Louis Ignace Rathe

Other Events:

• Interesting: life
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-195135
• Residence: 1914, Terrebonne, , Québec, Canada

Notes:

Louis I. Rathe Passes In 104th Year

A former well-known resident of Ayr, Louis Ignace Rathe, passed away on Saturday night at Terrebonne, Que., in his 104th year. He had been in failing health for several months but had remained alert and in good spirits until the end. He was born in upper New York State on December 9, 1861, a son of the late Louis I. Rathe and Mary McCabe. However, his parental forebears were early French settlers in Canada, dating back to the mid 1700's. He spent his younger years in Montreal and later went to nearby Terrebonne, where he was employed as a machinist. Following this trade he moved to Ayr before the turn of the century to accept a position in the machine shop of the John Watson Mfg. Co. Ltd. He subsequently became foreman of this department. In Ayr he married Elizabeth Anderson, who predeceased him some 30 years ago. At that time he returned to Terrebonne to reside with his daughter, Mrs. George Stanton, and Mr. Stanton. While here Mr. Rathe was a popular figure among a wide circle of friends, most of whom have long since passed away. He was possessed of a fine tenor voice and in an era when local talent provided entertainment at church and other social functions, his services were in great demand. He was one of the early members of the Ayr Fire Brigade back in the period when horse drawn equipment and buckets were still in use. In later years, even at the century milepost, he could recall with remarkable clarity happenings in this community which most residents had only read about or heard second hand. His memory carried him further back than Ayr, and he had often recounted of sleigh riding in what Is now busy St. Denis St. in Montreal, or riding on horse-drawn trolleys in Troy, N.Y. Mr. Rathe was keenly interested in politics and government at all Levels, and until very recently spent much of his lime keeping abreast developments in daily newspapers - both French and English. His grasp of political developments and feeling in both languages made him an interesting and informative conversationalist this field. Mr. Rathe was keenly interested in baseball and hockey, and could describe with accuracy many games played by Ayr's top notch teams before the turn of the century. Latterly he followed these sports through the medium of newspaper and television. One of the highlights of his later life was the recognition he received from the Town of Terrebonne on the occasion of his 100th anniversary. The mayor and council marked the occasion with an official ceremony and presentation. Surviving are three daughters Mrs. John A. Schmidt (Jessie) of Ayr, Mrs. George Stanton (Irene) of Terrebonne and Miss Mary Rattle of Montreal; and a son, Thomas I. Rathe of Montreal. Seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren also survive.

The Funeral

Funeral service was held on Monday in Terrebonne, followed by committal service in Ayr this (Wednesday) afternoon.

The Ayr News Jul 29 1965 pg 1

Louis married Elizabeth "Bessie" Anderson 3 May 1886, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Muir Anderson and Janet Laidlaw) was born CALC 21 Dec 1864, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 2 Apr 1936, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 5 Apr 1936, Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Military: WW1
• Residence: Folkestone, , Kent, England
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-195136
• Occupation: 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Labourer - Gravel Pit
• Residence: 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• Residence: Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-159427

Other Events:

• Name: Jessie Mary Schmidt
• Residence: William St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-195137
• Residence: 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Notes:

Mrs. John A. Schmidt of Ayr passed away in St. Mary's Hospital, Kitchener, on Friday, January 13th. She was in her 87th year. Born in the home on William Street, Ayr, in which she lived most of her life, the former Jessie Mary Rathe was a daughter of the late Louis I. Rathe and Elizabeth Anderson. She received her schooling in Ayr. In 1921 she married John A. Schmidt, proprietor of the Ayr News. She was a Presbyterian. Mrs. Schmidt was predeceased her husband in January, 1968; a son Robert A. Schmidt in April, 1968; a grandson Thomas R. Schmidt in August, 1973; also brothers Louis and Thomas Rathe. Surviving are two sons John T. of Calgary and James W. of Ayr; eleven grandchildren and three great -grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. George (Irene) Stanton and Miss Mary Rathe, both of Ayr. Funeral and committal services were conducted Sunday by Rev. D. E. Willis of Ayr at Coutts Funeral Home, Galt. Interment in Ayr Cemetery.

