Schneiders: The Three Generations

Schneider's. Est. 1890.

Johann Christopher Schneider was born in Germany, in Unteröwisheim, Baden, on August 27, 1831. His father, a farmer, was also Johann Christoph Schneider; his mother was Margarethe Elizabeth Zoller. He left Germany in 1847 when he was sixteen years old and settled in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario, where a substantial German settlement already existed. He worked as a carpenter and later as a mechanic, and by 1858 was a building contractor. He married Anna Elizabeth Metz on April 26, 1857. They had seven children, of whom John Metz Schneider, founder of the meat packing firm later known as the Schneider Corp., was the first.

After the Napoleonic War, Germany faced a crisis. The people of Germany were divided into 32 major and 300 minor states, with each state having its own individual barriers and common currency. This law made it difficult for goods to travel freely between states. Additionally, natural disasters started to arise such as hail storms in 1816-1817 and the overflowing of the Rhine River. These challenges led German economy to crash in the 1840’s. Individuals were being recruited for the militia and when the military came for Johann Christoph, his mother told them he had passed away in infancy. He had the same name as his older brother, who passed away in infancy hence, the death certificate his mother showed allowed for him to be overlooked.

Johann left Germany at the age of 16 and sailed across the Atlantic. He arrived in New York in 1847 but took a train to Hamilton after finding out that there was a vast amount of German speaking settles in Canada West. Once arriving to Hamilton, he walked the remaining 35 miles by foot to Berlin. Once he arrived in Berlin, he began working as a carpenter. By 1858, he was a reputable building contractor. He married Anna Metz on April 26,1857 with whom he had seven children, one being J.M. Schneider, whom they assisted in creating his sausage business. He passed away on December 20, 1900 from heart disease.

Family tree which indicates the relationship of Johann Christoph Schneider.

John Metz (J.M.) Schneider was born in Kitchener on February 17, 1859. He is the eldest son of Johann Christoph and Anna Schneider. John Metz married Helena Ahrens on November 8th, 1883, together they had 5 children; Charles Alexander, Herbert John, Norman Christoph, Fredrick Henry, and Emma Louise. Image of John Metz and wife, Helena Ahrens.

J.M. Schneider worked at a button factory as a young man for Jacob Y. Shantz Company. After hurting his hand, he was unable to work at the factory and needed to figure out a way to earn money before he could go back to work. He was given the idea to sell sausages and with that suggestion, he went to the market and bought a hog; this was the birth of Schneider’s sausages. With the help of his wife, they both went door to door selling them. That small family business soon turned into a company which specialized in bacon, ham, grocery products, sausage and specialty meats known as Schneiders Ltd. Image of J.M. with his Pope-Hartford car. He would take the family on picnics on Sundays in it.

John Metz went from working a dollar a day at the button company to forming a multi-million dollar company.

Family tree of John Metz Schneider.

The Second Generation.

Charles Alexander was the first son of John and Helena Schneider. He started to work for his father at an early age and played a prominent role in the building up of the business. Charles married Georgina Allendorf on June 9th, 1908 with whom he had one daughter, Lorraine. Image of young Charles Alexander and another image with his father, J.M. and wife Helena, with their infant daughter Lorraine.

Role in Kitchener-Waterloo: Charles enjoyed many sports, was active in the preservation of wild game and fish, and sponsored the minor league baseball teams. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and attended the Church of the Good Shepard.

Norman Christopher is the third son of John and Helena Schneider. After graduating high school he did an apprenticeship for four years with Tuerk Engine and Tool Co. After the completion of his apprenticeship, Norman joined his father’s business. Norman was an adventurous and active member of the Kitchener Waterloo region. During the First World War, he enlisted himself into the army. He took his 1915 Model-T Ford with him to Ottawa and became a lieutenant of an army due to his previous experience in the platoon. However, he did not go overseas due to his heart condition. As a child, Norman suffered from heart murmurs.

An image of the Model-T Ford in 1915. Norman C. donated this car to the Doon Pioneer Village later on in life.

Norman married Ethel Lapsley and together they had three children; Herbert John, Howard George and Brita May.

Norman C. Schneider family photos.

Norman had many hobbies and interests, he loved to drive his motorcycle and did so until the age of 85. Likewise, Norman was also an active skier. He bought a four acre parcel of land, and on this land there was not even a single tree. Norman and his wife, Ethel planted an abundant amount of trees in their backyard. At first this was just a summer home but overtime it became a permanent residence. The home looked over the Chicopee Ski Area where Norman and his children would ski. Norman skied until the age of 88. In 1972, he received a lifetime membership from the Chicopee Ski Club for being an active member.

In 1936, Norman went to Berlin where he covered the Olympic Games. He captured many images of the crowd and Adolf Hitler. He sent these images back to The Record, a newspaper firm in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. In 1939, Norman was a movie photographer for The Record. He took images of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth when they arrived for their visit in Canada.

Images: Left: Berlin Olympic stadium in 1936, the crowd is heiling to Adolf Hitler. Right: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit Canada.

