Reeve John Ratz^{[1, 2]}

1833 - 1889  (55 years)

• Photos

  John Ratz From Enterprising Elmira, An historical, discriptive, and illustrated book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, published by George Klinck 1903

  
  

• Name	John Ratz
  Prefix	Reeve
  Born	7 Dec 1833	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
  Christened	19 Oct 1834	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Gender	Male
  Elected Office	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [11]
  	Reeve - Elmira
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88439677
  Residence	1851	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Evangelist
  Occupation	1861	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1861	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1871	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Farmer - Miller
  Residence	1871	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	E. Methodist
  House	Abt 1876	10 Centre St., Elmira, Ontario
  Organization	Elmira Public Library, Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario
  	On January 24, 1888, a meeting was held to organize a Mechanics' Institute in Elmira. Membership cost $1 a year. The first board members were: David Bean, George Klinck, A. Werner, John Ratz, A. H. Erb, A. Blatz, Wm. Behrens, Sol Laschinger, Dr. Ullyot, and M. Weber. The librarian/caretaker, C. K. Jansen was paid $30 a year.
  Occupation	1881	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	miller
  Occupation	1881	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Miller
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-25862
  Died	14 Oct 1889	Elmira Mennonite Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 10, 12]
  Buried	Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 10]
  Person ID	I25862	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Valentine Ratz,   b. 12 Aug 1798,   d. 28 Dec 1870, South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 72 years)
  Mother	Anna Gertrute "Gertrude" Lanz,   b. 2 May 1798, , Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany ,   d. 14 Jul 1872, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 74 years)
  Married		Valentine and Gertrude (Lanz) Ratz
  Family ID	F11278	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Saloma Haist,   b. 29 Dec 1835, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Mar 1917  (Age 81 years)
  Children	1. Samuel Ratz,   b. 1857, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Lydia Ann Ratz,   b. 22 Mar 1857, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Jul 1876, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 19 years)   3. Simon H. Ratz,   b. 25 Oct 1858, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Feb 1910  (Age 51 years)   4. Daniel Ratz,   b. 9 Nov 1860, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Dec 1909  (Age 49 years)   5. George Ratz,   b. 20 Dec 1862, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Jul 1918  (Age 55 years)   6. Mary Ann Ratz,   b. 27 Nov 1865, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Jun 1916, East Oxford Township, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 50 years)   7. Susannah Ratz,   b. 17 May 1867, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 15 Jun 1912, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 45 years)   8. Dr. Major John Henry Ratz,   b. 7 Sep 1869, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Feb 1918, Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 48 years)   9. Emma M. Ratz,   b. 2 Mar 1872, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1953, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London, Middlesex Co., Ontario  (Age 80 years)   10. David D. Ratz,   b. 20 Aug 1875, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 13 Jan 1917, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 41 years)
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F6743	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Children	1. Lydia Ann Ratz,   b. 22 Mar 1857, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Jul 1876, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 19 years)
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F255089	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  The Late Reeve John Ratz, who was one of the leading spirits in the railroad agitation as well as in the movement to incorporate the Village of Elmira, was born in the town of Waterloo 70 years ago. He purchased a farm near Elmira in 1855, which he disposed of 26 years ago and removed to Elmira. He was elected the first Reeve of Elmira in the year 1887 and died while in office the next year. 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

  [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 012546-84. Daniel RATZ , 24 , miller , Woolwich Twp., Nichol Twp., s/o John RATZ & Saloma HAIST , married Annie SCOTT , 25 , Elora , Nichol , d/o Charles SCOTT & Ann KNOX , witn: George RATZ of Elmira Woolwich Twp. & Addie BOONE of Wellesley Twp., 24 June 1884 at Nichol Twp [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 27 Jul 1876. Died 18 Jul 1876 In Elmira, Lydia Ann, daughter of John Ratz, died at the age of 19 years, 3 months, 26 days. [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link. John Ratz/ Died Oct. 14, 1889/ Aged 55 Yrs. 10 Ms. 7 Ds [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div 2 Page 42 Family 194. [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div. 2 Page 42. [S144] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 62. [S211] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Church Register of H. W. Peterson 1833-1835. John, born December 7th 1833, baptized October 19th 1834, by the Reverend H W Peterson; parentes, Valentine Ratz, & Gertrude, his wife; testes, godfather John Moak, godmother, Gertrude Ratz. [S141] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1851, Div. 3, Pg. 17. [S915] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1861, Township of Woolwich 1861 Div. 4 Page 39. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88439677. [S77] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Signet (1893-1982), Obituary of Daniel Ratz - 9 Dec 1909. [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 41.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 7 Dec 1833 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Christened - 19 Oct 1834 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Reeve - Elmira - - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evangelist - 1851 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1861 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1861 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - Miller - 1871 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - E. Methodist - 1871 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada House - Abt 1876 - 10 Centre St., Elmira, Ontario Organization - - Elmira Public Library, Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario Occupation - miller - 1881 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Miller - 1881 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 14 Oct 1889 - Elmira Mennonite Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth