Esther Saloma "Salome" Ratz

1882 - 1937  (55 years)

• Name	Esther Saloma "Salome" Ratz
  Born	6 Mar 1882	, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Female
  Name	Saloma Ratz
  Name	Salome Ratz
  Residence	1891	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1901	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Domestic
  Residence	1911	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Evangelical
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-25883
  Died	20 Mar 1937	London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Buried	Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I25883	Generations
  Last Modified	9 Jun 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

  Former Elmira Resident Meets Death Miss Esther Ratz, 54, Electrocuted In Bath Tub In London On Saturday Victim Was Well Known in Twin-City-Electric Heater Believed Cause. LONDON, Ont. - Miss Esther Salome Ratz, aged about 54, middle-aged South London dressmaker was found electrocuted about 9 o'clock Saturday night in the bathtub of her apartment at 26 Craig street.. An electric heater was found in the water tub when neighboring residents broke down the locked bathroom door with an axe. Miss Ratz, a native of Elmira, was well known in Waterloo County, having many intimate friends in Kitchener, Waterloo and Elmira, Her many friends in the district were shocked to learn of her violent passing, Dr. A. R. Routledge, chief coroner for Middlesex, said after his investigation, that he believed Miss Ratz had reached out to move the heater and was almost instantly killed as she touched it. It was thought the heater was knocked into the water as she fell back. Miss Ratz lived alone in a small apartment in the building operated by A. D. McCallum. About 9 o'clock Mr. and Mrs. McCallum who live below heard a hissing sound overhead. They ran to the apartment above. When they found the bathroom door locked and received no answer Mr. McCallum broke the door open with an axe. The body of Miss Ratz was lying in the bathtub. Her hand was still resting on the heated and her knee where the heater rested was badly burned. The palm of her hand that was in contact with the metal of the heater was slightly burned. Drs. Cargill and Robertson were called but Miss Ratz had died almost instantly, it was believed. The coroner was notified. It could not be determined just where the heater had been placed in the room. A towel rack above the bathtub on which it could have been resting was somewhat loosed from the wall. Hydro employees were called in and made examination of the wiring and heater on instruction of the coroner. Elmira Native Miss Ratz was a native of Elmira, daughter of the late Simo[n] and Melissa Ratz of that place. After spending her early life there she went to New York. There for 13 years she was a designer for a wholesale dress firm. Eight years ago she came to London and set up her dressmaking business in London. She was a member of Wesley United Church. Surviving are two brothers, Lorne Ratz, Oshawa, and Earl Ratz, of the department of interior, Ottawa: one sister, Miss Aileen Ratz, missionary at Drumheller, Mrs, E. C. McMurtie, London, is an aunt. The body rested at the W. A. Hunt funeral home. The funeral proceeded Tuesday morning to Elmira where interment will be made. Waterloo Chronicle, 23 Mar 1937, p. 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link. Esther/ Salome/ Daughter Of/ Simon H. & Clara M. Ratz/ Born 1882 - Died 1937/ [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira (Village) B. Page 17. [S176] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1911, Div. 49 Pg. 9. [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 43.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 6 Mar 1882 - , Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Domestic - 1901 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evangelical - 1911 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 20 Mar 1937 - London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth