Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
George Ratz

George Ratz[1]

Male 1862 - 1918  (55 years)

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  • Photos
    George Ratz 1903
    George Ratz 1903

  • Name George Ratz 
    Born 20 Dec 1862  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1871  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    E. Methodist 
    Occupation 1881  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Tailor 
    Occupation 1889  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    miller 
    Occupation 1891  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Miller 
    Residence 1891  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1901  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Miller 
    Occupation 1911  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Income 
    Residence 1911  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Evangelical 
    Residence 1918  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [12
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-25867 
    Died 24 Jul 1918  [5, 6, 11
    Buried Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6, 11
    Person ID I25867  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2024 

    Father Reeve John Ratz,   b. 7 Dec 1833, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Oct 1889, Elmira Mennonite Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years) 
    Mother Saloma Haist,   b. 29 Dec 1835, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Mar 1917  (Age 81 years) 
    Family ID F6743  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Clara Dunke,   b. 8 Apr 1868, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Apr 1933, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 65 years) 
    Married 20 Aug 1889  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Children 
     1. Leroy Henry Ratz,   b. 1890, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1891  (Age 1 years)
     2. Elmer George Ratz,   b. 9 Mar 1892, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1950  (Age 57 years)
     3. Ruth Elizabeth Ratz,   b. 17 Feb 1893, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1968  (Age 74 years)
     4. Dr. Roswell Ratz,   b. 21 Jan 1896, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Dr. Reginald Guy Ratz,   b. 22 May 1898, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1965  (Age 66 years)
     6. Herbert Ratz,   b. 8 May 1899, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F6745  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Mr. Geo Ratz, is a member of the firm of Ratz Bros. He is a native of Elmira and a son of the late John Ratz. He attends to the office work of the firm and is well known as a shrewd and careful business man.

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

      _______________


      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

  • Sources 
    1. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 6 Feb 1896.
      21 Jan 1896 The wife of George Ratz, in Elmira, a son.

    2. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 12173-89.
      George RATZ, 26, miller, Woolwich, Elmira, s/o John RATZ & Salome, married Clara DUNKE, 20, Elmira, Elmira, d/o Henry DUNKE & Elizabeth (nee KLINCK), witn: John RATZ & Lizzie DUNKE, both of Elmira, on 20 August 1889, at Elmira

    3. [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira (Village) B. Page 20.

    4. [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div 2 Page 42 Family 194.

    5. [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link.
      George Ratz/ 1862 - 1918/ At Rest.

    6. [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link.
      In Memory Of/ George Ratz/ 1862 - 1918/ Son Of John Ratz/ And Salome Heist/ And His Wife/ Clara Ratz/ 1869 - 1933/ Daughter Of Henry Dunke/ And Elizabeth Klinck.

    7. [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div. 2 Page 42.

    8. [S144] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 62.

    9. [S176] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1911, Div. 49 Pg. 11.

    10. [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 43.

    11. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88475518/george-ratz.

    12. [S77] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Signet (1893-1982), Mr. D. D. Ratz, Manager of Royal Bank, Drops Dead - 18 Jan 1917.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 20 Dec 1862 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - E. Methodist - 1871 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Tailor - 1881 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - miller - 1889 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 20 Aug 1889 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Miller - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Miller - 1901 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Income - 1911 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Evangelical - 1911 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1918 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth