Lydia Ann Ratz

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-25866
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; E. Methodist

Other Events:

• Elected Office: Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Reeve - Elmira
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88439677
• Organization: Elmira Public Library, Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-25862
• 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; Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer - Miller
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; E. Methodist
• House: Abt 1876, 10 Centre St., Elmira, Ontario
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; miller
• Occupation: 1881, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Miller

Notes:

The Late Reeve John Ratz, who was one of the leading spirits in the railroad agitation as well as in the movement to incorporate the Village of Elmira, was born in the town of Waterloo 70 years ago. He purchased a farm near Elmira in 1855, which he disposed of 26 years ago and removed to Elmira. He was elected the first Reeve of Elmira in the year 1887 and died while in office the next year.

Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, published by George Klinck, 1903.

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THE RATZ BROS.

It has always been my custom in writing up the industries of a community to first direct attention to its flouring mills, because from them is derived the staff of life, without which we would find a precarious subsistence. No other industry is of greater importance to the merchants, mechanics and inhabitants in general. In this particular, Elmira has a first-class establishment in the Elmira Roller Mills, owned and operated by the above well known firm. These mills were established in 1867 by a joint stock company. Sometime about the year 1870 they became the property of the late John Ratz, the father of the members of the present firm, in company with his brother Jacob. The latter is now living in New Hamburg, having withdrawn from the firm in 1872. His interest was then purchased by Isaac Wenger, it then being conducted under the firm name of Ratz & Wenger from 1872 to 1875, when Mr. Ratz became sole proprietor and operated the same until 1882, after which he gave his sons an interest in the business. It continued under the firm of Ratz & Sons until 1889, when the senior member of the firm died. The latter was a man honorable and prominent in the estimation of all who knew him, being both charitable and public spirited in every sense of the term. He was one of the first Reeves of the village and one of the main advocates of the railroad project for Elmira, and was prominent among those who rendered substantial encouragement to the movement that gave to the village its first railroad communication. Since his death the mills have been owned and operated by his three sons, Simon H. Daniel and George. They were among the first in the county to adopt the full roller process, and now have a capacity for turning out one hundred barrels of a superior grade of flour per day. A 75 horse power engine supplies the motive power. Their special brands are, viz, "Elmira" and "Sunshine," which are popular products in the market. They have an extensive local trade and a large demand in the maritime Provinces for their output.

They also buy and pay the highest market price for all the wheat that comes to their doors. In addition to the flouring mills the firm has a sawmill in connection, in which they do a large amount of custom sawing for the farmers of many miles around, besides manufacturing the heading, staves and hoops for their flour barrels. They also manufacture a first-class grade of shingles. Elmira's splendid electric light system is furnished by this firm, their plant having a capacity for producing 500 incandescent lights for that purpose. The brilliant, steady illumination of the town at night is ample proof that they are furnishing a first class article and giving the people good satisfaction. The Ratz Bros were all born within a mile and a half of Elmira and are among her honorable, industrious and enterprising citizens. The amount of money they pay out to the farmers annually is high in the thousands.

Waterloo County Chronicle 27 Jan 1898, p. 1, 2, 3

Organization:
On January 24, 1888, a meeting was held to organize a Mechanics' Institute in Elmira. Membership cost $1 a year. The first board members were: David Bean, George Klinck, A. Werner, John Ratz, A. H. Erb, A. Blatz, Wm. Behrens, Sol Laschinger, Dr. Ullyot, and M. Weber. The librarian/caretaker, C. K. Jansen was paid $30 a year.

John — Saloma Haist. Saloma (daughter of Christof "Simon" Haist and Eva Burkhardt) was born 29 Dec 1835, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was christened 30 Oct 1836, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 2 Mar 1917; was buried , Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88990427
• Name: Saloma Ratz
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-25863
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; E. Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Notes:

Grandmother Ratz Departed

The funeral of Salome Ratz relict of the late John Ratz, took place from the family residence here, on Monday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. G.F. Brown, pastor of Zion Evangelical Church, of which deceased was a founder and constant member for upwards of forty years, conducted the service at the house. The choir of the church assisted in the musical service.

In the course of his remarks, the Rev. Mr. Brown paid tribute to the highly Christian character of Grandmother Ratz, as she was familiarly known, who had been a loving mother both to her own and her children's children. Almost from the time she learned to read she had been a faithful reader of the Christliche Botsch and the religious organist of the Evangelical denomination, a period of 70 years. She had endured with patience and resolute with Christian courage, the larger afflicions of a long life, including the loss of her husband and seven out of ten sons and daughters. The recent death of her youngest son, David, was, however more than she could bear and her frail body was unable to resist, the attack of pneumonia with which she was seized and she slept peacefully away on Friday evening last. The remains were laid to rest in the Union Cemetery at Elmira.

Two sons, Major (Dr.) Ratz, of Ottawa, and George, of Elmira, and one daughter, Mrs.W.J. McMurtry, of London, survive. Also one brother and two sisters, namely; Mr. S.B.

Heist, of Kitchener; Mrs. Lydia Frey, of Elmira, and Mrs. Simon Heist, of Salem, Oregon. Twenty-seven grandchildren survive.

A large number of friends and acquaintances from outside points attended the funeral.

The late Salome Ratz was daughter of Simon Heist and Salome (Burkhardt) Heist, being born on Maple Grove Farm near the City of Kitchener, on Dec. 29th, 1835. She was married to John Ratz in 1855 after which they moved to a farm 2 miles west of Elmira where they remained for twenty years, when they removed to Elmira, where the late John Ratz acquired milling and other large business interests. Her husband died in 1889, and since that time Mrs.Ratz has maintained the family home in Elmira. She was most devoted to her family, to her church and her friends and will be greatly missed.

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

________________________

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

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203095002
• Name: Simon Haist
• Name: Simon Heist
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-45094
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Christof — Eva Burkhardt. Eva was born 14 Oct 1812, Baiersbronn, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died 6 Apr 1869, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155791624
• Name: Eva Haist
• Name: Magdalena Burkhardt
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-45095
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Association