Son of Jacob Shantz & Maria Yost; husband of Barbara Biehn [m. 1843]; Anna Brubacher [m. 1853] and Sarah Shuh [m. 1871] His offspring totaled twelve—five children with Barbara, and the remaining seven with Anna.

Jacob was mayor of Berlin for four days before resigning for reasons unknown. Owner of the Jacob Y. Shantz Button Factory on Water Street, later known as Dominion Button Co. He was known as a "healer" amongst his religious brethren--cancer being his specialty.

Cause of death: "valvular disease of heart for 2 or 3 years; heart failure & old age--only a few minutes"
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Death of Aged Pioneer - J. Y. Shantz Passes Away

Berlin mourns today the death of Jacob Yost Shantz, its oldest native born citizen and a real Nature's nobleman an honest, God-fearing successful man. The end came peacefully at three o'clock this morning at his home, 105 Queen St. north. He was as well as usual to within an hour of death. About two o'clock he arose, and dressed himself, thinking it was near daybreak. Soon after retiring again, he called his son, Jacob and complained of internal pain. It grew more severe and his son D. B. Shantz was summoned from his home on Margaret Avenue. Before he reached his father's bedside, the aged gentleman had fallen asleep - in the sleep that knows no earthly awakening. He was conscious to within a few moments of the end. He was - barring partial blindness - in good health for a man so advanced in years - almost 88. He was frequently seen down town, being driven out by his friends. His mental faculties were bright, and he would spend hours conversing with his sons and friends, recalling with wonderful accuracy and detail, occurrences of long bygone years. During the past few days he has evinced a keen interest in the progress of the new button factory here. He was the pioneer of the button industry in Canada and it is worthy of note that of the five sons, four are engaged in the button trade as well as four nephews. The funeral of the late Mr. Shantz will be held on Saturday at 1.30 from the family residence, 105 Queen St. north, to the Lancaster St. Mennonite Church and East End Cemetery. The late Jacob Yost Shantz was a native of Berlin, having been born on May 2nd, 1822, on the Shantz farm just south of the East End Mennonite Church. His parents were pioneer residents and aided in reclaiming a hitherto wild and undeveloped region for the purposes of civilization. His father operated the first sawmill in this section and was in many ways connected with the material growth and upbuilding of this portion of the province. Being United Empire Loyalists they followed in British flag into Canada. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Shantz took a very active and helpful part in laying out the early roads of the county and in otherwise advancing those interests which indicated that the seeds of civilization had been planted and that his was to become some day a populous and prosperous district. Mr. Shantz was reared in Berlin, where he acquired a common school education. His early life was devoted to lumber interests. He engaged in the operation of a sawmill, conducted a lumberyard and became an extensive contractor and builder. He was prominently identified with manufacturing interests in later years, operating a factory for the manufacture of boots and shoes. In 1870 he established the button factory, becoming associated with a German button manufacturer and a few years later he bought out the interests of his partner, continuing to carry on the business in his own name, when he retired to enjoy a well-earned and richly merited rest. He was almost 88 years of age. His life has been one of intense and well-directed activity, in which he made good use of his opportunities, and he belonged too, to that class of representative men who while promoting individual success also advanced the general welfare. His family numbered twelve children, five sons and seven daughters. He has always been deeply interested in the welfare of Berlin, but has been content to do his public service as a private citizen, never seeking or desiring office. He acted, however, as mayor of Berlin a short time when the citizens offered him the position unanimously. He accepted it as an honor and then resigned. Another important labor which Mr. Shantz performed has been in connection with the development and upbuilding of Manitoba and the Northwest. He began operating there in 1874 and on behalf of the Mennonites devoted a large portion of his time in making a general prospector setting forth the advantages of the country, its natural resources and its climate in the districts mentioned in order to accomplish these objectives and gave liberally of his own private fortune, and through his endeavors, secured large sums from other friends of the Mennonite Society for the purpose of forming the colony, and for the development of that country which constitutes the first white settlement in Manitoba and the Northwest. When he first went to Fort Garry - now Winnipeg - in 1874, he saw only three white men in many weeks. In 30 years he went from here west 27 times, the last time when he was 85 years old. He has thus been instrumental in having thousands of the people of this sect becoming colonists in that district and thus settling up the country, aiding in its reclamation from a wild and unimproved district and converting it to the uses of civilization. In Berlin, he did a great work in assisting the early German settlers when they reached here. He built scores of houses for them, and gave them all the time they desired, to repay it. He was the soul of honor and integrity, and his life was a noble example of the true Christian. He was a faithful member of the Mennonite church and a liberal supporter. He was twice married. There are five surviving sons and four daughters, Moses B. of Rochester; Dilman B., of Berlin; John , of Buffalo; Ephraim B., of Didsbury; and Jacob, of Berlin; Mrs. Ezra Snider, Berlin; Mrs. N. B. Detweiler, Berlin; Mrs. Andrew Weber, Didsbury; and Miss Ida Shantz, Berlin. [Berlin News Record, October 28, 1909]