The Ayr News 18 Jan 1978 pg 9

Jessie married John Allen Schmidt 20 May 1920, Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada. John (son of James Allan Schmidt and Elisabetha "Elisabeth" Elizabeth" Fink) was born 27 Jan 1890, Paisley, Elderslie Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; died 16 Jan 1968, Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried 19 Jan 1968, Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Irene "Irene" Stanton
• Name: Irene Rathe
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-195138
• Residence: 1911, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1936, Terrebonne, , Québec, Canada
• Residence: 1980, 52 Piper St, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Mrs. Irene Stanton

The death occurred in St Mary's Hospital, Kitchener on Thursday November 27th of Elizabeth Irene Stanton of 52 Piper Street, Ayr, in her 85th year. Born in Ayr. she was the daughter of the late Louis Rathe and Elizabeth Anderson. Following her marriage to George Stanton, she resided in Terrebonne, Quebec for many years, returning to Ayr to live following his death some ten years ago. She is survived by one sister Mary Rathe of Ayr. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by two brothers Louis Rathe of Folkstone Kent, England and Tom Rathe of Montreal and one sister Mrs. John A. (Jessie) Schmidt of Ayr. A private funeral and committal service was held at Coutts and Son, Funeral Home, Cambridge, on Friday November 28th. Cremation followed.

The Ayr News 3 Dec 1980 pg 11

Elizabeth — George Stanton. George was born Abt 1895; died Bef 1980. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Military: WW2 - Women's Auxiliary in the Canadian Army
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-159428

Notes:

Mary J. Rathe

Mary Jeanie Rathe of Telfer Place, Paris, passed away in Brantford General Hospital on Sunday, April 7th. She was in her 93rd year. Born in Ayr on August 11th, 1898, she was a daughter of Louis I. Rathe and Elizabeth Anderson. Miss Rathe served with the Women's Auxiliary in the Canadian Army during World War II and was on the staff of the Queen Mary Hospital, Montreal, for many years. She moved back to Ayr over 20 years ago, making her home with two sisters here. She was a member of Christ Anglican Church, Ayr. Predeceased by two brothers, Louis Rathe of England and Tom Rathe of Montreal, and two sisters Mrs. George (Irene) Stanton and Mrs. John A. (Jessie) Schmidt of Ayr. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at Christ Anglican Church, Ayr, on Thursday at 1: 00 p.m. Rev. Roy Shepherd will officiate. Interment Ayr Cemetery.

The Ayr News 10 Apr 1991 pg 19

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-340655

Notes:

John Schmidt, b in Ayr, died in Calgary, Alberta,
Married Jean Perry (1st wife) born in South Dumfries, died in Michigan in 1983, Four children:
John Patrick Schmidt,
William Louis Schmidt,
Inez Louise Schmidt
Thomas Schmidt
Married Margaret (2nd wife), no children

______________________

John T. Schmidt

John Thomas Schmidt of Chancellor, Alta. passed away in Strathmore Hospital on Thursday, May 5, 2005. He was in his 83rd year.

Born in Galt, he was a son of John A. Schmidt and Jessie Rathe. Following his education in Ayr, he joined the family operated Ayr News before going to the Hamilton Spectator as a Linotype operator. After a short time there his love of farming led to a position as a farm writer at the K-W Record in 1949. In 1958 he joined the Calgary Herald as agricultural editor, a position he held until retirement 28 years later. In 1991 he was presented with an honorary membership in the Canadian Farm Writers Federation. He continued writing a weekly agricultural column for a dozen weekly papers, including The News, up to within two weeks of his passing.

Surviving are his wife Margaret (Salkeld); sons John and wife Diane of Ayr, Bill and his wife Diana of Vancouver; a daughter Inez of Portland, Oregon; a brother Jim of Ayr; six grandchildren and a great-grandson. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a son Tom and a brother Robert. Cremation, followed by a private family service. Interment Ayr Cemetery.

The Ayr News May 11 2005 pg 12

John — Margaret Salkeld. Margaret was born Abt 1925. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-111181

Notes:

