RATCLIFF-David J. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

David J. Ratcliff, a veteran of the late war in which he devoted the opening years of his manhood to his country's services, has proved a no less valuable citizen since those trying times as a tiller of the soil in his native county, Fountain where he has accumulated a goodly amount of property, including a fine farm on Sec. 25, Mill Creek Twp. Our subject belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this part of the state and was born on his father's old homsetad, in this township Dec 6, 1843. He is a son of Thomas Ratcliff, a well known resident and old settler of Mill Creek Twp. Thomas Ratcliff was born in 1819 in one of the pioneer homes of Hamilton Co, Ohio. His father, whose name was the same as his own, went from his early home in NC to Hamilton Co, Ohio whence he came to Fountain Co in 1829 and cast in his lot with its pioneers, entering land of the government in Mill Creek Twp, of which he was an early settler. The father of our subject did his share of the pioneer labor necessary in developing the agricultural resources of the country, and has lived to a good old age to witness the marvelous changes that have been wrought by the hand of man since he came here more than 60 years ago. David Ratcliff was reared in the home in which he was born and obtained a practical education in the schools of his native township. He grew to a stalwart, active, self-reliant manhood, and when his country needed him he was ready to go forth to fight for her honor, although he had not attained his marjority when he enlisted in Co. I, 31st Indiana Infantry. He was made Cpl of his company and performed the duties of his position with signal ability. He took part in the terrible battle at Chickamaug and was at his post in all the battles in which his regimeent engaged throughout the Atlantic campaign and he fought in numerous other battles. He was mustered out of the army June 21, 1865, with an unblemished military record and is now an honorable member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Ratcliff was married in his native township with Miss Sallie Marshall, daughter of John Marshall and they began their wedded life on a farm a half a miles E. of Kingman where they spent 5 or 6 years. They then resided in Vermillion Co, Ill a year. Returning at the end of that time to this county, they have since lived on a farm just outside of the village of Kingman. Here Mr. Ratcliff has devoted himself assiduously to the improvmeent of hs place and has it in fine condition - the land, comprising 130 acres of rich soil, under a high state of cultivation and the buildings of a superior class, including a beautiful residence erected in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Ratcliff are intelligent, agreeable people, who have the happy tact of making their home cheerful, cosy and replete with comfort and abounding in hospitality. Their marriage has been hallowed to them by the birth of two daughters; Clara E, wife of Miles Hunter of Kingman and Flora. Mr. Ratcliff is one of the solid men of this township financially and besides his farm owns some desirable town lots in the village of Kingman and other property. He conducts his business as a general farmer and stock raiser with much shrewdness and foresight and is a good financier Religiously he is identified witg the Baptist Church. Socially he belongs to the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association and is chaplain of that order. Politically he stands with the People's Party.