History

Jacob Hoover(Huber) was born of Swiss Mennonite parents in 1728 in Pennsylvania. The Mennonite communities there prospered for some time but their pacifist beliefs and reluctance to swearing an Oath of Allegiance to the new country became an issue. Promised religious freedom in Upper Canada, many chose to move.

In 1791 at the age of 63, Jacob Hoover and sons travelled on horseback to Upper Canada scouting out suitable farmland. They purchased 2500 acres, which later became the town of Selkirk, from British Army Captain John Dochstader, and returned to Pennsylvania. The following year Jacob, his wife Barbara, and most of his children, made the challenging overland journey by horse and Conestoga wagon from Lancaster County, PA. Using the ferry crossing at the mouth of the Niagara River they then drove their wagon along the Lake Erie beach, fording the creeks and rivers including the Grand, before arriving at their homestead, thus becoming the first European settlers in Haldimand County.

The Hoovers built a log cabin, beside Stoney Creek and the Lake Erie shore. They were industrious, experienced farmers who became wealthy in their new home. Many other Mennonite and Brethren in Christ families were soon attracted to the area. Jacob died in 1810 leaving the family home to his son Daniel who, in 1820, built a much larger frame house around the existing cabin. That house stood until 1994 when it was destroyed by fire, but most of the original log cabin survived. A local citizen, William Fletcher, salvaged the remains and reassembled it on his nearby farm where it has been awarded Heritage Status.