Ratliff Page 2

Ratliff/Ratcliffe Genealogy & Family History continued from page one.

Third Generation

John Aurelius Byron RATCLIFFE. Born on 27 Apr 1840 in Christian Co., Kentucky. John Aurelius Byron died in Christian Co., Kentucky on 4 Aug 1895, he was 55. On 3 Feb 1865 when John Aurelius Byron was 24, he married Lucy Clementine LYNN, daughter of Wallace LYNN & Mary "Polly" LINDLEY, in Christian County, KY. She was born on 19 Apr 1845 in Christian Co., Kentucky. Lucy Clementine died in Christian Co., Kentucky on 21 May 1941, she was 96. John A. B. volunteered for the Union in the Civil War on September 1, 1861 when he was 21 years old. He was in Company A, 3rd Reg't Kentucky Calvalry. He achieved the rank of Corporal. He and Lucy Clementine Lynn had thirteen children; several were still fairly young when John A. B. died in 1895. Family stories passed down said that John's health was compromised from the Civil War. All four of their last children born died young. John A. B. and his wife, Lucy Clementine Lynn are buried in the Ratliff Cemetery.

John A. B. Ratliff's Inventory/Estate Record

Below are some snapshots of John A. B. Ratliff's house near the Castleberry Church; taken October 2002 by Kelley Chapman my cousin who descends from Loussign (Nancy) Ratcliffe (1845-1915) John's sister. She and I visited it in 2001 or thereabouts, and walked all around the property and the house which is all fallen in, I could still see some of the wallpaper on the walls.

John A. B. Ratliff lived close to the Castleberry Church, this is a picture of the church, (on left) the tobacco barn (right) is on John's old property, a stone's throw from this church. Since John A. B. Ratliff lived very close to the Castleberry church (at one point), it is not known whether they attended this particular church, but unless it was a domination they didn't attend, then they might have as it is so close to their home.

Here is a picture of the house and some of the Ratliff/Ratcliff's on the porch: Sitting on the porch is Lucy Clementine (Lynn) Ratliff. I believe the two girls and two men are Lucy's children; I'm not sure which ones. This is a VERY large picture (to preserve the detail) so be patient if you open it.

This is the old tobacco barn on the property that is still standing. (click to enlarge any picture).

From The History of Christian County Kentucky by Turner - 19__?

Castleberry -

Land owners that bordered the church were Pascal Brown, Neil Campbell & Byron Ratliff. Haleys and Bennetts later owned the Ratliff farm, now owned by George Bennett. Settlers on the north were: Campbells, Crabtrees, Terry Brothers and Cranors. The Campbell-Williams land is now owned by Elizabeth Williams Spencer. A farm bought from some of this land by Dick Crick was also owned by Charlie and Bessie West, it is now owned by Lloyd Adams. The land south across the creek was inherited by Rebecca, daughter of Pascal Brown, who married Joseph Terry (Sherd Terry's brother). On the Terry farm was POD, (post office delivery) with a store, post office (1902-1909) and a blacksmith shop operated by Dowe Spears, Terry's son-in-law. Mail was brought from Dawson Springs 3 days a week. A short distance west of POD, on the Tradewater, was Scates' Grist Mill, later known as Poole's Mill.

John A. B. Ratcliff and Lucy Clementine Lynn had the following children: Picture left is of Lucy Clementine with her children sometime after her husband, John A. B. Ratliff died in 1895. Lucy Clementine Lynn had 13 children and 7 of them preceded her in death by the time she died in 1941 at 96 years of age. Dorothy Clark, daughter of Madora Vivian Ratliff, has three old albums of Ratliff photos.

The sad news reached us this morning that Mr. Bryan RATCLIFF has past from life to death. Mr. RATCLIFF was a good neighbor, a kind father, and a worthy citizen, one that will be greatly missed. The funeral will take place this evening at the SIZEMORE family graveyard, the G. A. B. conducting the funeral services. (Source: Earlington Bee, Thur., Aug. 8, 1895).

