Individual Details

1850 Census. Sugar Creek Twp, Parke Co IN, Hh 499 (next to brother John)
Miles Ratcliff, 29, b. Ohio. Susana, 25, b. IN
Mary A., 6. James R., 4. John F., 2. Louisa, 9 months - all born in Indiana

1860 Census. Sugar Creek Twp, Parke, IN, Hh 788
Miles Ratliff, 37, Carperter
Susan, 18, Farm Girl
Mary A., 16
James , 14
Louisa J. 10
Jacob, 6
Jonathan A., 4
Charles H., 2

RATCLIFF, Miles one of the prominent citizens of Parke County, became the owner of 80 acres of the farm where he still lives as early as 1840. This was then all a wilderness and had only a little log cabin upon it by way of improvement. As the years passed, bringing bountiful harvests in return for the care and labor bestowed upon the farm, our subject was enabled to extend the limits of his farm, until it now comprises over 500 acres, where in connection with the raising of general farm products he raises a good grade of stock. Many official positions have been bestowed upon him by his fellow townsmen, who have always reposed great confidence in his judgment and integrity. Among other positions he has held that of Township Trustee for many years and for about 16 has been Justice of the Peace. In his younger days he began the study of law, and was admitted to the Bar of Parke County about 1845 and has practiced some ever since. This knowledge has been of great benefit to him along business lines, if in no other way and is, no doubt, in part responsible for his success. Thomas Ratcliff, father of our subject, was born in England, and came to the US with his parents when quite young, becoming a resident of NC. There he grew to manhood and was married. His parents died before he had reached maturity and he was bound out to learn the trade of hatter, which occupation he followed until his removal to Indiana. When he left the south his means were limited and he emigrated to Ohio , taking all his earthly effects in a wagon. Settling in Highland County, he opened a hat factory which he ran with fair success. In 1826 he came with his family to Indiana remaining one year on a rented farm in Hendricks county after which he became a resident of Fountain County, locating near the Parke County line, within 1 1/2 miles of where our subject now lives. there he entered about 200 acres from the Government of heavy timberland, which he lived to see quite well improved. He accumulated several hundred acres and gave each of his children a farm. The first house 18 x 20 feet in dimensions, he put up was made of round logs, but the more substantial modern house which succeeded this was made of hewed logs. Though farming was his principal pursuit, he was somewhat of a horse dealer, buying and settling quite extensively. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, as was also his mother, who came, however, of a Quaker family. For several years Mr. R. was justice of the Peace in Ohio , and was a Whig in politics. His death occurred at the age of 75 while his wife survived him a few years. Our subject is the 7th in a family of 9 children, the others Being: William; John; Hannah; Dorcas; Elizabeth; Thomas; Margaret and James. A t the age of 18 he started out to learn the carpenter's and millwright's trades. Previous to this he had obtained what education he could in the old log schoolhouses of Parke & Fountain Counties. In 1843 he married Susan, daughter of Lancelot EWBANK. Seven children graced their union: Mary A, who became the wife of Benjamin D. Sanderson; James; Louisa, wife of James M. SOWERS; Jacob W; Jonathan A; Charles H and one who died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Ratcliff wedded Elmira Angel, who was born in KY but reared in Putnam County, Indiana. Her parents, William and Elizabeth TRUELOVE Angel, were both natives of North Carolina, and died when she was 7, after which she was taken to be raised by her maternal grandmother. Mr. and Mrs.. Ratcliff have 3 children; Calra, now the wife of J. W. GLASCOCK; Minnie, wife of Ebert YOUNGBLOOD; and Miles A., Jr. who lives at home. In 1860 Mr. Ratcliff joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Alamo, Montgomery County, since which time he has been connected with the organization, now belonging to Lodge No. 498 of Marshall. he is also a member of Lodge No. 24 K of P of Kingman. For over 52 years our subject has been an earnest worker in the Christian Church, to which his wife also belongs. No man in the community is more highly thought of or better deserves the confidence which has been given to him by his fellow citizens. Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana- (Chapman Brothers, 1893) p 663

RATCLIFFE, Miles, farmer and stock raiser, Russell's Mills, is the sixth child of Thomas and Mary (Cachatt) Ratcliffe, and came to this part of the country from Ohio with his parents in 1827, locating on the county line, when only 6 years old, having been born in Highland County, Ohio in 1821. At the date of their settlement here the country was one continual forest and they experienced all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, having to obtain all the breadstuffs necessary for their support from Shawnee Prairie, for the first two years, on account of the failure of their own crops. He received his education at the log schoolhouse, but by study and self culture, has obtained a superior education and for the last 30 years has practiced law in addition to managing his farm of 422 acres. The most of his time has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1848, he opened a general country store at Russell's Mills, which he operated for some years, and is now one of the largest shareholders in the grange store at Grangeburg. He learned the millwright business during his youth and worked at that some time, putting in the first waterpower bolting arrangement at Russell's Mills. On April 31(sic), 1843, he married Miss Susan Ewbank, and August 22, 1860 married Miss Jane Angell, who was born in Kentucky and came to Putnam Co. when 3 or 4 years old. He has a family of 9 children: Mary Ann, James W; Louisa Jane; Jacob W; Jonathan Albert; and Charles Henderson by his first wife and by his second, Sarah Clarinda; Susan Arminda and Miles Andrew. Mr. Ratcliffe is a leading member of the IOOF having belonged to that society for 20 years and is the oldest brother in Parke Lodge. He is a charter member of Harveysburg, Annapolis and Parke Lodges of IOOF ; member and past chancellor of Harveysburg Lodge, K of P, and has held the office of township trustee so often that he cannot recollect the number of terms he has served. He is a member of the Covington Encampment of IOOF; also a member of the Christian Church and in politics is democratic, having formerly belonged to the Whig party. Taken from: 1880 History of Parke County, Indiana by J. H. Beadle. Chicago: H. H. Hill & N. Iddings, Publishers.


RATCLIFF, Jacob W. was chosen Trustee of Sugar Creek Township, Parke County in the year 1890 by his fellow citizens and was elected to that responsible position on the Democratic ticket by a majority of 16 votes. This is the more remarkable as the township is thoroughly Republican and is a tribute to his own sterling worth and the high respect in which he is held by his fellow citizens, many of whom, casting aside party lines, deposited their ballot in his favor. He has lived a life time in this identical township, where his birth occurred, and is consequently well known by all the old residents. Mr. Ratcliff owns a farm on Section 10 on which he makes his home. This place, which comprises 77 acres, has been brought under a high state of cultivation and is very fertile, yielding abundant harvest in return for the persevering effort and care the owner bestows upon it. Our subject was born on the 1st of July, 1854, on his father's farm in this township. His parents are Miles and Susan Ratcliff, whose life record will be found in another portion of this volume. They have long been counted among this section's most honored pioneers and best citizens. The educational privileges of our subject were those of the district schools of the county. He remained with his parents, with filial care lightening their labors and lending his assistance in carrying on the old homestead, until past his majority. At the age of 23 leaving home, our subject went to Fountain County, Indiana where he remained for two years with his brother on his farm, after which he returned and took charge of the old homestead for one years and one half, when he purchased 77 acres of land, the farm which he now cultivates, and he has made a great many improvements upon it since becoming the owner. He has steadily overcome the obstacles and difficulties in his pathway with commendable courage, and his efforts have been crowned with abundant success. In the year 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Ratcliff and Miss Gertie WARD, who was born in Penn Township and was here reared to womanhood. She is a well-educated and amiable lady, who, like her husband, has won a host of friends in the neighborhood. She is a daughter of J.C. and Elizabeth McCord Ward, who are both natives of Parke County. The union of our worthy subject and his wife has been blessed with a family of 3 children, two sons and a daughter: Theron V; Evart L; and Minnie G. In the development and up building of the community in which is situated his home, Mr. Ratcliff has ever borne his part and his faithful performance of the duties of citizenship deserves all credit. It has often been said that the farmers are the backbone and strength of a country's prosperity, and this has been proven to be true time and again in the history of nations. In the person of our subject we see one of those who, following that peaceful avocation, have "builded wiser than they knew," and have left to their children and country the benefits accruing from their years of well spent toil and effort. . Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana (Chapman Brothers, 1893), Page 620

Birth	9 Jul 1821	Indiana
Marriage	3 Apr 1843	Parke County, Indiana - Susanna Eubanks Ratcliff
Death	2 Mar 1907	Millcreek, Fountain County, Indiana

Spouse	Susanna Eubanks Ratcliff (1821 - 1859)
Child	Mary Ann Ratcliff (1844 - 1923)

Father	Thomas Ratcliff (1787 - 1850)
Mother	Mary Cashatt (1784 - 1851)
Sibling	William Ratcliff (1805 - 1883)
Sibling	John Ratcliff (1810 - 1894)
Sibling	Hannah Angeline Ratcliff (1812 - )
Sibling	Dorcas Ratcliff (1814 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Ratcliff (1817 - )
Sibling	Thomas Ratcliff (1819 - 1911)
Sibling	Margaret Ratcliff (1824 - )
Sibling	James Ratcliff (1827 - )