Robert A. Schmidt, Editor Of Ayr News Passes Suddenly

This week's issue of the Ayr News is being published under great difficulty and sadness following the unexpected death early Tuesday morning of the editor, Robert Alfred Schmidt. His death at age 43 occurred in St. Mary's Hospital, Kitchener, following a slight stroke which he had suffered Monday night while driving to his home on the Ayr-Wrigley's Road. He had left the News office early after complaining about feeling unwell. He had left the car and started for his home only a short distance away when he collapsed. Members of the family noticed him and called a doctor who had him immediately taken to hospital, where he died some seven hours later. Mr. Schmidt's death follows by only 2 1/2 months that of his father, John A. Schmidt, who wrote the Rambling Reporter column for the Ayr News. The elder Schmidt died under almost the same circumstances in hospital. The News editor was one of the hardest-working individuals in the weekly newspaper fraternity in Ontario. He and his brother, James W., the president of The Ayr News Ltd., worked many overtime hours to build up one of the most outstanding weeklies and job printing plants for the size of the town in Canada. A measure of the success of the business may be seen in the fact that when John A. Schmidt and his brother Alfred bought the paper in 1913 the circulation was about 500. The circulation today has been built up to more than 3,000 and this is due to the business acumen of the Schmidt family in the Ayr, Bright Drumbo, Princeton, Plattsville, New Dundee and Innerkip districts. Bummer, as he was affectionately known to a wide circle of business acquaintances and friends in this wide territory, was ever obliging in servicing his advertising and job printing contracts - and seldom was a delivery schedule missed. He worked many, many hours assisting his friends with the preparation of copy and layouts. Incidentally, that nickname Bummer comes from his activities on the football field where he developed a drop kick reminiscent of the southpaw booting of one, Bummer Sterling. He was left-handed and wrote every bit of copy in longhand, and he could turn it out faster than many newspaper men with the aid of a typewriter. He had a witty style of writing-when he had time to put his hand to that type of writing. Schmidt was born in Ayr in 1924, the second of three brothers who all followed their father's footsteps into the printing and publishing business. Like his other two brothers, he was required to "work around the office" after four and on Saturdays - and sometimes Sundays - during his days at Ayr Public and Continuation Schools. These two schools were only two sources of formal education. The balance of his education he received around the Ayr News, which had a reputation for turning out knowledgeable graduates. With the semi-retirement of Mr. Schmidt, Sr., from the business, a limited company was formed with Mr. Schmidt and brother James as the principals. The business has been very demanding of the time as new printing processes were adopted and expensive machinery was added. At his death he had put in 26 years fulltime at the weekly newspaper business, having started in the News plant at age 17. He spent all of his career here except for a short stint at the Delhi News-Record. Mr. Schmidt was not a "joiner" nor did he engage in much activity of a social nature around Ayr. However, he used his pen to promote the good of the community. He was an astute student of politics of the community and as one of those newspapermen possessed of the ability "to know what was going on." He was a member of the United Church of Canada. Survivors are his wife, Grace, RR 1, Ayr; mother, Mrs. John A. Schmidt, Ayr; brothers, John T., agricultural editor of the Calgary Herald, and James W. of Ayr. The body is at Coutts Funeral Home, 96 St. Andrews St., Galt, until Thursday at 2 p.m. when funeral service will, be held. Interment will be in Ayr Cemetery. Coming home to write the "obit" of a brother and good friend has been a difficult and lonely task. I take pride in writing of only a few of the accomplishments of a life cut off too soon. - John T. Schmidt.

The Ayr News Apr 4 1968 pg 1

Robert — Grace. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-340723

Notes:

James William Schmidt, a life-long resident of Ayr, passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, May 22, 2023, at Freeport Hospital. He was in his 96th year. Born at home in Ayr, August 1, 1927 the youngest son of John A. and Jessie Schmidt (nee Rathé). Survived by his eight children, Paul and his wife Nancy of Ayr, Kathleen Janzen and her husband Bill of Waterloo, Elaine and her husband Rick Yellen of Corpus Christi, Texas, Irene Adeney and her husband Geoff, George and his wife Janet, Ann and her husband Steve Brunton, Michael and his wife Merry, Heidi and her husband Derrick Ostner, all of Ayr; his grandchildren Robert, Thom, Sarah, Nicole, Kymn, Bekki, Sharleen, Jacquelyn, Elisabeth, Hillary, Patrick, Matthew, Jessica, Ian, Alex, Andrea, and Calvin; 21 great-grandchildren; also survived by his sister-in-law Margaret Schmidt of Chancellor, Alberta and several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Lavina (2004); his grandson Konrad Ostner and his great-grandchildren Lee-anne and James Schmidt; his brothers John T. and Robert Schmidt. Friends may call at the Ayr Chapel, Wm. Kipp Funeral Home, Ayr Chapel, 183 Northumberland St. Ayr on Thursday May 25, 2023, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. A private family service will take place at the funeral home chapel. Interment Ayr Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ayr Paris Band, Ayr Minor Softball or Ayr Minor Hockey would be appreciated. Online condolences and donations may be arranged through www.wmkippfuneralhome.com or by contacting WM. Kipp 519 632 8228.

James Schmidt Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (2023). Available at: https://www.wmkippfuneralhome.com/memorials/james-schmidt/5198456/?fbclid=IwAR08uph53qWhMO8wXDM-1oGi6LAVl_L0PrzsucJmDlknQEyVHu3qEya_HP4 (Accessed: 23 May 2023).

James — Lavina Irene McCombs. Lavina was born 1929, Beachville, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada; died 24 Aug 2004, Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried 27 Aug 2004, Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]