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

Simon H. Ratz[1, 2, 3]

Male 1858 - 1910  (51 years)

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  • Photos
    Simon H. Ratz 1903
    Simon H. Ratz 1903

  • Name Simon H. Ratz 
    Born 25 Oct 1858  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
    Gender Male 
    Name S. H. Ratz 
    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
    Bookkeeper 
    Occupation 1890  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    merchant milelr 
    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  [5
    Sawyer 
    Residence 1903  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Ratz residence
    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 Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Person ID I25872  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 1 Clara Melissa Strohm,   b. 6 Mar 1862, Pilkington Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Oct 1888, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 26 years) 
    Children 
     1. Esther Saloma "Salome" Ratz,   b. 6 Mar 1882, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Mar 1937, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years)
     2. William Fernando Ratz,   b. 23 Sep 1883, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 May 1909, Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 25 years)
     3. Abraham Lincoln "Abram" "Link" Ratz,   b. 13 Sep 1885, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Apr 1936, Belleville, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years)
     4. Oscar Ratz,   b. 8 Apr 1887,   d. 16 Jul 1888, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F6747  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Mary Weitzel,   b. 27 Nov 1867, Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jun 1916, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years) 
    Married 13 May 1890  Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Children 
     1. John Earl Ratz,   b. 14 Feb 1892, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Irvin Lorne "Lorne" Ratz,   b. 16 Mar 1894, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Wilbert X. L. Ratz,   b. 8 Apr 1896, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Mar 1898, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
     4. Ilene Ratz,   b. Jul 1899, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Aileen May Ratz,   b. 31 Jul 1900, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Oct 1997, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 97 years)
     6. Clarence Ratz,   b. Mar 1904, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F24961  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • 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 
    1. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 16 Apr 1896.
      8 Apr 1896 The wife of Simon Ratz, in Elmira, a son.

    2. [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.

    3. [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.

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

    5. [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira (Village) B. Page 16.

    6. [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.

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

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

    9. [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

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

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 25 Oct 1858 - 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 - Bookkeeper - 1881 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - merchant milelr - 1890 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 13 May 1890 - Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, 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 - Sawyer - 1901 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1903 - 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