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Note: TWO BROTHERS MOVED TO MACON COUNTY TO ESTABLISH RATLIFF FAMILY ABOUT 1830. JAMES AND WILLIAM MOVED TO MACON COUNTY.
>THE BROTHERS WERE SURVEYORS AND MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL.
>About the year 1830, the brothers, James Ratliff and William Ratliff
>moved from their home near Huntsville in Randolph county to Macon County
>establishing homes near what is now Bloomington. The parent of these boys
>were born near Richmond Virginia, some time near 1764 and moved to Kentucky.
>These brothers were both surveyors and preachers. James Ratliff was a member of the
Primitive Baptist Church while his brother William was of the Missionary Baptist faith.
They each had much to do with the establishment of the early
>churches of their respective faiths in Macon County. They held services, under the
>trees in the various early establishments. This sketch will deal mostly with the James Ratliff
>branch of the family. The Butlers who live around Barnsville and Atlanta and the
>Ratliff's around Kaseyville and Moberly are descendants of William Ratliff,
>and the writer is not so well acquainted with them as he is with the James
>Ratliff branch of the Family, however in character and habits both branches
>of the family are much alike.
>Elder James Ratliff was born in the state of Kentucky, near the city
>of Louisville the 10 January 1798. He was united in marriage to Miss
>Martha Hind of the same state. They started to Missouri at once to find a
>suitable place for a home. The young couple had but one horse, so the
>journey was a tedious one. A part of the way they traveled with an
>acquaintance who complimented the young wife on her inventiveness and
>courage. Their first home which was typical of all pioneer homes of that
>day was made in Randolph County, Missouri, in the middle of an Indian
>settlement. They made friends with the Indians and when their first child
>was old enough the Indian women often took him to their homes and kept him
>for hours at a time. By hardest of labor and perseverance, husband and wife
>had the satisfaction of seeing their land produce food and they were proud
>of their home.
>
>REMEMBER SPIRITUAL SIDE
>During these times the spiritual side of their lives was not neglected
>and Mr. Ratliff often expounded the gospel of salvation by grace in a firm
>and fearless manner. Near the year 1830 the family moved to Macon County.
>They were always ready to take part in things worth while. In 1837 Mr.
>Ratliff was elected the first Commissioner of Justice for Macon County and
>he being a surveyor laid out the town of Bloomington which was the first
>county seat of Macon County. The first orchard of Macon County was set out
>by Mr. Ratliff and his associate in the church work Elder William Sears.
>During these years Mr. Ratliff held church services at various home and
>school houses and when a suitable building could not be had services were
>held in the groves which was God's first temples, He was one of the first
>acknowledged leader of the Primitive Baptist faith and he aided in the
>establishment of several churches in this, then new country. One of these
>churches was Goose Pond church seven miles from Huntsville, Missouri. In
>1838 he organized a church in Jackson township, Macon County. He preached
>at Little Zion church in Independence Township. He preached the first
>sermon in White Township at New Boston, strong in his convictions, it was
>difficult to persuade him to change his views. After the A. F, and A. M.
>lodge chartered at Bloomington, Elder Ratliff made known to them that, as
>he had found that lodge to be made up of right sort of men, he wished to be
>affiliated with them. His brethren in the church pled with him to renounce
>Masonry and withdraw from the lodge. He replied that he was a member of the
>church and that he would remain a Mason. For this he was expelled from the church.
>>
>DRAKE TOWNSHIP
>In 1855 the family moved to Drake township where he established a grist
>mill. The home was on a farm now owned by Tony Gail near the site of New
>Boston, which was east of Mussel Fork. Elder Ratliff died there in April
>1860. Mrs. Ratliff was known by her relatives and friends as Aunt Patsy.
>After the death of her husband she went to make her home with her daughter
>Susanna Bradley, at whose home she died.
>The bodies of this old couple lie in the Helton Cemetery northwest of Goldsbury very
>appropriately marked. Like all pioneers they left a heritage without price.
>The offspring of this old couple constitutes a multitude representing
>almost every channel of industry and honorable endeavor. They are scattered
>over all the western states and are a valuable asset to citizenship of the
>country. They are home lovers and value good will and friendship above all
>earthly blessings. Following the precepts taught by their father, the descendants gave
>to their children a strength of character that helps to make life worth while.
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