Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Theodore Adam "Ted" Witzel

Theodore Adam "Ted" Witzel

Male 1875 - 1948  (~ 72 years)

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Theodore Adam "Ted" Witzel 
    Immigration 1875  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Born Nov 1875  Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Occupation 1899  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    grain merchant 
    Business 1906  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Onward Manufacturing Company 
    Onward Manufacturing Company
    Onward Manufacturing Company
    Display Waterloo Region Museum 2011
    Interesting business, life story 
    Name T. A. Witzel 
    Occupation 1911  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Manufacturer, Novelty 
    Residence 1911  53 Roy St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence 1911  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Christian Science 
    Occupation 1921  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Manufacturer, ? 
    Residence 1921  53 Roy St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Kitchener,RoySt.0053-BerlinCelebrationofCityhood1912.jpg
    Kitchener,RoySt.0053-BerlinCelebrationofCityhood1912.jpg
    Berlin Celebration of Cityhood 1912
    Residence 1921  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Christian Science 
    Residence 1948  51 Ahrens St. W. Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Kitchener,AhrensSt.W-0051-2011.jpg
    Kitchener,AhrensSt.W-0051-2011.jpg
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-179263 
    Died 4 Mar 1948  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Buried Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Person ID I179263  Generations
    Last Modified 30 Sep 2024 

    Father Henry K. Witzel,   b. 21 Feb 1854, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Aug 1913, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 59 years) 
    Mother Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Schaefer,   b. CALC 18 Aug 1857, South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Aug 1894, South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 37 years) 
    Married 27 Jun 1875  South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F9977  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Carrie Josephine Hackett,   b. Apr 1878, , USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1951  (Age ~ 72 years) 
    Married 9 Mar 1899  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Helen Witzel,   b. Sep 1901, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Theodore Witzel,   b. 1907, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Theodore Andrew Witzel,   b. 1918,   d. 1995  (Age 77 years)
    Last Modified 1 Oct 2024 
    Family ID F176175  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • In 1906 when T.A. Witzel started his own small business manufacturing and selling ball-point pens. He renamed his company Onward Manufacturing in 1910 and spent the next 30 years expanding his product line to include hardware and home appliances. As most other Canadian companies, he shifted his production during the second world war to arms and munitions parts to help the Allied war effort. The resulting increase in manufacturing capacity left the company ideally positioned to take advantage of the post-war economic boom. During this period, they expanded into the barbecue market and grew into a market leader developing such brand names as Broil King and Stirling.

      __________________

      T. A. Witzel, 72, Dies Suddenly This Afternoon

      Theodore Adam Witzel, 72, president of the Onward Manufacturing Co., Ltd., died at his home, 51 Ahrens St. West, at 1:15 p.m. today from a heart attack.

      Although Mr. Witzel had experienced several periods of bad health during the past few years, he had worked as usual at his office this week and attended the K-W Rotary Club meeting on Monday, a club which he was instrumental in founding in Kitchener. He was a charter member of the organization

      BORN IN TAVISTOCK

      Born at Tavistock, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry K. Witzel, the late manufacturer went to Toronto as a young man where, with Ernest Schmidt of Kitchener, he was in partnership in a grain business. When they dissolved partnership, Mr. Witzel went to Brampton to buy out the Walker Bin and Fixture Co. His partner became associated with a firm in Montreal in which he rose to a position of prominence.

      In 1908 Mr. Witzel started his Kitchener factory which has sole rights of the Ureka Vacuum Cleaner Co. in Canada. His marriage to Carrie Josephine Hackett took place in Toronto in 1899.

      ATTENDED ST. JOHN'S

      Mr. Witzel was a member of St. John's Anglican Church and a charter member of the Twin City Lodge A.F. and A.M.

      A charter member of the Westmount Golf and Country Club and the Granite Curling Club, Mr. Witzel was the third member of a well- known group, called the "Four Horsemen, to die. He was preceded in death by Dr. Harry Huehnergard and A. E. Brundrette, a banker. Only surviving member of the group is Harry Lincoln.

      Besides his widow, Mr. Witzel in survived by one son, Theodore Adam, Kitchener; a brother, George of Tavistock; one daughter, Mrs. Willard (Helen) Box of Toronto and a half-sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Wuest Water St. A brother, W. A. Witzel died in Kitchener a month ago. Funeral arrangements are no complete.

      Kitchener-Waterloo Record Thu, Mar 04, 1948 Page 3

  • Sources 
    1. [S340] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1911, Div. 28 Pg. 4.

    2. [S2264] Census - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - 1921, Sub Dist. 26 Page 4.

    3. [S87] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Woodland CC#4510 Internet Link .
      In Loving Memory/ Theodore Adam Witzel/ 1875-1948

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1875 - , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBorn - Nov 1875 - Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - grain merchant - 1899 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 9 Mar 1899 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Onward Manufacturing Company - 1906 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Manufacturer, Novelty - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1911 - 53 Roy St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Christian Science - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Manufacturer, ? - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1921 - 53 Roy St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Christian Science - 1921 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 4 Mar 1948 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth