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St. Jacobs, Ontario
Located in south western Ontario along the Conestoga River lies the small picturesque farming community of St. Jacobs, Ontario. St. Jacobs contains many fine shops, boutiques and restaurants, while still retaining much of the Mennonite culture and charm. Many of the descendants of these original families from Pennsylvania still reside in the area and continue to use the traditional horse and buggy as a means of transportation.
St. Jacobs was named after Jacob C Snider who was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania on February 19th, 1791. On July 31, 1812 he married Elizabeth Cressman. She was born in Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania on June 10th, 1791. Shortly after their marriage the couple moved to a farm north west of the town of Waterloo, Ontario where they raised a family of nine children. A son, Jacob Snider Jr. would be killed in the Desjardin Canal Disaster at the age of 35.
Jacob C. Snider constructed a dam on the Conestoga River to provide power for his wool and saw mills. Known as Jakobstettel or “Jacobs settlement” the name was changed to St. Jacobs in 1852.
