Simon H. Ratz^{[1, 2, 3]}

1858 - 1910  (51 years)

• Name	Simon H. Ratz
  Born	25 Oct 1858	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
  Gender	Male
  Name	S. H. Ratz
  Residence	1871	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	E. Methodist
  Occupation	1881	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Bookkeeper
  Occupation	1890	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	merchant milelr
  Occupation	1891	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	Miller
  Residence	1891	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1901	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Sawyer
  Residence	1903	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		Ratz residence From: Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, published by George Klinck, 1903.
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-25872
  Died	18 Feb 1910  [6]
  Buried	Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Person ID	I25872	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

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

  
  

  Family 1	Clara Melissa Strohm,   b. 6 Mar 1862, Pilkington Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 16 Oct 1888, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 26 years)
  Children	1. Esther Saloma "Salome" Ratz,   b. 6 Mar 1882, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 Mar 1937, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada  (Age 55 years)   2. William Fernando Ratz,   b. 23 Sep 1883, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 May 1909, Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 25 years)   3. Abraham Lincoln "Abram" "Link" Ratz,   b. 13 Sep 1885, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Apr 1936, Belleville, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 50 years)   4. Oscar Ratz,   b. 8 Apr 1887,   d. 16 Jul 1888, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 1 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F6747	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Weitzel,   b. 27 Nov 1867, Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Jun 1916, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 48 years)
  Married	13 May 1890	Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Children	1. John Earl Ratz,   b. 14 Feb 1892, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Irvin Lorne "Lorne" Ratz,   b. 16 Mar 1894, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Feb 1972  (Age 77 years)   3. Wilbert X. L. Ratz,   b. 8 Apr 1896, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Mar 1898, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 1 years)   4. Ilene Ratz,   b. Jul 1899, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Aileen May Ratz,   b. 31 Jul 1900, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 4 Oct 1997, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 97 years)   6. Clarence Ratz,   b. Mar 1904, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F24961	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Simon H. Ratz 1903

  
  

• Notes

  Mr. Simon H. Ratz, is the senior member of the firm of Ratz Bros. He was born on a farm 1 ½ miles west of Elmira, in 1858, attended the Elmira public schools and took a short course at the Berlin High School, after which he engaged in milling. After this he clerked in the store of Ratz & Baetz four years. He then took charge of the saw and heading mills of his firm, and has become an expert in that line. Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, published by George Klinck, 1903. ______________________ Mr. Simon Ratz who has had a severe attack of typhoid fever is on the fair way of convalescence. Mr. Peter Mattusch is also recovering from the results of his fall from the roof of the Catholic church and will soon be able to be around again. - Mr. John H Ruppel, our village Clerk, is also confined to his bed with indisposition. - Mr. Chr. Spaeth was stricken with paralysis last week and it is feart that he will not revive. The Elmira Advertizer 15 Nov 1888 ________________ Prominent Citizen Passes Away Again the truth of the adage "Misfortune seldom comes singly" has been demonstrated in our midst. IN a period extending over less than thirteen months, the Ratz family has mourned the death of no less than four adult members. On Feb. 3rd 1909, word was received here that Arthur, son of Mr. Daniel Ratz, had died suddenly at Toronto. About a week or ten days later came the news of the death of William, son of Mr. Simon Ratz of typhoid, at Ottawa. Last Dec. occurred the demise of Mr. Daniel Ratz, of Bright's disease, and last Friday the death of his brother Simon who was at the time of the former's funeral hale and hearty and who seemed as likely to live to a good old age, as most of the men of his age. He was taken ill shortly before the beginning of the year and, with the exception of a week or two was confined to the house up to the time of his death. ____________ 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

  [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 16 Apr 1896. 8 Apr 1896 The wife of Simon Ratz, in Elmira, a son. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 25 Oct 1888. Died 16 Oct 1888 Clara Melissa Ratz, wife of Simon Ratz, died in Elmira at age of 25 years, 7 months & 10 days. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 26 Jul 1888. Died 16 Jul 1888 Oscar Ratz, infant son of Simon Ratz, died in Elmira at age of 1 year, 3 months & 8 days. [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div 2 Page 42 Family 194. [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira (Village) B. Page 16. [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link. Simon H. Ratz/ Born Oct. 25th, 1858/ Died Feb. 18th,1910/ Our Loved One Rests In Slumber Deep. [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div. 2 Page 42. [S144] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 62. [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 9662 (1890), Ratz-Weitzel. Simon H Ratz, merchant miller of Elmira, Birth Place: Woolwich Township Ont Age: 31 Estimated birth year: abt 1859 Father Name: John Ratz Mother Name: Salome Ratz Spouse Name: Mary Weitzel, residence Tavistock Spouse's Age: 22 Spouse Birth Place: Tavistock Ont Spouse Father Name: John Weitzel Spouse Mother Name: Elizabeth Weitzel Marriage Date: 13 May 1890 Marriage Location: Perth, Tavistock [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 43.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 25 Oct 1858 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - E. Methodist - 1871 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Bookkeeper - 1881 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - merchant milelr - 1890 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 13 May 1890 - Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Miller - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Sawyer - 1901 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1903 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth