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Matthias "Mathew" Wegenast

Matthias "Mathew" Wegenast[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Male 1828 - 1899  (70 years)

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Matthias "Mathew" Wegenast 
    Born 27 Jun 1828  Holzhausen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] 
    Gender Male 
    Business Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Hoffman Wegenast Co. 
    • Hoffman,Wegenast & Co. were makers and suppliers of furniture, coffins, caskets, shrouds and also had a rental hearse.
    Hoffman Wegenast & Co.    		 Hoffman Wegenast & Co.
    Exterior of the furniture manufacturing company of Hoffman, Wegenast and Company on King Street east near Allen Street. Also suppliers of coffins, caskets, shrouds and a rental hearse.

    Image from Waterloo Public Library
    Residence CA 1832  Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Residence 1841  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Occupation 1852  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [15] 
    cabinet maker 
    Waterloo-Wegenast-WaterlooFurnitureWorks.jpg    		 Waterloo-Wegenast-WaterlooFurnitureWorks.jpg
    Occupation 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Labourer 
    Occupation 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Sawyer 
    Residence 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    EA 
    Residence 1861  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1871  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [14] 
    Cabinet Maker 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [14] 
    Evangelical 
    Elected Office 1877  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Councillor - Waterloo 
    Interesting furniture, funeral, story, business 
    Interesting story, business, public service, politics 
    Occupation 1881  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Cabinet Maker 
    Waterloo-Hoffman,Wegenast&Co-Furniture-Undetaking-1879Advert.jpg    		 Waterloo-Hoffman,Wegenast&Co-Furniture-Undetaking-1879Advert.jpg
    Residence 1881  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Evangelical Association 
    Occupation 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Furniture Manufacturer 
    Residence 1891  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Evangelical 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-43968 
    Died 6 Mar 1899  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 11, 12] 
    Cause: "stone in bladder about 6 months" 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Person ID I43968  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Father Johann Georg "George" Wegenast,   b. 29 Sep 1788, Holzhausen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 8 Jan 1862  (Age < 73 years) 
    Mother Christina Schmidt,   b. 16 Mar 1799, Holzhausen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jan 1862, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years) 
    Family ID F43672  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Salome Staebler,   b. 11 Nov 1828, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Oct 1903, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years) 
    Married 1850  [11] 
    Children 
     1. Catherine Wegenast,   b. 1853, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Mar 1889  (Age 36 years)
     2. Caroline "Carrie" Wegenast,   b. 27 Nov 1854, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Oct 1925, Barton Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     3. Samuel Wegenast,   b. CALC 11 Jul 1857, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Dec 1886, Mount Forest, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 29 years)
     4. George Wegenast,   b. 29 Jun 1860, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 May 1918, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years)
     5. William Henry Wegenast,   b. 27 Dec 1864, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Dec 1952, Stratford, Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years)
     6. Isaac Jacob Wegenast,   b. 11 Oct 1866, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Sep 1950  (Age 83 years)
     7. Mary Magdalene Wegenast,   b. 14 Jun 1869, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Mar 1944, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F11454  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Another early manufacturer was Matthias Wegenast who built a factory for the manufacture of furniture, and was successful, but several fires proved a severe handicap. The factory was later taken over by the Canada Furniture Manufacturers Limited.

      Sixteenth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, 1928, A Historical Sketch of the Town of Waterloo, Ontario, Clayton W. Wells, L.D.S., D. D. S.

      ___________________________


      A gloom was cast over the Town on Monday noon when the news spread that Mathias Wegenast for many years one of our most prominent manufacturers and most highly esteemed citizens had joined the silent majority. The subject of this sketch was born on June 27th, 1828 in Holtzhaussen, Wuertemburg, Germany, so that on the date of his death he attained the ripe old age of 70 years, 8 months and 6 days. At the age of four his parents emigrated to America, living for several years in Boston, Mass. Later they removed to the Niagara (Ont.) district, living for some years in a small village known as Black Creek near Niagara Falls, where his father engaged in farming. The tales of hardship endured by those early settlers were frequent subjects of narration of which the deceased had a vivid recollection. In 1841 his parents removed to the T'p of Wilmot Co. Waterloo, then a dense wilderness, where they hewed out for themselves a home, as did some others who took up land on or about the same time in the vicinity of Petersburg. In 1847 at the age of nineteen, the deceased was apprenticed to the late John Hoffman, of Berlin, then engaged in the manufacture of furniture, sash, doors, etc, where he learned his trade, as cabinet maker, joiner, etc. The writer recalls may incidents related by the deceased of the years spent in the employment of Mr. Hoffman, among his associates and fellow apprentices being a number who were destined in later years to distinguish themselves in manufacturing circles. After a few years subsequent to his being a "journeyman," he launched out on his own account as a manufacturer of sash, doors, etc, in Berlin, in a small way, but being ambitious, he looked forward to more extensive operations, and accordingly he entered into partnership with John S. Hoffman of Berlin, who together built for themselves a factory in Waterloo upon the site now occupied by Schaefer, Killer & Co, where, however, after a brief experience they were burnt out. Nothing daunted the enterprise of the deceased and he resumed business on his own account in a building situated on the vacant lot near the present skating rink, where after only a few years of successful operation he was burnt out for the second time. This fire is in the remembrance of the writer, who recalls the only method then known of fighting fire, namely, pails of water, passed from hand to hand from the creek nearby. Needless to say the fire could not be checked in this way and the loss was total, nothing being saved. By means of the insurance he carried he was enabled to commence business again in a small way, upon the old site on King street, where he erected a factory to which he added from time to time as he prospered. Here he succeeded in building up a large trade, chiefly in the lumber and sawmilling lines but he was destined once more to be a victim of the ravages of a fire, this time to an extent more serious than had fallen to his lot previously. During the winter months of 1875-76, he laid up an unusually large stock of his manufactures and when the fire occurred, (in May 1876) his factory was filled with the stock he had prepared for the business of the coming season, and the loss was correspondingly great. Although in this instance he carried a fairly large amount of insurance, the loss was heavy. Together with the former fires, it is safe to say that his total losses at the three different times mentioned were equal to a handsome competence. This time his courage was about exhausted, and only for the assistance afforded by the town in rebuilding the factory he would no doubt have been compelled to retire from business altogether. At this time he associated with himself the late Isaac Hoffmann and Adam Klippert, who together built the factory now operated by Schaefer, Killer & Co., where he remained in business until within a few years ago. There are few men with so varied and with unfortunate experience in business as the deceased passed through, and few indeed who lived to reap so small a reward for years of patient hard work against the misfortunes ever recurring. As an employer he was kind and considerate and enjoyed the esteem of his employees many of whom worked for him continuously for upwards of thirty years. During so active a life, the demands upon his time were such as to prevent his taking any part in municipal affairs. For a time he was a member of the School Board, and for one year we believe, he was a member of the Town Council, but he never aspired for any positions. In politics he was a life-long Liberal, but as in municipal matters he found no time to devote to anything but his own immediate affairs. For the past three years he has enjoyed a well earned rest living as he had for over thirty years, in the homestead on King street well known to the readers of the Chronicle. In July last, he had the misfortune of falling from a ladder while picking cherries, when he sustained severe injuries. When nearly recovered from this mishap, he met with a second and almost fatal accident, having been run into by a bicycle while crossing the road near the Post Office. From the effects of this he never recovered, having been injured internally. While able to move about during the past few months he complained of constant pain which increased as time went on until about 10 days ago, his physician advised that nothing short of an operation would afford relief or save his life. For this purpose he was removed to the Berlin and Waterloo Hospital on Saturday Feb 25th where he was successfully operated on by Dr. Howitt of Guelph, on March 1st. While relieved of the intense suffering by the operation his weakened condition could not withstand the strain under which he sank gradually, death relieving him on Monday morning, March 6th. In 1850 he married Salome Staebler who with five children survive him. George, Manager of the Ontario Mutual Life Ass'ce Co, Waterloo; Isaac, Traveller for the Vokes [?] Hardware Co., Toronto; William, in the J. B. Snider Co, Waterloo; Carrie, at home; Mary, wife of James A. Miller, Lancaster, Pa. Two children pre deceased him, Catharine, wife of Levi Graybill, who died on March 5th, 1889; and Samuel, who died on December 6th, 1886. Early in life he joined the Evangelical Association through the labors of the late Rev Wm Schmidt the pioneer missionary of the above religious body. His remains will be interred today (Thursday) in Mount Hope Cemetery.

      "Death of Mr. Wegenast. A Former Prominent Manufacturer Joins the Majority," Waterloo County Chronicle, March 9, 1899

      ______________________

      King Street Kitchener

      "In 1850 John Winger erected a building about half way between Gaukel and Foundry Streets and occupied the first floor as a pump factory. He used steam power, a novelty in those days, and had an old-fashioned upright engine built by Crombie & Co. of Galt. He made pumps, broom handles, etc. The second floor of the building was operated by Matthias Wegenast as a sash and door factory. Later there was a saw mill in the basement. Several accidents occurred in this saw mill; Helwig Scholl's leg was cut off as was also John Koch's arm, by the saw. Mr. Winger, apparently in difficulty with his creditors, suddenly left the village, after which the building was taken over by Martin Simpson, who had operated the Bowman & Correll factory at the east end of the town, and the building became known as the Simpson factory, the product being mostly furniture. At the rear of the Simpson factory stood a two storey frame building, used by W. H. Goetze, (cousin and brother-in-law of Louis Breithaupt) as a tobacco factory. Mr. Goetze came from New York early in the 60's. During the closing years of the American Civil War the factory found difficulty in getting tobacco, then mostly supplied from the Southern States."

      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 
    1. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      William Wegenast Born: Canada Age: 22 Father: Mathias Wegenast Mother: Salome Wegenast Born: abt 1865 Spouse: Lydia Braendle Age: 20 born: Canada Father: William Braendle Mother: Mary Magdalena Braendle married 6 Apr 1887

    2. [S116] Vit - ON - Death Registration.
      Carril Wegenast Death Date: Oct 1925 Death Location: Wentworth, Barton b. 27 Nov 1854 Waterloo, Ontario daughter of Matthias Wegenast (b. Germany) & Salome (b. Germany) informant Isaac Wegenast of Woodstock, Ontario (brother) cause: senility & arteriosclerosis

    3. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 9 Dec 1886.
      Dec. 6, 1886 Samuel Wegenast, oldest son of Matthias Wegenast in Waterloo, died in Mount Forest at age of 29 years, 4 months and 25 days.

    4. [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 010910-76.
      Levi Greybrill, 26, occ. Blacksmith, b. Wilmot, res. Waterloo, son of Jacob & Hannah Married Catherine Wegenast, 23, b. Berlin, res. Waterloo, daughter of Mathias & Soloma, Witn William G. Morlock of Wellesley & Caroline Wegenast of Waterloo, 30 March 1876 in Waterloo.

    5. [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 11539-86.
      George Wegenast, 26, occ. Accountant, b. Berlin, res. Waterloo, son of Mathias and Saloma, married Hattie Snider, 25, b. Waterloo, res. same, daughter of John B. and Susannah, Witness: Dr. Amos F. Baumann, A. Harvey Devitt, Bertie Buckborough and Martha Snider, All of Waterloo, 8 Sept 1886 at Waterloo

    6. [S192] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - Mount Hope CC#4500 Internet Link.
      Hier ruhet/ Matthias/ Wegenast/ geb. 27 Juni 1828/ gest. 6 Maerz/ 1899/ [verse]

    7. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 10.
      Mathius WAGANAST Cabinet Maker Germany 24 EV b. June
      Salomea WAGANAST Germany 0 EV b. 11-Nov?

    8. [S302] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1881, Waterloo Village 1881 Div. 2 Page 36.

    9. [S123] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1861, Div. 3 Page 25.

    10. [S123] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1861, Div. 3 Page 26.

    11. [S2078] News - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo - Waterloo County Chronicle, "Death of Mr. Wegenast. A Former Prominent Manufacturer Joins the Majority," - 9 Mar 1899.

    12. [S713] Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 25321 (1899), Mathias Wegenast.
      Mathias Wegenast d. 6 Mar 1899 Berlin, aged 70y, 8m 6d, retired, b. Germany, cause "stone in bladder about 6 months"

    13. [S1573] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1891, Section 4 Page 23.

    14. [S2658] aaaaWaterloo Village 1871, Sect. 2 Page 11.

    15. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 10.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 27 Jun 1828 - Holzhausen, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Hoffman Wegenast Co. - - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - CA 1832 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1841 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - cabinet maker - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Labourer - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Sawyer - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - EA - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Cabinet Maker - 1871 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1871 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Councillor - Waterloo - 1877 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Cabinet Maker - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical Association - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Furniture Manufacturer - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: "stone in bladder about 6 months" - 6 Mar 1899 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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