Mary Bertha (Sudie) Ratcliff. Born 1872 in Kentucky. Mary Bertha (Sudie) died on 18 Aug 1891. Four years before her father. See a letter her brother, Ned Ratliff, wrote to her here. She died of a fever when she was 19 years old.

ii.

Ulyssie Ellsworth Ratcliff. Born on 11 Feb 1866 in Kentucky. See a newspaper clipping on Ulyssie in 1900. He died on 13 Jan 1919, he was 52. He died of complications from diabetes. From the newspaper in Christian County it was noted that Ulysses E. Ratcliff, who accompanied John W. Lynn (his Uncle, mother's brother) to Florida and went with the corps to Emporia, Kansas, has returned to his home near here.

BASEBALL BAT DEADLY WEAPON

Young School Teacher Assaulted And Probably Will Die IS STILL UNCONSCIOUS

Ulysses Ratliff the Assailant at Castleberry Church

George Woodson Lacy a young medical student who is working his way through college by teaching in the county schools was assaulted with a baseball bat at Castleberry school house six miles west of Crofton Thursday at noon by Ulysses Ratliff. The exact nature of his injury is not know but yesterday Lacy had partly regained consciousness The school children during the noon recess were playing ball and Ratliff came along and interfered with them in some way. Lacy was in the house and the children reported the trouble to him. He came out and an altercation took place the nature of which is not reported the result of which was that Ratliff struck Lacy on the head knocking him senseless. The young teacher is a son of George Lacy of Fruit Hill and is a splendid young man who has completed two years of his medical course through his own exertions.

He is 23 or 24 years old Ratliff is a man 35 or 40 years old a son of the late Byron Ratliff

Esq. J. W. Rogers was looking into the matter yesterday afternoon Ratliff had not been arrested at noon.

LACY CONVALESCENT
His Assailant Has Not Been Arrested

Prof George Woodson Lacy the young school teacher and medical student who was assaulted with a baseball bat and badly hurt by Ulysses Ratcliffe at Castleberry school house two weeks ago Ratcliffe has not been arrested and has left the country.

Saturday, October 3, 1908

The case of U S Ratcliffe charged with assaulting Prof GW Lacy a young school teacher with a baseball bat near Castleberry church was continued yesterday morning.

February 25, 1909
Defendant Disappeared

The case of the Commonwealth vs Ulysses Ratcliffe charged assaulting Geo Woodson Lacy about a year ago and striking him with a baseball bat was called Tuesday and entered into The defendant had been under a bond of 300 and appeared in court but failed to reappear yesterday morning and the trial proceeded without his presence and his non appearance was not explained. The young man assaulted was badly injured and remained unconscious for several hours and was confined to his bed for weeks. The case was given to the jury yesterday afternoon.

Saturday, February 27, 1909
Ratcliffe Convicted-

U E Ratcliffe well known citizen of North Christian was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to serve one year in the penitentiary for striking and wounding Woodson Lacey a school teacher with intent to kill. He has disappeared. The trial began Tuesday the testimony showing that Ratcliffe angered at some pupils visited the school house and when ordered off the grounds assaulted the teacher. That night he was released from custody on his own recognizance until court time Wednesday. He has not been seen since.

iii.

Peter Lynn Ratcliff (1870-1961) (our line). "Grandad Peter & Granny Lennie lived in a house on York Terry's farm (her father) until their daughter, Vera was two or three years old. This was in Hopkins County, Kentucky. They moved to Sullivan, (Sullivan County, Indiana), where Romane and Bill (my dad) were born. They moved to Keller (East of Shelburn) a coal mining town, to a company house (shotgun house), three rooms in a row, where Aunt Frances was born." (B. Smith)

iv.

Addie Josephine Ratcliff. Born on Jan 21, 1869 and died in 1956 when she was 87 yrs old. She married Riley HAMBY. This couple moved to Indiana, Sullivan County, where my Great grandfather Pete and his son William went. Riley Hamby is buried in Indiana at Little Flock Cemetery, but Addie is buried in the Ratliff Cemetery in Christian County. From "the Bee-_ Earlington, Kentucky, May 12, 1892 - Married May 4 - Riley Huntley and Miss Addie Ratcliffe, daughter of Byron Ratcliffe. Porter Gladdish, Esq officiated." They must have gotten Riley's name wrong, every where else I've seen is as Hamby, including his tombstone, picture above.

