Christian Nafziger

Christian Nafziger, pioneer promoter of Wilmot Township, was born in Rheinish Bavaria and came to Upper Canada in 1822 in search of land for his co-religionists where religious freedom was possible. On the advice of Mennonites in Waterloo Township he selected the central part of Wilmot Township and this was designated the German Block. The Governor granted permission for the colony to settle and Nafziger on his return to Europe had the promise of the governor confirmed by King George IV.

Nafziger was unable to return to Canada until 1826, but several Amish families from Europe and Pennsylvania settled in the German Block in 1823 and 1824. These settlers received fifty acres of free land for clearing roads. Three main roads were built: Oberstrasse, Mittelstrasse, and Unterstrasse.- Upper, Middle and Lower Streets. Later these roads became extensions of Erb’s, Snider’s and Bleam’s Roads which greatly assisted the development of Wilmot Township.