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The following text is from Eby Book, Volume II, page 32
In fall of 1805 quite a number of parties from Franklin County (Pennsylvania) became anxious to settle in Canada. In order to have a better knowledge of this new country, Jacob Schneider and two other parties came on horse-back to see the country. They found some good company land (German Company Tract) not taken up yet, besides other parties who owned tracts of land not included in the Company’s Deed, anxious to sell their claims. The short sojourn here by these three was well spent in the gaining of information pertaining to the quality of soil, timber, etc., and the advisableness of urging others to settle here. So well was Jacob Schneider pleased with the country that her purchased 424 acres from Smith, who had assisted in opening the road from Dundas to the settlement of Waterloo. The land thus purchased by Jacob Schneider was situated on the east side of the Grand River, known as the Oxbow, near the (modern) village of Bloomingdale. The party returned to Franklin County, after a few weeks had been passed with settlers who had come here a year or so previously, and all of whom gave glowing accounts of the future expectations in their new homes.
In spring, 1806, quite a large company came from Franklin County, namely Jacob Schneider and family of nine children, (his brother) Christian Schneider and family of eight children, Abraham Erb and wife, Jacob Erb and family, Simon Cress and family, Widow Brech and family, and the teamsters, making in all a company of 48 persons. This company started from Path Valley, about 12 miles from Chambersburg, Franklin County, and were 32 days on their journey. Jacob Schneider brought 9 horses (2 four-horse teams and 1 saddle horse), Christian Schneider had 1 four-horse team and 1 two-horse team, Abraham Erb had 1 four-horse team, Simon Cress had 1 yoke of oxen with 1 horse in front drawing his wagon, Widow Brech had 1 four-horse team. This lady met the Schneiders after having crossed the Alleghany Mountains. She came from Montgomery County. As this company had brought a number of cattle with them, they had an abundant supply of milk and butter on the way. The bread and other eatables were prepared as required. It took this company over nine hours to get up the Alleghany Mountains, a distance of three miles. Six horses were required to draw a single wagon, and with such a force could only proceed from 10 to 12 rods before allowing their horses to rest again and gain strength for another “hitch”. Having reached the top of the Mountain, they camped for the night, both man and beast feeling the want of a good rest. In crossing the Susquehanna River the water reached their wagon boxes, wetting some of their luggage. The next difficulty was to cross the Tonawonda River whose banks were not high but too steep and very muddy, and to effect a crossing the teamsters were obliged to cut trees into the stream from both sides and thereon construct some kind of passway for their heavy teams and wagons. This quickly constructed bridge resembled our later corduroy roads passing through swamps. Then the Niagara River was crossed. After 28 days’ journey this company arrived at the Twenty. Hamilton had at this time a small hotel and a few log houses. Dundas had a mill and store, besides a hotel and a few other log residences. The second night after leaving the Twenty this company arrived at Mr. Binkley’s between Hamilton and Dundas. Leaving Binkley’s early next morning they came all the way through the Beverly Swamp to a place now known as Sheffield, a little below Galt. Here they lodged for another night. The next day they came to Preston to John Erb’s where they had dinner. On this very day Mr. Erb raised his little saw mill. Separating at John Erb’s each party now moved on their lot previously purchased. Christian Schneider settled a little west of Doon. Jacob Schneider passed on that very afternoon as far as Sameul Bricker’s near Chicopee, where he remained for the night. The next day he proceeded through the woods along the east side of the Grand River to his land which he purchased the year before. In order to get to his possessions, old Jacob Schneider had to cut down many trees and construct a road to get through with his wagons. No wagon had ever come this far north on the east side of the Grand River. On this place were two small clearings with a log shanty erected on each, one of which was near where at present are situated the farm buildings of Benjamin S Snyder (when Eby Book was written), and occupied by one named Smith, the other was on Josiah Snyder’s farm and occupied by George Reid. Old “Yoch”, as Jacob was called, moved into one of the log dwellings on Smith’s clearing. The cleared land had been sowed with wheat and rye the previous fall, the harvest of which proved to be more than “Yock” Schneider and his family required for their own use. They could now get their wheat ground at Galt, but whatever the early settlers had to spare they had to team to Dundas, the nearest grain market. Old Jacob Schneider soon acquired the whole neighbourhood amounting to nearly 3000 acres, and bearing the name yet as Snyder’s Corner.[1]
Initially worship services in this little settlement east of the Grand River occurred in local homes. Henry Weber was first ordained for the local worshipping community in 1824. Jacob Schneider donated land for a meetinghouse and cemetery in about 1826. This first meetinghouse was erected close to the location of the present building. The earliest identifiable grave is for Mary Bauman, wife of Jacob Schneider, Jr., who died in 1826. Because of its location the congregation was known as the Schneider Meetinghouse, Snider's Meetinghouse and the Snyder Mennonite Church for many years. The name changed to Bloomingdale Mennonite Church in 1960.[2]
Yoch received the Family Bible from his father, Jacob B, as Yoch departed for Upper Canada in 1806 (source - Family Bible). Moved with his daughter Elizabeth in 1841 from the original settlement, now managed by son Christian, to live with son Henry, paying $50 a year for his keep. Buried in the Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery.