Madora Vivian Ratcliff (1874-1962). She married Amos Kestner and had Lucy, Gwendolyn and Dorothy.

vi.

Henrietta Victoria Ratcliff "Aunt Ret". Born on 29 Feb 1876 in Kentucky. “Aunt Ret” died in 1978, she was 102. She married J. Leslie LINDSEY. I heard an awful story about her when visiting Kentucky in 2002, but it is so horrible, that I'll not repeat it here.

vii.

William Constant (Ned) Ratcliff Born on 16 Mar 1878 in Kentucky. He died in 1970 when he was 92 years old. See a letter he wrote to his sister Sudie in 1890 here. He was a police officer at one time in Crofton and owned a restaurant as well. A couple of sources cited him as being "mean as dirt", but a niece of his, Dorothy Clark, whom I visited with in 2001, didn't think so. William is living with his mother, Lucy Clementine in the 1930 Christian County, KY census in Crofton.

Obituary of William "Ned" C. Ratliff, September 30, 1970

Services for William Constance Ratliff, 92 year-old Crofton resident, will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Thomas Funeral Home, Crofton, with the Rev John Gregory officiating.

Burial will follow in Ratliff Cemetery near Crofton.

Mr. Ratliff died at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Hopkins County Hospital, Madisonville. A native of Christian County, Mr. Ratliff was born March 16, 1878, the son of the late John Byron Ratliff and Lucy Clementine Lynn Ratliff.

He was a retired coal miner and a former Crofton policeman. Mr. Ratliff was a member of the Universalist Church. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Henrietta Lindsey of Crofton and several nieces and nephews.

viii.

Effie Caroline Born on 21 Mar 1880 in Kentucky. Effie Caroline died on 23 Dec 1900, she was 20. (Committed Suicide with Carbolic Acid, see article at right)

From Christian County, KY Newspaper Abstracts, Volume Nineteen, 11/06-1900-12/23-1900

Took Carbolic Acid to End Her Troubles Over a Love Affair ~ Miss Carrie Ratcliffe dies for Love of Dick Basher ~

Miss Carrie Ratcliffe, who lived with two of her sisters on Fourteenth Street in Mrs. Laub's house committed suicide Sunday morning by taking carbolic acid. After taking the drug she told her sisters, and two physicians were sent for, but nothing could be done for her and she died in great agony in --- (illegible to read) This time she did not tell of the designs on her life but after she had swallowed the drug there is little doubt that some turn i the love affair caused the tragedy. It is said Brasher has been showing attentions to other girls and the understanding is that his engagement with Mrs. Ratcliffe was broken off some months ago. News from Pembroke is that young Brasher is overwhelmed with grief at the rash act of the young lady and is much mortified at being connected with the tragedy.

Lucy Myrtle Ratcliff Born on 11 Jun 1881 in Kentucky. Lucy Myrtle died on 13 Mar 1926, she was 44. She first married Will FOX. Lucy Myrtle second married Leonard NICHOLSON. "Myrtle" taught school at the Castleberry school.

xi.

Florence Gracey Ratcliff (1884-1911) Died when she was 27 yrs. old, leaving two small daughters. She died at her home at 51 Ferris Avenue, Highland Park, Detroit, Michigan (per her obituary. She was married to Claude Landers and had Lenora and Clementine Landers. Picture on right is Lucy Clementine Lynn Ratcliff and her granddaughters, Lenora and Lucy Landers, sometime after their mother died in 1911.

xii.

James G. Ratcliff Born on 16 Dec 1886 in Kentucky. Jimmy died on 11 Sep 1889, he was 3. See a news article that reports the accident he was in here.

xiii.

Johnny Clifton Ratcliff Born on 18 Sep 1887 in Kentucky. He died on 15 Dec 1887; just under four months old. I believe I read somewhere he was the first one buried in the Ratliff/Ratcliffe Cemetery.