Role in Kitchener-Waterloo: Director of Kitchener Red Cross Society and Director of Ontario Division of the Red Cross. Member of the Kitchener Rotary Club. Served as a board member for the Kitchener Waterloo High School, University of Waterloo, Children's Aid Society and St. Mary’s Hospital. Member of the Advisory Committee for St. Jerome’s College and Waterloo-Wellington Flying Club. President of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Kitchener. Director of Economical Mutual Insurance Co. Served on the Governing Board of Doon Pioneer Village and helped with establishing a Le-Roy car, the first production automobile in Canada. Honorary Life Membership to Salvation Army Advisory Board in Kitchener. Norman was a member of the Liberal Party. He won the by-election in 1952 for Waterloo North and again in 1953 and 1957. The Special Collections & Archives Department has information regarding the political career of Norman C. Assisted in the preservation of the Chicopee Ski Slopes by getting K-W and Grand River Authority to preserve the slopes for public use. Member of Waterloo Airport Commission in 1946 until 1971. In 1973 a $103,000 terminal building was named the Norman C. Schneider Airport Terminal in recognition of his aviation services.

Images: Left: Norman C. received the City of Kitchener Merit Award in 1972. Center: Norman C. presented with the Honorary Life Membership for the Salvation Army Advisory Board. Right: Norman C. posed next to Waterloo-Welling terminal named after him.

Fredrick Henry was the youngest son of John and Helena Schneider. Fredrick started working at the Schneider's business at the age of 16. He completed many tasks such as bookkeeping, delivered parcels, retail services and went on trips to buy cattle. He formed and managed the first Sales staff department and also, implemented insurance plans and pension plans for the company employees. He was the second president of Schneider's Inc. in the 53 years that the company was open.

Role in Kitchener-Waterloo: President of the Industrial and Development Council of Canadian Meat Packers. Served as Alderman, City of Kitchener 1943. Served on public school board for four years. Was the Chairman of the Board for three years. Member of the Kitchener Rotary Club, Westmount Golf Club, and Granite Club.

The third generation of Schneider’s consists of: Herbert John, Howard George, Fredrick Paul.

Herbert John is the son of Norman and Ethel Schneider. Before attending to the family business, Herbert pursued a Bachelors Degree in Science from Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph. He joined the company in 1948 as Production Supervisor and Plant Superintendent. Through his time there he was Vice President and Vice Chairman of Schneider Corporation. Herbert also was a member of the Board of Directors of Schneider Corporation since 1952. Herbert married Betty Grace with whom he had four children; Gretchen, Eric, Nancy and Michael.

Herbert George was the son of Norman and Ethel Schneider. He was an active member of the Schneider’s business and joined the company in 1950. He worked in sales and by 1953, he had joined The Millionaire’s Club, having sold over a million pounds of Schneider products. He had various of roles throughout the company. In 1962, he was Development Supervisor where he assisted in creating the “zip strip” vacuum, making it easier for customers to open their meat products. By 1972, he was Vice President of Research and Development. He was married to Betty Louise with whom he had six children; Gregory, Pamela, Christopher, Stephen, James, and Phillip.

Fredrick Paul Schneider is the son of Fredrick Henry and Ella Schneider. Like his father, he too joined the family business. After graduating from McMaster University with a degree in Arts he furthered his studies by completing a Masters of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto. He joined Schneider’s Ltd. in 1949 beginning in the Cost Accounting Department. In 1961 he became Manager of By-Products, in 1963 he was Vice President, and eventually in 1970 he became Chairman of the Board.

Left to right: Images of Herbert J. in 1926, 1947 and 1985.

Left: Herbert J. and family, 1988. Right: Herbert J. and family with Norman C. sitting, 1979.

Left: Fredrick Paul, family photo, 1979. Right: Fredrick Paul and wife, Jane in 1990.

Left: Herb, Fred and Howie in lab coats. Center: Page from the “Dutch Girl” magazine. A magazine created by the Schneider company. Right: Howard and Norman Schneider in front of a sausage display.

Page 216 of the 1996 Guinness World Record book which features Schneider's for setting a world record for the longest sausage.

Article written by Henry Koch on October 26, 1982 about Pamela Schneider being the first women from the Schneider lineage to be a part of the Schneider Company.

Articles written on the feud between Maple Leaf and Smithfield Foods trying to purchase Schneider’s.

Articles written on the feud between Maple Leaf and Smithfield Foods trying to purchase Schneider’s.Schneider’s is now a division of Maple Leaf. Left: KW Record February 24, 1998. Right: KW Record February 25, 1998.

The late John Metz is awarded Junior Achievement Business and Education Award. The award was accepted by his grandson Howard George.

Norman C. Schneider on his Pope-Hartford.

Schneider’s truck from the 1960’s.

Stock farm in Waterloo on site of the former Seagram Stables. Seagram Stables was bought by J.M. to farm animals.

J.M. Schneider original plant at 6 Courtland Ave. E. 1912.

J.M. Schneider first shop. This image shows J.M. with son Charles in 1900.

Family portrait from 1979. Standing from left to right: Fredrick P. Schneider, Bruce Hawkings, Phillip Douglas, Robert Hass-Hawkings, Tom Schneider, Anne Schneider, Dan, Peter, Eric, Kurt, Greg, Pap, Chris, James, Steve, Herb, Howie. Seated from left to right: Jane (Mrs. F.P.), Jean (Schneider) Hawkings, Peggy, Gretchen Norman Schneider, Nancy, Betty (Mrs. H.J.), Betty Lou (Mrs. H.G.).

The Schneiders are a family that have been in Waterloo for many generations, like many other families. They have been entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the Kitchener Waterloo region. It is amazing to know that a brand was able to develop from the region and still remain active today. To learn more about the Schneiders please check out the Special Collections & Archives Department. Call Number: GA 134.