2002 -
Introduction to the The Schneider Family by Mr. Paul Weigel.
The Schneider
Family
�In 1847 a
sixteen-year-old by the name of Johann Christoff Schneider left his home in a
village near Baden, Germany to seek a better future in the new world. He
landed in New York, and then made his way by rail and foot until he arrived at
a little hamlet called Berlin in what was then called Canada West. Here, he
found a bustling community of German speaking pioneers. Christoff, a carpenter
by trade, found work in his field and in 1852 helped build the County
Courthouse on Weber St.. By 1858, Christoff Schneider founded a building
contracting business and was united in marriage with Anna Elisabeth Metz.
John Metz
Schneider, the first of 9 children, was born in 1859. Contrary to what one
might have expected, JM did not start out his working career as a sausage
maker, rather he worked in a Berlin button factory. He and his family only
started making sausages for sale utilizing a German home sausage recipe after
an 1886 on-the-job injury temporarily prevented him from working at his
factory job (there was no Workmen�s Compensation for injured workers then).
When JM returned to his full time button factory job, the home sausage making
continued on a part time basis after hours. What started as a part-time family
enterprise soon grew into a full time occupation and J.M. Schneider Sausage
Manufacturers came into being.
The rest is
history
Economically
J.M. Schneider prospered and over a period of over 100 years J.M. Schneider�s
Sausage makers grew into the giant Schneider Corporation that we know today.
The Schneider
Family�s contributions to society however were not limited to the creation of
a highly successful business. The Schneiders also contributed to society as
city councilors, members of parliament, supporters of culture and music and as
philanthropists.
Today on
German Pioneers day we herald an outstanding German Pioneer family - The
Schneiders.
I am pleased
to introduce Herb and Betty Schneider who are accepting the German Heritage
Pioneers award for 2002 on behalf of their family. Herb and Betty Schneider.�
Plaque
presented by Mr. Anton Bergmeier.