Waterloo Pioneers
Text from the plaque
In the spring of 1800, Joseph Schoerg and Samuel Betzner, Jr., brothers-in-law, Mennonites, from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, began the first two farms in the County of Waterloo; Schoerg on land adjoining this farm, Betzner on the west bank of the river, 5 km downstream. In the same year came Samuel Betzner, Sr., who took up a farm including this site. Other settlers followed and in 1805 a company formed in Pennsylvania purchased 24,000 ha, the German Company Tract, comprising the greater part of Block 2, Grand River Indian Lands, now Waterloo Township. This constituted the first larger settlement in the then far interior of Upper Canada.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The Region of Waterloo
The City of Kitchener
1 block west of Sportsworld Drive, off King Street East, can be found Deer Ridge Drive. Follow it to Lookout Lane at the end of which is this tower. This plaque is attached to the tower wall.
N 43 24.025 W 80 24.963
Recorded April 2009. Check current access before visiting.
More information
Visitors' notes
July 20, 2013
A very well organized and presented overview of the Wilmot Settlement. I am researching if there is a connection between my Cressman/Croessmann ancestors and the Settlement, as well as my husband's Wilmoth/Wilmot ancestors. Mary Ellen (Cressman) Wilmoth, Waldorf, MD. USA