Talma Otto

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-76165P
• Residence: 1911, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Residence: 1929, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00122-7516.4
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; E. Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Occupation: 1901, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Elected Office: 1906, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Councillor of Wilmot Township
• Occupation: 1911, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Notes:

JOHN T. OTTO was born near New Hamburg on March 2, 1859, and received his education at Union School No. II in Oxford County. He is engaged in farming on a large scale, being the owner of 350 acres situated on Lots 11 and 12, First Concession, Block A, Wilmot. Mr. Otto was elected a municipal councillor in 1900 and created a Justice of the Peace in 1905.

Chronicle-Telegraph Newspaper, 100 Years of Progress in Waterloo County Canada Semi-Centennial Souvenir 1856-1906 (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Chronicle-Telegraph Newspaper, 1906)pg 33

_____________________________

Peace Perfect Peace Died At London, on Thursday, September 29^th, 1921 John T. Otto of New Hamburg In his 63^rd year. Funeral Will take place from his late residence on Saturday, Oct. 1^st, at 2 o'clock p. m., to the Evangelical Church for service, thence to Riverside Cemetery. Friends and acquaintances will please accept this intimation.

Funeral Card

John — Elizabeth Ratz. Elizabeth (daughter of John Jacob "Jacob" Ratz and Marie Opfer) was born 27 Feb 1858, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 7 Jun 1942, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Otto
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-76158
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Other M
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Residence: 1911, Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Residence: 1929, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• Name: Johannes Otto
• Eby ID Number: 00122-7516.1
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; labourer
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Ep. Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer

John married Leah Tohman 6 Nov 1849, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Leah (daughter of Abraham Tohman, Sr. and Mary Bricker) was born 18 Apr 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 30 Aug 1902; was buried , Blenheim Mennonite Cemetery, Blenheim Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Leah Otto
• Residence: Wilmot Township - Concession 3 Lot 14, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00122-7516
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Ep. Methodist

Notes:

Leah Tohman, "was born April 18th, 1831. On November 6th, 1849, she was married to John Otto, a farmer. They reside in Wilmot Township, near New Dundee. To them is born a family of twelve children".¹

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Name: Jacob Ratz
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-75268P
• Immigration: 1828, , Canada
• Immigration: 1828, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1848, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1848, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Saw Miller
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Other M
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer & Saw
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical Association

Notes:

THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE

An interesting meeting took place the Saturday before last in the old log cabin in Waterloo Park.

This house was, of course, the first schoolhouse in this area and stood originally on the school-house square at the corner of King and Church Streets in Waterloo. It was built in 1820 and served its purpose until 1842, when it was torn down and a 1-storey stone house was constructed on the site. The dismantled log house was erected again in Greenbush and served as a residence for a long time for the coloured man, Mr. Carroll and his family. In the course of this year, the Waterloo Park Commissioners purchased the house, moved it to their park and furnished it again as it was when it was a school-house.

At this gathering, in addition to many other ladies and gentlemen, the following (male and female) former pupils attended, took their places on the benches, and were called to order by the 82-year-old teacher, Benjamin Burkholder, who held the scepter, or rather, the switch, from 1831 to 1842 in the old log-house: Joel Guth, 80 years old; Abraham Scherk, Blair, 79; Jakob Bricker, Waterloo, 77; Sarah Burkholder, nee Erb, Bridgeport, 75; Amos Weber, Berlin, 73; John C, Bricker, Hawksville, 71; Maria Erb, nee Quickfall, Norwich 69; David B. Eby, Waterloo, 69; Wendel Baumann, Woolwich, 68; Henry Stauffer, Erbsville, 67; Simon Beatty, Elmira, 67; Jakob Ratz, New Hamburg, 67; Israel Baumann, Berlin, 65; George Elbert, Moorefield, 63; George H. Baumann, Elmira, 63; John Devitt, Waterloo, 62; Richard Quickfall, Bridgeport, 62; Isaak Hoffmann, Waterloo, 61; Robert Barkwell, Peel, 60; Diana McMahon, nee Dekay, Berlin, 60; Thomas Quickfall, Floradale, 60; Benjamin Devitt, Waterloo, 60; Isaak Devitt, Floradale, 58; John Longmann, Peel, 57. In addition, to these, the teacher read the names of 25 pupils from the roll; they were, however, absent.

Mr. Burkholder gave an interesting talk about the history of the old school-house, and after him, Rev. J.A. MacLachlan, Rev. J. McNair, Mr. J.E. Baumann, M.P., and Mr. Jakob Ratz spoke about the old days which brought many things out of the past to mind again. School was, as a rule, only in session in winter and the costs were borne by the parents of the children. There were few subjects taught, namely: Reading, Writing and Sums. The children heard little about language, and geography; no child had more than 2 or 3 books. The predominant language was German. The pupils learned to read and write English, but didn't understand a word of it. Among the teachers in the old school-house from 1820-1842, with the exception of Mr. Burkholder, were the following whose names are still recognized: Jephtha DeKay, Joseph Guth, John Herringer, Peter Otto, John Dobbin, Elias Eby, Robert Barber, & Joseph Eby.

After those present, on hearing the various speeches felt themselves transported back to the past, the school was closed at four o'clock and the pupils were gathered together in front of the school and photographed as a group. On their return into the school, they found it had been transformed into a dining room with heavily-laden tables, which the old-timers thoroughly enjoyed. After everyone had chatted cordially for a while longer, the gathering broke up. The company will not meet again in complete numbers, nor in such a way.

Berliner Journal September 26, 1895 Page 4 Column 4

_________________


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

John married Marie Opfer 30 May 1848, Greenbush (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Marie (daughter of Opper and Catherine) was born 23 May 1827, , Germany; died 27 Oct 1905; was buried , Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Marie Ratz
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-85842P
• Immigration: 1847, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1848, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Other M
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-32852

Other Events:

• Name: Abram Toman
• Residence: Wilmot Township - Concession 3 Lot 14, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00122-7513
• Land: Bef 1831, Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 111E, Waterloo County, Ontario
• Historic Building: Abt 1845, Abraham Thoman's Relocated Barn, 10 Huron Road, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bricker Barn
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Abram Tohman, "the eldest, was born in 1804. He was married to Mary, eldest daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Eby) Bricker. She was born November 3rd, 1806. After their marriage they resided on her father's old homestead near Freeport, Ontario, until February 25th, 1846, when the moved to Wilmot Township, a little west of New Dundee where they resided until his death which occurred December 12th, 1867. After his death the widow had her home with her son, Samuel, who now possesses the old homestead. She died December 27th, 1893."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

__________________________


On the 12 of Dec, in Waterloo County; Ontario, of palsy, Abm. Toman, aged 62 years, 11 months and 5 days. He was buried at the Blenheim meeting-house Burying-ground, where appropriate funeral discourses were delivered.


HERALD OF TRUTH, Feb 1868, page 31

Residence:
Home of Abram and Mary Tohman Lot 14 Concession 3 Wilmot Township. right side is the original left side was addition. House is now demolished.

Historic Building:
Bricker Barn originally located in Waterloo Township, Waterloo County. Constructed around 1845. Original owner, Abraham and Mary Thoman. Gift of John Steckley, 1976

Abraham — Mary Bricker. Mary (daughter of Samuel Bricker and Rebecca Eby) was born 1805, , USA; died 27 Dec 1893, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Blenheim Mennonite Cemetery, Blenheim Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Tohman
• Residence: Wilmot Township - Concession 3 Lot 14, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: 00016-1324
• Birth: 3 Nov 1806, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Mary Bricker,"the eldest child of Samuel and Rebecca (Eby) Bricker, was born November 3rd, 1806. She was married to Abraham Toman who was born in Pennsylvania in 1804, and died in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, December 12th, 1867. She died December 27th, 1893. To them were born nine children".


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

_________________________________-


TOMAN.-Mary Toman (maiden name Bricker), widow of the late Abraham Toman, was born in Waterloo township, Waterloo Co., Ont., November 3, 1806, and died in the township of Wilmot, December 26, 1893, aged 87 years, 1 month and 23 days. She survived her husband for over 26 years. She leaves a posterity of 9 children, 65 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Funeral on Dec 29th, 1893, on which occasion M.S. Bowman preached in German from John 14: 3, and Noah Stauffer in English from Isaiah 28: 29. Buried in Blenheim cemetery. Her end was peace.

HERALD OF TRUTH , Vol. XXXI, No. 2, January 15, 1894 - pp 29,30,31

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

___________________________

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:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-216730

— Catherine. Catherine was born 1797, , Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Opper
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-216729
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesleyan Methodist