The 1851 census has him living with his son Henry and his family in a two-storey brick house.[3]
Information from Annual Report (AR) unless otherwise stated (see link under Sources). Some information may be a repeat of the above text.
- 16 June 1806, 200 acre James Wilson Upper Block (WUB) Lot 7 from John Bricker to Old Yoch, AR page 109. On 17 June 1819, this then went to nephew(?) Joseph (son of Yoch's brother Christian?). This area is bisected by Highway 17 going north from Bloomingdale with the west portion north of Snyder's Flats Road and the east portion south of Maple Bend Road.
- 6 August 1806, 200 acre portion of the Oxbow Lot (aka Bend) from Richard Beasley to Old Yoch, AR page 109 - same date, 280 acres from Samuel Ward Smith to Old Yoch in the Oxbow Lot, AR page 109. These two acquisitions comprise the modern-day Snyder's Flats just west of Bloomingdale
- 1 November 1809, 448 acre German Company Tract (GCT) Lot 69 from Abraham Erb to Old Yoch, AR page 116. On 13 June 1828, Part A or the south half of 221 acres was deeded to Jacob Shantz, husband of Old Yoch's daughter Susannah, for £300, Folklore page 211. On 18 June 1839, he sold 16 acres from the southwest portion of Part B or the north half to the same Jacob Shantz for £20, Folklore page 212. This south half is now the land around the Evergreen Liquid Plant Food company at 790 St. Charles Street just east of Bloomingdale. On 13 May 1853, the remainder of the north half went from Yoch's estate to Levi Bechtel, husband to Yoch's daughter Magdalena, Folklore pages 34 & 35. This is now the land to the south and west of Maple Bend and Durrant Roads.
- 18 March 1812, 272 acre WUB Lot 6 from Isreal Read to Old Yoch, AR page 109. This then went to son Jacob on 17 June 1819. It is the area roughly to the immediate west of Bloomingdale running east past Bloomingdale on either side of St. Charles Street West.
- date unknown, 448 acre GCT Lot 68 from Peter Reesor to Old Yoch, AR page 116. On 17 October 1816, an unknown portion of 75 acres was sold to Benjamin Bauman. Son Benjamin E moved onto the remainder following his marriage in 1823. On 13 June 1828, the land was deeded to Benjamin E. This is now the land around Hilltop Acres Poultry Products on Maple Bend Road.
- 17 October 1816, the far west portion of the Oxbow Lot adjacent to the River comprising 214 acres went from Old Yoch to son Christian. On 28 December 1839, the remaining east portion was sold to son Henry for £875, Folklore page 111.
- 29 January 1817, 200 acre WUB Lot 9 from Richard Beasley to Old Yoch, AR page 109. On 17 June 1819, this went to Johanthan Baumann, new husband to Yoch's daughter Maria "Polly". This is now the area around 1236 Highway 17 on both sides of the highway.
- 22 May 1818, 400 acres WUB Lot 11 from David Phelps to Old Yoch, AR page 109. This is now the land south of Crowsfoot Road all the way from the Grand River to Durrant Road.
- 22 August 1832, 200 acre south half of GCT Lot 71 from John Bingeman to Old Yoch for £87/10. On 1 August 1836, 120 acres of the east of this portion went to son Jacob, Folklore page 33. This is the area to the north of Ebycrest and Hopewell Creek Roads.
It is with Old Yoch's children that the name "Schneider" evolves into both Snyder and Snider. The same person may appear with variations of these names depending on the source. The last names seem to stabilise during the grand-children's generation.
Find A Grave: Memorial #28072191 Bloomingdale Mennonite Cemetery, Bloomingdale, Waterloo Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada
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