Johanna/Ochs

The Bauman Family

of Puslinch

and area

Johanna "Hannah" Bauman and Alex Ochs

sources at bottom

JOHANNAwas born June 1828 in Waterloo Twp., Ontario¹, (baptism)and died December 14, 1915 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. She married ALEX OCHS March 31, 1845 in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada¹, son of IGNATIUS OCHS and CATHARINA BAUER. He was born April 14, 1817 in Spessart,Germany², and died September 04, 1884 in Morriston, Puslinch Twp., Ontario, Canada³.

Alex and Johanna had no offspring according to Alex's obituary but it is my contention that they reared Gideon and Elizabeth Ochs's (Bauman) child, Barbara. Gideon and family leave for Tonawanda in 1849-1850 and on the 1851 census for Puslinch, a three year old Barbara Ochs is living with Alex and Hanna. Fourteen year old Gideon Jr. is also living with them. In Alex's will he states that he has a nephew Gideon and a niece Barbara. These little things lead me to believe that Gideon and Elizabeth left behind their oldest child and their youngest child when they departed for the United States. Perhaps Barbara was too sickly for the trip or maybe Alex and Hanna couldn't have children so Barbara was left to be reared by them. Both Barbara and Gideon Jr. attended school. Johanna couldn't read or write according to the census's. It was not at all uncommon for a person, male of female, who was born in Canada, especially in the 1820's-1840's, to not be educated. This country was in it's infancy and schools at this time were non existent. This was even more true for a family that spoke German. Any schooling would have been done in the home. The first school in the Morriston area was built in 1856 and was located near Duff's Church.

Alex first appeared in Puslinch in 1844 sharing Lot # 33 con.8 with his brother Gideon Ochs. He married Joseph and Josephine's daughter Johanna (Hanna) in 1845. Alex bought part of Lot # 31 con. 8 in Puslinch and on this lot he built a Church, surveyed the lot and split it up into single family homes, ran a hotel and was a carpenter.

According to Father Theobald Spetz's text on the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Waterloo, Alex donated both his land and money to build a church in Morriston for the many Catholics in the area. It was called the Marian Cemetery.

Mr. Alexander Ochs, was apparently a leader among the Catholics in and about Morriston...In 1857 Bishop Farrell paid an official visit to Hespeler and Morriston. On that occasion, Mr.Ochs had the satisfaction to hand over, to the Bishop, a completed new church for dedication.

John Ochs along with Jacob Fuhry (husband of Catherine Ochs) are witnesses to the deed between the Hamilton Diocese and Alex Ochs. Alex sold the Catholic Church land on his property to the Diocese in 1861 for the soul use of the Catholic inhabitants of Puslinch.

It seems fitting that Alex is buried in the little cemetery in Morriston, for which he donated the property and took so much care and interest in. His is one of the few remaining markers and the site remains much as one would envision it to have looked during his life. The ground is still covered with a blanket of wintergreen and there are a number of towering evergreens overhead. It is suggested, in early writings describing Puslinch, that it looked much like our cottage country. It is easy to believe when you visit this cemetery.

The following obituary appeared in the Guelph Mercury on Sept.9,1884

Ochs- At Morriston, on the 4th inst., Alexander Ochs, aged 69 yrs. The deceased was a resident of Morriston for forty years, and was a pioneer carpenter in the place having built the first frame house in this locality. He built the Catholic Church here and took a great interest in its welfare. He leaves a widow but no offspring. He will be missed in and about Morriston, as he was well-known and much respected.

Endnotes

1. Waterloo Catholic records.

2. Spessart Catholic Church records.

3. Guelph Daily Mercury.

4. Waterloo Catholic records.

5. Wiil of Alex Ochs.

6. Waterloo Catholic records.

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