IN THE SPRING OF 1800, JOSEPH SCHOERG AND SAMUEL
BETZNER, JR,. BROTHERS -IN - LAW,
MENNONITES, FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA BEGAN THE FIRST TWO FARMS IN THE
COUNTY OF WATERLOO; SCHOERG
ON LAND ADJOINING THIS FARM, BETZNER ON THE WEST BANK
OF THE RIVER, THREE
MILES DOWNSTREAM .
IN THE SAME YEAR CAME SAMUEL BETZNER, SR., WHO TOOK UP
A FARM INCLUDING THIS SITE.
OTHER SETTLERS FOLLOWED AND IN 1805 A COMPANY FORMED IN
PENNSYLVANIA PURCHASED
60,000 ACRES, THE GERMAN COMPANY TRACT, COMPRISING
THE GREATER PART OF BLOCK 2, GRAND
RIVER INDIAN LANDS, NOW WATERLOO
TOWNSHIP. THIS CONSTITUTED THE FIRST LARGER
SETTLEMENT IN THE THEN FAR
INTERIOR OF UPPER CANADA.
