William Fernando Ratz

1883 - 1909  (25 years)

• Name	William Fernando Ratz
  Born	23 Sep 1883	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1891	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1901	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Student
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-25884
  Died	6 May 1909	Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Cause: Typhoid fever
  Buried	Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I25884	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Simon H. Ratz,   b. 25 Oct 1858, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Feb 1910  (Age 51 years)
  Mother	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)
  Family ID	F6747	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Death of Wm. Ratz "It never rains but it pours," is an adage that may be applied to the happenings affecting a prominent family of Elmira. Last week while the corpse of the only son of Mr. Daniel Ratz was being brought home from Toronto for burial, the latter's brother, Mr. Simon H. Ratz, received a telegram from Ottawa stating that his son William was lying at the hospital with a severe attack of Typhoid fever. MR. Ratz departed immediately for Ottawa found matters ? ? and was obliged to send a message home Saturday morning to the effect that the young man had died. Wm. F. Ratz, was born in Elmira on the 22nd of September, 1883. He attended the public school here and proved a bright scholar, passing the Entrance examination when twelve years old. At 14 he passed the junior matriculation examination at the Guelph Collegiate Institute, after which he took a civil engineering course at the School of Practical Science passing his examination for civil engineer at 18 years of age. At this examination he obtained the highest honors in his class. In 1902 he entered his apprenticeship as Dominion Land Surveyor serving under J. F. Johnston, of New Westminster, B. C. and worked for a year in southern British Columbia. Til 1904 he was employed in the Surveyor General's office, Department of the Interior. He then obtained his commission as Dominion Land Surveyor, again with the highest honors. From that time until his death he worked on the Alaska boundary Survey in the Department of the Interior, under Dr. W. F. King, Chief Astronomer and His Majesty's Boundary Commissioner. Few men of his age have attained so high a position in the civil service of our country, and his chances of promotion were very bright, but it was not to be. Deceased was held in high esteem by his associates, one of whom was Mr. Joshua Umbach son of our townsman, Mr. J. L. Umbach, at whose home he went in and out as though they were brothers. Dr. King also thought very highly of him. Mr. H. S. Mussell, who for four years had been the desk mate of deceased in the office, as well as his associate in field work, accompanied Mr. Ratz to Elmira with the remains. The young man was sick in the hospital only five days though the insidious typhoid had probably been working in his system for some time. He was a young man of pleasing and general disposition and of exceptional ability before whom stood, as far as man could see, a promising career. However, death intervened and cut short this young life, leaving his relatives and friends to mourn their great loss, in which the whole community sympathizes. The funeral took place this (Wednesday) afternoon. Elmira Signet May 1909

  
  

• Sources

  [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link. William Fernando/ Son Of/ Simon H. & Clara M Ratz/ Born 1883 - Died 1909. [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira (Village) B. Page 16. [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 43.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 23 Sep 1883 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Student - 1901 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Typhoid fever - 6 May 1909 - Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada Buried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth