RATCLIFF, Miles
Source: Kingman Star Friday, March 15, 1907
In Highland county Ohio in the year 1821, Miles Ratcliff first saw the light of day. When six years of age he came with his parents, Thomas and Mary Ratcliff, to Hendricks county, Indiana remaining there one year, they came to Fountain county and entered the land now owned by T. J. Ratcliff. Living as he did in the pioneer days of this country his opportunities for acquiring an education were limited, never going to school but 96 days in his life, walking 3 ½ miles through thick woods. The house was a log structure with greased paper for windows and logs split and legs put in them for seats, and a large fire place in one end. At the age of 15 years his father gave him $50 with which he bought 40 acres of the farm he owned when he died. Two years later he left home to learn the carpenter trade. Being industrious, he saved his wages, adding a few acres at a time to the little farm he already owned, by the time he had reached the age of 22 years he owned 122 acres of land. At this time he was married to Susannah Ewbank and to them were given 8 children, 5 of whom are still living. January 16, 1859 death claimed his wife. August 25 1860 he was married to Elmira J. Angel. 5 children blessed this union, 3 of whom survive him. When his spirit took its flight from its tenement of clay in Kingman, March 2 1907, it left a record of 86 years, which is well known in this community. Early in life he was converted and found a home in the Protestant Methodist church for some years. Jacob Waymire organized a class at the old Sheep Pen school house, just south of where he lived in the year of 1868, which was admitted into the West Indiana conference of the Christian church. Himself and wife together with 20 others were charter members of this class. In the fall of 1871 this class built the Pleasant Grove church of which he remained a member until his death. As he came to the closing scenes of his life he often assured his wife and children that he was ready and waiting for the summons, and admonished them to meet him in the Great Beyond.
Source: Rockville Tribune 3-6-1907
Miles Ratcliff, long a well-known citizen of Sugar Creek township, died at his home in Kingman, last Sunday. For many years he was a Justice of the peace for his township and prominent in public affairs. A few years ago he moved to Kingman. The deceased was the father of Jacob Ratcliff, ex-trustee of Sugar Creek township.
Source: Kingman Star Friday, March 8, 1907
The saying that sorrow never comes singly has proven true in the case of Mrs. Mendenhall of Ridgefarm, Ill., who was formerly Beulah Glascock of this place. Beulah received a telephone message last Thursday that her grandfather, Miles Ratcliff, was dying and in about ten minutes she received a telegram, saying, that her grandfather Glascock of Kentucky was in a dying condition. She was almost prostrated by these sad messages, but came at once to Kingman, hoping to find Mr. Ratcliff some better, so that she and her husband could take the midnight train for Kentucky, but finding Mr. Ratcliff rapidly sinking, they stayed by him until the last. He had been to her as a father when she was only seven years old. Word came Saturday that her grandfather Glascock had died at seven o’clock Friday night, and at nine o’clock Saturday night her grandfather Ratcliff passed away. Beulah has the sympathy of every one in this community in her sad bereavement. – S
Source: Kingman Star March 8, 1907
MILES RATCLIFF died at his home southeast of here last Saturday. He was a man about 86 years of age and leaves a wife, eight children and a host of friends to mourn his loss. Funeral services were conducted Monday. – S