Hespeler was a town (population 4,000 in 1954, now part of the city of Cambridge) in Waterloo County, Ontario, nine miles (14.4 kilometers) southeast of Kitchener. Textile mills were a leading industry. In the early 19th century the Mennonites (Mennonite Church) met in the home of Samuel Bechtel near this place, until the Wanner Mennonite Church was built two miles (3.2 kilometers) from town. Joseph Bechtel was one of the first Mennonite ministers in Ontario and served widely among the churches. For fuller records see Wanner Mennonite Church. The town is named after Jacob Hespeler, a brother of William Hespeler.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 718. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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