIRA LINE

Fireman Jones Killed Instantly, While Engineer Mitchell, Still Clinging to the Lever, Escapes Without a Scratch.

OVER THIRTY PASSENGERS MORE OR LESS INJURED.

Walter Jones, Elmira, fireman, killed.
Herbert Heller, St. Jacobs, finger broken and arm dislocated.
Louis Lienz, Waterloo, face badly injured and otherwise bruised.

The scene of the accident was about a mile south of the Heidelberg flag station [close to Farmers' Market in 2009] and two miles north of the Waterloo depot. Through the Clemmer farm [Lot 11, German Company Tract] there is a long curve and just as the end of it was reached, the tender left the track, followed by the engine and passenger and baggage car. At this point there is an embankment of about ten feet on each side of the track.

Probably the most fearful and distressing railway accident that has ever occurred in Waterloo County took place on the Elmira branch of the Grand Trunk Railway on Saturday evening. Never, as long as the twenty-five or thirty passengers and train hands live, will they forget the trip. The most miraculous feature of the accident being the marvellous escape of Engineer Mitchell who clung to the lever, while the tender left the rails in rounding a curve and his favorite iron horse plunged after it down the embankment ten feet below. When things came to standstill, he was still at his post, suspended by his arms from the lever and all he had to do was to let go and drop to the ground.

The women and children were taken to nearby farm-houses and the men who had limbs broken were carried into the baggage car until medical assistance arrived.

SENDING FOR HELP

Mr. Clemmer, the farmer who lives close by, was notified of the wreck and immediately hitched up his horses and drove to Waterloo and spread the news. The physicians were all summoned as well as the B & W Hospital [Berlin & Waterloo] Ambulance which was telephoned for.

AUXILIARY ARRIVES

When the auxiliary train arrived, the first work was to take the passengers on the wrecked train to their destination which was done, the St. Jacobites arriving home about 11 o'clock and the Elmiraites an hour later. The Auxiliary men laid a new track in the place of the old one which had been badly torn up, the ties being strewn in all directions. The baggage car was first placed on the rails and by eight o'clock Sunday morning the passenger car was turned right side up and put on the rails and taken to the Waterloo station. The work of placing the engine in a movable position required the steady work of thirty men all day Sunday and it was about eight o'clock before the wreck was cleared and the track put in a passable condition.

ON THE TRAIN

Among the passengers on the train were the following: John Linder, Geo. Bulmer, contractor; Mrs. Menno Snider, Jacob L. Umbach, Mr. Linder, Elmira, Miss Jenny, Southampton; Fred Filsinger, Mr. and Mrs. Lenz, two sons and twin daughters, Waterloo; J. Steiss, Fred Zarnke, Otto Zarnke, Mrs. F. Zarnke, Miss Huehnergard, Jacob Fries, John Fries, Berlin; Wendell Bauman, Herb Heller, St. Jacobs and others who names have not been learned.

THE INQUEST

The body of the fireman was brought down by the auxiliary to Shinn's undertaking establishment about 3: 30 o'clock Sunday morning. An inquest was called by Coroner Dr. J. H. Webb for 11 o'clock Sunday and the jury was sworn in: S. B. Bricker, foreman, Geo. C. Peppler, Robert Stuart, Edgar Fischer, J. Hoffman, J. R. Kaufman, Walton E. Raymo, Julius German, Menno Devitt, Marcus Lewis, Henry Niergarth, W J. Krueber, W. J. Marshall, Ezra Strasser. The jury viewed the body and then adjourned until four o'clock Monday afternoon. Immediately after the Inquest, Coroner Webb and Dr. Noecker performed a post-mortem examination after which the undertaker, Mr. J. K. Shinn, was given charge of the body. At 3 o'clock the casket with the corpse was conveyed to Elmira, where friends awaited its arrival. The injuries to the body were a scalp wound, a blue mark across the forehead and around the neck, caused by the window sashes of the cab striking these parts and severe bruises over the hips, where he was crushed between the cab and the tender.

THE DEAD FIREMAN

Walter Jones, the unfortunate fireman, was born in Stratford and was aged 25 years. He was married but seven months ago to a young lady from Brampton. He was a fine fellow, tall and rather slender and always deporting himself like a gentleman. He was much thought of by Engineer Mitchell. He has been in the employ of the Galt and Elmira branch for over a year. His grief-stricken widow has the deep sympathy of the surrounding community. He was a member of the Canadian Order of Forresters and Brotherhood of Firemen. The funeral will be held at Stratford on Tuesday morning.

CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT

There are several theories. Some maintain it was the spreading of the rails while others think that the tender being light, struck a slight jog in the rails and jumped the track. The most likely cause in the minds of the train employees is the latter. The line is a comparatively new one and it is not likely that the rails would spread at this time.

The inquest determined that it was an accident, cause unknown.

It is estimated that about 4000 Waterloo Countyites visited the scene on Sunday.


