Wilmot in Baden in Waterloo Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The First Amish Settlement

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 11, 2024

1. The First Amish Settlement Marker

Inscription. In 1822 Christian Nafziger, an Amish Mennonite from Munich, Germany, came to Upper Canada to find land on which to settle some 70 German families. With the assistance of a group of Mennonites headed by Jacob Erb, who had settled nearby, a petition was made to the government for land here in present-day Wilmot township. Surveyed two years later by John Goessman, this "German Block" was peopled primarily by Amish from Europe. In 1824-25 Bishop John Stoltzfus of Pennsylvania organized the first congregation and ordained as ministers John Brenneman and Joseph Goldschmidt. Services were held in the homes of members until 1884 when a simple frame meeting house, which served until 1946, was erected near this site.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Recreation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • 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 1822.

Location. 43° 23.976′ N, 80° 41.747′ W. Marker is in

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Baden, Ontario, in Waterloo Region. It is in Wilmot. It is at the intersection of Snyder's Road West and Nafziger Road on Snyder's Road West. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1316 Snyder's Rd W, Baden ON N3A 3H3, 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 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Castle Kilbride/ Le Château Kilbride (approx. 2 kilometers away); The Founding of New Hamburg (approx. 2.7 kilometers away); Hartman Bridge (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); The Nith River / La rivière Nith (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); Rev. Frederick William Bindemann (1790-1865) (approx. 2.9 kilometers away); Sir Adam Beck’s Birthplace (approx. 2.9 kilometers

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 11, 2024

2. The First Amish Settlement Marker

away); St. James Anglican Church (approx. 6.1 kilometers away); Fryfogel’s Inn (approx. 9.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baden.

Also see . . .
1. Waterloo Region Generations - Christian Nafziger. <blockquote>In late 1821 Christian Nafziger, a peasant farmer from near Munich, left his family in Bavaria and travelled to Amsterdam. With the help of Mennonite friends in Holland he set sail for Philadelphia in December 1821. Apparently blown off course, his ship reached New Orleans the following March. Travelling by river-boat up the Mississippi to Cincinnati, he made his way to Pennsylvania, the home of a considerable colony of Mennonites. With land there becoming expensive, his friends suggested that he try the Canadas, where cheaper land was presumably available.

Having been supplied with additional funds and a means of conveyance, Nafziger arrived in Upper Canada in August 1822. (Submitted on June 17, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

2. The Settlement ofthe German Block in Wilmot Township, Upper Canada. 1996 article for the Mennonite Historical Society by by Ann

1820

3. German edition of a map of Upper Canada, 1820.

Highlighted is the “Kron Land” (crown Land) that would become the German Block, then Wilmot Township.

Hilty and Lorraine Roth<blockquote>When Nafziger arrived in the Waterloo area of Upper Canada in the summer of 1822, he found a Mennonite settlement with about 21 years of development. The Mennonites, who had come from various counties in Pennsylvania during these years, were more than willing to assist him and any potential immigrants he might bring with him. No doubt, this thriving community, with its promise of employment as well as aid and support for the new settlers, appealed to Nafziger and gave him the confidence that this was the end of his search. (Submitted on June 17, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 496 times since then and 87 times this year. Last updated on September 10, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 17, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.