John George "George" Ratz

Other Events:

• Name: George Ratz
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-165526
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelist
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; laborer
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelist

John — Ann Elizabeth Kalbfleisch. Ann was born 15 Aug 1844, South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 26 Oct 1928, Powasssan, Parry Sound District, Ontario; was buried , Powassan Union Cemetery, Powasssan, Parry Sound District, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43182
• Birth: CALC 19 Aug 1798, , Germany
• Occupation: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelist
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelist
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Blacksmith
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist

Notes:

...Valentine Ratz, opened a blacksmith's shop in Waterloo and his mother [wife], Anna Gertrude, contributed to the family income by knitting items of clothing to sell to her neighbours. The first small family sawmill was opened at St. Jacobs, and then a larger mill at Gads Hill which in time was operated by Henry....


Woman of Waterloo County edited by Ruth Russell

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Valentine Ratz, the forebear of numerous millers, built a sawmill west of the village on the Conestoga River in 1844. Jacob C. Snider, in 1848, bought a farm on the south side of the Conestoga and after constructing a dam across the river, erected a saw-mill, a flour-mill, and a woollen-mill. Those industries attracted more mechanics and stores. In 1852 the village was named St. Jacobs after Mr. Snider. The "Saint" was added to his first name "for the sake of euphony." He sold the mills to his son Jacob in 1855. From 1856 until 1870 there were five different owners. In December of 1870 E. W. B. Snider purchased the flour-mill and operated it till 1917, when he sold the enterprise to W. W. Snider, who incor-porated the business as the Snider Flour Milling Company. The latter later sold the business to Walter J. Snider of Conestoga, whose heirs still operate it.


Waterloo Hitorical Society, Annual Volume 1933 pg 20

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It is reported that Valentine was born in Grebenau, Vogelsbergkreis, Hessen, Germany, no source yet

Valentine — Anna Gertrute "Gertrude" Lanz. Anna was born 2 May 1798, , Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; died 14 Jul 1872, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Wilmot Centre (Geiger) Cemetery, Wilmot Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Gertrute "Gertrude" Ratz
• Name: Garhutte Lanz
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43183
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelist
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelist
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist

Notes:

Gertrude's mother died on board the ship coming to North America in 1828. Her name was Anna Gertraud Fleischauer wife of Jacob Lanz