Another Pioneer Gone The old pioneers of Woolwich are disappearing from the scene of action. Another one passed away, on Thursday is the person of Elias B. Eby of Floradale neighborhood. The Eby family are of Celtic origin; After the founding of the Mennonite body they united with the, and as early as 1683, we find one Jacob Eby ordained bishop in Zurich, Switzerland. The ancestor of the Ebys of the country was Theodorus Eby who came to Pennsylvania in 1715. His grandson, David Eby, came to Canada in 1807, and later settled north of Waterloo where the subject of this sketch was born on the 19th September, 1829. On December 11th 1853 he was married to Rachel Shantz. They settled on the farm a mile south-west of Floradale when it was all bush but 10 acres. Their first house was 14 ft. by 16 ft. in size with one window containing 4 panes of8 by 10 inches. The roof was made of hollowed out basswood logs. But through the beginning brought hardships, Mr. and Mrs. Eby were undaunted, and with industry and economy became possessed of one of the finest farms in the Township. And to the original farm they added several others so that their children when they grew up, had a fairly good start in life. Deceased lived on the old farm until his death, with the exception of a few years that he lived in Floradale, where his wife died about six years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Eby were born 12 children, one of whom died before his parents. The living are: Absolom, of Elmira; Susannah (Mrs. Reuben Snider) now living on the old Eby homestead; Jesse, living in the Northwest; Reuben, near Winfield; Amos, near Floradale; Noah, of Winnipeg; Hannah (Mrs. Enoch Burkhart) Jacob, of Didsbury, Alberta, Rebecca (Mrs. Noah Good); of Floradale; Elias of New Haven, Conn., Rachel (Mrs. Emerson Morrison), of Didsbury, Alta.; Besides these there are 54 grandchildren, so that there is not much danger of the Eby family dying out yet. One sister of deceased, namely Mrs. Samuel Snider, also survives him. Deceased was of a retiring disposition and a good neighbor, always ready to lend a helping hand where such was needed. The funeral will be held this (Saturday) forenoon, and will without doubt be largely attended. Elmira Signet 8 Mar 1906
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 01:30:21 +0000