Some Notes from Vickery, granddaughter of Vera Ratcliffe, (Vera was sister to my grandfather, William Lynn Ratcliffe).

Grandpa Pete was Grandpa Peep to me, a name I picked up for him as a child. I saw him on summer trips back. I remember staying with your Grandfather Bill and Grandmother Lucile, the little store, BEES and all. My mother and Aunt Frances were raised together as they were fairly close in age. They were more like sisters than aunt and niece. My sister is Joan Kay Vickrey Craig and lives in Barstow, CA where mom used to live. My brother, Jack, also known as Lowell MASON Vickrey (family name on my dad's side) passed away in 1994 at age 40 suddenly.

The last time I saw my grandpa Peep was the summer of 1960 ... I was really into politics and such at that time and so was he, now mind you he was 91 or so at the time. We sat out on Vera's front porch and he told me stories ... the one that took hold was his story about Eleanor Roosevelt "living in the white House and sleeping with "niggers". He was positive of that as sure as he was breathing. I have no idea where he got his information but that little tidbit stuck with me. From what I know they were staunch Republicans, funny as they were poor as church mice as I could see.

From Barbara Ratcliffe Smith's notes (my mother):

"Ulysses died of diabetes at the age of 53; John died of childhood disease; Mary Bertha died "of a fever" - most likely typhoid; Carrie committed suicide at the age of 20 while attending the Academy at Hopkinsville. It was thought she was distraught over breaking up with a boyfriend; Myrtle died of cancer; it is thought that Florence died of heart trouble, and James was killed when he fell out of a horse-drawn wagon and was run over by one of the wheels. The rest lived relatively long lives - "Aunt Ret" living to be 102."

"Sometime in 1884 the family moved to Kansas somewhere near the Neosha River. At one time Indians stole 2 of their horses and they had to recover them - probably the reason they did not stay long in Kansas."

John A. B. contracted Erysipelas during the Civil War, along with arthritis, and his health was never robust after that time. His lungs were weakened and he died at the age of 55.

The following was written for John A. B. Ratliff's funeral:

Bro. J. A. B. Ratliff was born April 27, 1840 and passed to the higher life Aug 5in 1895 - Age 55 years, 3 months and 22 days. Bro Ratliff has 13 children; 6 boys and 7 girls. Three of his children preceded him to the Spirit world and was watching and waiting to _________ to that world where he is no more.

Bro. Ratliff leaves a wife and nine children besides many relatives and friends to morn his departure.

Bro. Ratliff was a true and devoted husband and father. He was a man that loved his family and tried hard to raise them respectable and honorable and make honorable men and women of them. They went through this country far and near through. Hot and cold rain snow and mud, collecting taxes and doing everything that he could do in order to make an honorable living for his family.

He was a Patriot and loyal citizen of America. He believed in living loyal himself and that each and every other person should be loyal.

During the late Rebellion Bro Ratliff responded to his country's call. He took his life in his own hands and marched forward in the defense of the grandest and noblest government that the sun ever shined on. He faced cannon and musket and helped to preserve to you and I this glorious union of ours.

I will now say that while I love many fellow men, I think as well as any man loves his fellowman, yet there is a warm spot in my affections for an old comrade that I have for no other man. The man that stood shoulder to shoulder with me - Comrade Ratliff was a member of the 3rd KY Calvary, Co. A. and was a good and obedient soldier.

Bro Ratliff spent his first years as a Christian in the Christian church. About 3 years ago he became a member of the Universalist church from which time _____ to his passing away he lived a true and a consistent member of the same. He passed to the brotherhood of the ______ or the final holiness and happiness of all men. And now for the purpose of saying a few words of comfort and consolation to the bereft family and friends I have selected the following passage of scripture:

Job 14th Ch and 14 verse:

"If a man die shall he live again. All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come."

In the 1896-97 Castleberry School, District #40 some of the Ratcliffe children are listed as living with a guardian by the name of _ . M. Brown I do not know who this is, but the kids father John A. B. had died in 1895 and Lucy Clementine obviously need some help with all the kids. The kids were W. C. Ratcliff (Ned), Carry Ratcliff and Mertal Ratliffe.

