King East in Kitchener in Waterloo Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Bishop Benjamin Eby, 1785-1853

Bishop Benjamin Eby Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 31, 2024

1. Bishop Benjamin Eby Marker

Inscription. Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Eby came to Upper Canada in 1806 and purchased extensive lands in this vicinity on which he settled the following year. He was ordained a minister of the Mennonite Church in 1809 and in 1812 was made a bishop. Through his efforts the first Mennonite church in western Upper Canada was built in this settlement in 1813. Eby was for many years the religious and secular leader of this community which was known first as Ebytown, named Berlin about 1830, and in 1916 re-named Kitchener.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1806.

Location. 43° 26.642′ N, 80° 28.57′ W. Marker is in Kitchener, Ontario, in Waterloo Region. It is in King East. It is on King Street East 0.1 kilometers Sterling Avenue North, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 King Street East, Kitchener ON N2G 2M7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of the First Church in Waterloo County (a few steps from this marker); Kitchener Cenotaph

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(approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Waterloo County Registry Office (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); Waterloo County (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); William Lyon Mackenzie King, 1874-1950 (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); World Trade Center (approx. 1.3 kilometers away); Joseph Schneider Haus (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); The Joseph Schneider House 1820 (approx. 1.5 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kitchener.

Also see . . . Kitchener Waterloo Record - Bishop Benjamin was a builder and Berlin booster.

Benchi doesn’t have what it takes to make a farmer; he’ll have to be a schoolteacher.” At Hammer Creek in Lancaster County, that was sometimes said in the late 1700s — in Pennsylvania-Deutsch, of course. Benchi may have been a physically-weak teenager in Pennsylvania but he was a tower of strength adult in Upper Canada. On his first trip north in summer 1806, all he did was clear two acres of Lot 2, German Company Tract, and build a cabin! Benchi returned to Hammer Creek on horseback that fall and over the winter married Mary Brubacher. The young couple (22 and 18) moved
Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 31, 2024

2. Bishop Benjamin Eby Marker
to Lot 2 in June 1807 beginning a new life, eventually raising a family of 11

(Submitted on April 5, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

First Mennonite Church in Waterloo Township, erected through the efforts of Benjamin Eby, 1813 image. Click for full size.

3. First Mennonite Church in Waterloo Township, erected through the efforts of Benjamin Eby, 1813

1895 illustration by JL Jones, published in “A Biographical History if Waterloo Township”

Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 5, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.