Peter Wolfhard
Born December 21, 1824, died November 28, 1906
Johann Peter Wolfhard
Peter was born on December 21, 1824 in Duehrin, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, a State in the German Empire. His parents were Johannnes Friedrich and Sabine Regine Kaempff. Peter was the third born of six siblings and seven step siblings but the oldest as the first two siblings died when less than a year old. When he was born, his father was 25 and mother was 22. His mother died when he was 8 years old.
He was a school teacher and it has also been noted he was brick mason and brick maker. He served in the army and came to Canada to avoid the wars. He brought with him his muzzle loading percussion shot gun, the powder horn and a clock.
He left Germany by ship in February, 1854.
While on board, he met Margaretta Besserer from Sensheim, Baden and they became engaged.
Coming to Canada
They arrived in Berlin, Ontario May 1st, 1854. They were wed on May 24 of the same year in Greenbush, an area between Berlin and Waterloo where KCI (Kitchener Collegiate) now stands.
Once in Canada, Peter became a laborer and later became the town Road Superintendent.
In 1854, Berlin had a population of around 1000.
Real Estate
There is limited information from 1854 until 1861 but Peter owned a fair bit of land in the present Duke and Madison area of Kitchener. The 1879 map of Berlin shows he owned four complete lots – Lot 22, west side of Albert Street, Lot 23, a small triangular parcel directly across from 22, Lot 7, east side of Albert and Lot 41, on the north side of Weber Street. His daughter Catherine lived there, now 144 Weber Street, East. The Ontario Land Registry also shows he owned property South of King Street.
It’s been recorded in 1884 he owned 3-1/2 acres. Lot 22 and 23 purchase deed
Lot 7 purchase deed
There is also on record of a purchase of 1.9 acres in 1864 in the ‘Pine Lots’ on David Weber’s Survey. LRO 58 – Instrument (A1559)
An early, if not his first house was at Lot 22, on Albert Street. It is unknown when he built it or how long he lived in it. The house is still standing at 26 Madison Avenue North. He sold it and the small lot across the road in 1891.
He also bought lot 7 directly from the Christian Eby estate in 1861. They had a large garden, fruit trees, chickens and a cow. The house was on the corner of Albert and Elgin and faced Elgin Street. The Vernon directories note he resided on Elgin Street as far back as 1864. The address was 100 Elgin Street then. Today, the address for the same house is at 224 Duke Street East.
In 1889, Peter severed Lot 7 and sold half to his son, Henry who had recently married. Lot 7 Deed 1889
On Peter’s death, 100 Elgin Street was purchased by his son and executor, Henry. Later Frederick and then his wife, Lenora Wolfhard owned the property until 1920. Deed 1907
Family
Peter and Margaretta had five children. Two daughters died before their second birthdays. Catherine was born in 1856 and lived until 1954. Next was Fredrick born in 1861 and last was Henry in 1863.
Peter died in 1906 from Pleural Effusion at the age of 81 and Margaretta in 1916 at the age of 93. Both are buried at the Mount Hope Cemetery. Peter Wolfhard’s will
The Wolfhards 