This is a picture of Some of the Ratliff children in town (Hopkinsville). The picture says it's Dora, Florence, Ret and a Suzabell or Arabell, (a friend.)

Fourth Generation

Peter Lynn RATCLIFFE, my maternal great grandfather was born on 27 Mar 1870 in Christian Co., Kentucky. Peter Lynn died in Shelburn, Indiana on 15 May 1961, he was 91 yrs old. (this was the day before I was born). I was told by my mother that all she remembered about him was that he was "crabby". He lived until my mother was 26 years old, so she must have known quite a bit about him, but I never asked her about it and now regret it. Peter's life was filled with quite a few deaths. His father, John Aurelius Byron Ratcliffe, (who went by the name Byron) who was in the Civil War, died in 1895 when Peter was 25 years old, John was was only 55 years old. Records indicate John A. B. was a Surveyor and Tax Collector. Pete's mother, Lucy Clementine Lynn lived until she was 96 years old and died in 1941. When Peter was 30 years old, his younger sister, Effie Caroline, committed suicide when she was 20. His older brother, by four years, Ulysses, died in 1919 when Ulysses was 54 and Peter Lynn was 49. In 1891, when Peter was 21, his sister, Mary Bertha "Sudie" died "of a fever" , she was 18/19 yrs old. His younger sister, Madora Vivet (Gwendolyn's mother) actually lived until a year after Peter died. His younger sister, Henrietta "Aunt Ret", as she was called, lived for 102 years and died in 1978. Another younger sister, Lucy Myrtle, died in 1926 when she was 46, Peter was 56. His younger sister, Florence Gracy, died in 1911 when she was only 27, leaving two young children behind. Peter was fourteen years older than her. In 1887, when Peter was 17, his mother gave birth to a boy that lived only four months, "Johnny Clifton". In 1889, when Peter was 19, a younger brother, Jimmy, two years old (almost three) at the time, died as the result of an accident with a wagon.

On 15 Jan 1896 when Peter Lynn was 25, he married Lennie Victoria TERRY, daughter of William York TERRY & Francis Elvira WOODRUFF. Born on 20 Dec 1873 in Hopkins Co., Kentucky. Lennie Victoria died in Sullivan Co., Indiana on 24 Feb 1936, she was 62. Lennie died unusually, read about article on right.

Peter Lynn Ratcliffe and Lennie Victoria Terry had the following children:

i.	Quimby George Ratcliffe - Born on 19 Nov 1896 in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Quimby George died in Sullivan County, Indiana on 19 May 1960, he was 63. Buried in Little Flock Cemetery, Shelburn, Indiana. Quimby was a little "slow" some relatives seemed to think, and he was living with his father at the time of his death. He had several bruises on his body and it was speculated that his father beat him to death or his beating him led to Quimby's death. Peter, his father, died a year later.
ii.	Vera Love (Vee) Ratcliffe - (21 May 1899 - Sept 1980). Chris is a child of Vera.
iii.	Romane Ratcliffe - (22 June 1903- March 1979) Married first Tressie unknown. Married second Goldie Lydick?
iv.	William Lynn Ratcliff - (1906-1969) (our line)He married Vivian Lucile Montague. This was my maternal grandfather. He died when I was eight years old.
v.	Frances Ratcliff - (1912- 2000), she married Lawrence Clark.

Fifth Generation

William Lynn RATCLIFFE, my maternal grandfather was born on 5 Mar 1906 in Sullivan Co., Indiana. William Lynn died in Linton, Indiana, Greene Co., Freeman-Greene Co., Hosp. on 7 Jul 1969, he was 63. Buried in Westlawn Cemetery near Farmersburg, Sullivan County, Indiana. This was my grandfather and he died when I was eight years old. William Lynn Ratcliffe first married Leola Faye Adams, daughter of Harvey B. Adams and Tressie P. Palmer.

They had one child:

i.

Billie Lee (Leola), born May 31, 1929. Lives in Gary, Indiana. She had two children.

On 17 Dec 1931 when William Lynn was 25, he second married Vivian Lucile MONTAGUE, daughter of Erastus Ray MONTAGUE & Nancy Jane (Jennie) APPLE. Born on 27 Feb 1915 in Sullivan County - Indiana. Vivian Lucile died in Jasonville, Indiana - Greene County on 20 Aug 1973, she was 58. Picture left is Vivian Lucile Montague and husband, William "Bill" Ratcliffe. These are my maternal grandparents and the only grandparents I ever know, he died when I was 8 yrs old and she died four yrs later when I was 12.

William Ratcliffe and Vivian Lucile Montague had the following children:

Billy Ratcliffe (1932-)

Barbara Lucile Ratcliffe (1934-1997)
(my mother)

Frances Ratliff was my paternal great aunt, of whom I have very fond memories, (she and her husband, Lawrence Clark) (Lawrence is pictured below (on right) with his brother-in-law, Romane Ratcliffe.

Frances RATCLIFFE. Was born in 1912 in Sullivan County, Indiana. Frances married Lawrence CLARK.

Laurence W. Clark - Laurence W. Clark, 93, of Warren, died Tuesday, January 9, 2001, at St. John Macomb Hospital, Warren. He was born December 21, 1907, in Shelburn, Indiana.

Mr. Clark retired from Chrysler Corp. and later moved to Capac where he was a farmer. He moved back to Warren in 1985 and spent his winters in Silver Spring, Fla. He was a member of Center Line Masonic Lodge Palmer 550.

He is survived by his children, Jeanette (Richard) Criss of Lexington, Larry (Anita) Clark of Plainfield, Ind., Betty (Alan) Bise of Warren, Max Clark of Warren and David (Linda) Clark of Troy. Richard (Barbara) Clark of Warren and David (Linda) Clark of Troy; 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Clark of Silver Springs, Fla; and sisters, Catherine "Nina" Pianga of Warren and Carol Edwards of Mount pleasant, Texas. He was predeceased by his wife, Frances C. Clark.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Edward Swanson & Son Funeral Home, 30351 Dequindre, Madison Heights. Burial will be in Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak.

Visitation is 5-9 pm today and 2-9 p.m. Friday, with a a 7 p.m. Center Line Masonic Palmer Lodge 550 Memorial service. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan.

They had the following children:

i.	Larry (Bub) Clark
ii.	Jeanette Clark
iii.	Betty Clark (Married: Al Bise)
iv.	Max Clark (never married)
v.	Richard Clark
vi.	Gerald Clark
vii.	David Clark

Sixth Generation

Barbara Lucile RATCLIFFE, my mother. Born on 28 Aug 1934 in Sullivan, Indiana. Barbara Lucile died in Lyons, Indiana on 12 Aug 1997, she was 62. She was cremated. Barbara Lucile married Wendall Houser SMITH, son of Thomas Patrick SMITH & Lottie Josephine HOUSER. Born on 28 Dec 1932 in Danville, Illinois. Wendall Houser died in Alabama on 15 Oct 1999, he was 66.

They had the following children:

i.	Nancy Lynn born Gary, Indiana
ii.	Catherine Sue, Linton, Indiana ~ author of this site
iiI.	Denise Diane, Eldorado, KS
iv.	Thomas Gerard. Ann Arbor, MI

Seventh Generation

Nancy Lynn SMITH. Born on 29 Dec 1959. Nancy Lynn married Terry WILKERSON. His parents were ?

They had the following children:

i.	Melissa Ellen Smith, born 1982
ii.	Tyler Wilkerson, born
iii.	Christopher Wilkerson, born

Denise Diane SMITH. Born on 29 Nov 1963. Denise Diane married Nicholas Pacheco. His parents were Neila and Nicholas Pacheco.

They had the following children:

i. Aleana Pacheco, May 1990
ii. Neilia Pacheco, May 1991

Thomas Gerard Smith. Born November 29, 1964 and Lisa _____ daughter of ______ had one child.

i. Carrie Ann Smith