Preston in Cambridge in Waterloo Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Founder of Preston

Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 19, 2024

1. The Founder of Preston Marker

Inscription. Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. John Erb (1764-1832) was a Mennonite of Swiss ancestry. He came to Upper Canada in 1805, acquired 7,500 acres of land from the German Land Company, and settled on the site of Preston. The following year he built a sawmill, and in 1807 a grist-mill, around which this community grew. The numerous descendants of John Erb and his relatives have played an important role in the development of Waterloo County. This town, known originally as "Cambridge Mills", was renamed after Preston. England.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1805.

Location. 43° 23.839′ N, 80° 21.652′ W. Marker is in Cambridge, Ontario, in Waterloo Region. It is in Preston. It is at the intersection of King Street East and Waterloo Street North, on the left when traveling east on King Street East. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

address: 507 King Street East, Cambridge ON N3H 3N4, 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 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Otto Julius Klotz (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Preston Towne Centre (about 150 meters away); Preston Cenotaph (about 150 meters away); Blair Bridge (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Galt - Berlin Railway (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Waterloo Township Community Meeting House School and Burial Ground (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); Site of the Samuel Bechtel Meeting House and Burial Ground (approx. 3.4 kilometers away); First Mennonite Sunday School (approx. 4.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in

Photographed by Tim Boyd, October 19, 2024

2. The Founder of Preston Marker

Cambridge.

The Village of Preston, 1861 image. Click for full size.

3. The Village of Preston, 1861

Cambridge Mills, 1861 image. Click for full size.

4. Cambridge Mills, 1861

From the Historical Atlas of Waterloo County

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 454 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 25, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.