Excerpts from The Daily Telegraph, Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario, Monday, September 8, 1902

__________________

HELLER, HERBERT BENSON "BERT"

A farmer in Puslinch for many years, at his home on Queen St. West in Hespeler, early on Friday afternoon, November 19, 1943, in his 86^th year, after a long illness. In recent years, Mr. Heller had not been in good health. Born at St. Jacobs, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Adam Heller, he was the last member of the family. By trade he was a moulder but he spent many years on a farm in Puslinch, and was well known in the community. While on the farm on the 2^nd concession, he started a small moulding shop and later moved this business to Hespeler, carrying on for some years in the old Karch Foundry, where the Riverside Foundry is now located. In his younger years, he was well known as a rifle shot and took an interest in the military organizations. In 1933, he was presented with long service medal at Guelph, where he was a member of the Wellington Rifles. He was also a member of the Hespeler Rifle Association. Survived by his wife, Margaret Fraser; three daughters, Mrs. Matt Siegle, Mrs. John Clemens and Mrs. Jack Marquis all of Hespeler; three sons, William of Guelph; Harold of London; and Howard, who is serving overseas with the Canadian forces. Funeral on Mon., Nov. 22 at 2: 30 from the Stager and Co. Funeral Home, Queen St. West in Hespeler. Rev. William Weir, minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church conducted. Pallbearers: Jack Watson, Rex Thomson, Daniel Quinnell, Albert Logan, Harry Gorman and William Dunn. Interment in Crown Cemetery, Morriston, where the service was under the auspices of the Canadian Legion, of which Mr. Heller was a member.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 1, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

Herbert married Margaret Fraser 14 Feb 1894, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Margaret (daughter of Alexander Fraser and Katherine Black) was born 31 May 1871, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; died 1 Aug 1964, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Crown Cemetery, Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Military: WW1
• Military: WW2 - Royal Canadian Engineers of Regina
• Name: Harry Heller
• Residence: Craik, Moose Jaw, , Saskatchewan, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-82761
• Residence: 1964, Vermilion Bay, Kenora, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

HELLER, HAROLD "HARRY"

At the Coutts Pavillion in Freeport, on Tuesday evening, May 19, 1964, of Vermilion Bay, formerly of Hespeler, in his 69^th year. He had been ill since January. Son of Margaret (Fraser) Heller of Hespeler and the late Herbert B. Heller. Brother of Howard of Galt; William of Guelph; Jean (Mrs. John Clemens); Mrs. Gertrude Siegle; Donelda (Mrs. Jack Marquis); all of Hespeler. Predeceased by a son, Robert and a daughter, Lois. Mr. Heller owned and operated a tourist camp at Vermillion Bay. He was a veteran of World War I and served overseas with the Royal Canadian Engineers of Regina. During World War II, he was a test flight mechanic for Crumlin Aircraft. Mr. Heller was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion branch at Vermillion Bay. He was a Presbyterian by faith. Funeral service at the Staqer-Nelson Funeral Home, 23 Galt St. in Hespeler on Fri, May 22 at 2, conducted by Rev. S. W. Gentle of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Hespeler. Pallbearers: Jack Marquis Jr., Ronald Clemens, Gordon Rahn and Lome Humphry of Hespeler; Gary Round of Guelph; Lome Siegle of Aurora. Interment Crown Cemetery, Puslinch.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 1, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-82762

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-82763

Notes:

HELLER, WILLIAM JOHN

Veteran Guelph Fireman Dies in Hospital

A veteran of thirty-nine years with the Guelph Fire Department and a former Deputy Chief, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Mr. Heller of 91 Stevenson St., Guelph, on Thursday May 5, 1966. He first joined the department in 1920 and served under five different fire chiefs, starting with the late John Smith. He was appointed to the rank of officer in May 1934, when he was made a lieutenant. His other appointments followed, when he was made captain in April 1942, senior captain in March 1947 and deputy fire chief on January 1, 1954. Mr. Heller retired in March 1959 and was succeeded by the late Clifford Knighton. A resident of Guelph most of his life, he was a member of Speed Lodge No. 180 A. F. and A. M. Survived by his wife, Annetta Belcetti; a daughter, Margaret (Mrs. Garry Round) of Guelph; two sisters, Gertrude (Mrs. Matthew Seigle) and Donelda (Mrs. John Marquis), both of Hespeler; a brother, Howard Heller of Galt. He was predeceased by two brothers, Adam and Harold Heller; a sister, Jean (Mrs. John Clemens). Service at the George Wall Funeral Home on Monday at 2, conducted by Rev. G. G. Hastings of Westminster-St. Paul's Church. An honour guard of members of the Guelph Fire Department was formed at the funeral home and at the cemetery. Pallbearers: Jack Marquis, Ronald Clemens, Lome Seigle, John Parisotto, John Russell and James Booth. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 1, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-473924
• Occupation: 1925, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Housekeeper

Gertrude married Mathew William Siegle 2 Sep 1925, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mathew (son of Charles Siegle and Mary C. Woods) was born 1 Dec 1887, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; died 1961; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Donelda Alberta Marquis
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-83116
• Residence: 1966, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Donelda — John William "Jack" Marquis. John was born 11 Aug 1910, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died 1973; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]