“Albrecht Willert and his wife, Maria Sophia Wickmann, lived in Neukirchen Mecklenburg Schwerin Germany. There were five members of their family that immigrated to North America: Henry, Hans, Albert, Christopher and Carl. Some of the brothers brought their wives and children with them. There are two branches that interested Lloyd Willert, mostly because Henry and his wife, Sophia Baynick, were his great grandparents. Lloyd’s wife, Eileen Willert, came from Carl Willert’s branch; her grandfather was William Willert. There were 35 Willert men, women and children in Stephen and Hay townships in the late 1850s to the early 1900s. Their descendants are now spread over much of Canada and the United States.

Albrecht’s Henry (1815-1878), and his wife Sophia Elizabeth Baynick (1823-1915), pioneered on Lot 27 NB Stephen Township. Their log house is still standing and is owned by Harold Patterson. The children of Henry Sr., with the exception of Henry Jr., remained in the Dashwood area. Charles (1855-1923) the youngest, lived on the home farm in Stephen Township until his death. He owned Lot 28, SB, Hay, as well.

Lloyd Willert’s farm was the home of Albrecht’s son, Fred (1859-1937). Son Joe (1852-1914) built a large brick house on the south 25 acres of the home farm, now owned by Melvin Greb and family. Son John (1851-1938), ended up on Lot 29, SB, Hay. Son Henry (1864-1936), married Emilie Stanlake and they had two daughters, Lucille and Helen. Emilie died and Henry married a second time, to May Downie and moved to Michigan. Daughter Mary Willert (1847-1872) married Michael Schlundt and had two children, John and a girl who died as an infant. According to family stories, it took six weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean by ship. They eventually came from Waterloo County to Hay. The families settled in a wilderness of solid forest, one-and-a-quarter miles west of Dashwood.

The roads were mostly trails made by wild animals. Lloyd’s grandfather, John Willert, sometimes talked about the screaming wildcats. There was a sawmill on Lot 27, SB, Hay across the road from the homestead. Henry Sr. (1815-1878) was married to Sophia (1823-1915). Henry Sr. and Sophia died at home and are buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Records of these families can be found in Zion Lutheran Church’s record book of the early settlers, written in the German language. Much of the Willert family history was compiled by the late Flossie Willert.”

extracted from “Hay Township Highlights: 150 years of Diversified Progress, 1846 – 1996”, published by the Hay Township Book Committee under the auspices of Hay Township Council, Alice Gibb ed.; pgs. 666-667 ISBN : 0-919939-43-0