John Mortimer Ratcliff

RATCLIFF, RATCLIFFE, RADCLIFFE, RADCLIFF, RATLIFF, RATLIFFE, GRIFFIN, HINKLE

Posted By: Kate Jackson (email)
Date: 4/13/2006 at 16:12:06

Found Dead in the River - Mr. J.M. Ratcliff Meets with a Sad Death. - Was Well Known in the City and County. A shock of surprise thrilled the citizens of Marengo, Saturday morning, when the news was circulated that Mr. J.M. Ratcliff had been found dead in the old bed of the Iowa river, just in the rear of the residence of J.H. Simpson. From all accounts, and a comparison of notes of those who had seen him alive, last, the body must have been in the water since Thursday night. He was last seen about 9 o’clock Thursday evening. The body lay in about 18 inches of water. Besides his usual clothing he wore an overcoat and a cap, the latter being pulled down quite well over the face. A couple of boys, Earl Allum and Roy Clements, noticed what appeared to be a coast showing above the water on Friday forenoon, but did not attach any significance to the circumstance until later developments showed that it enclosed a human form. The boys did not mention the matter until search was begun for the missing man. Then W.J. Clements and J.D. Smith investigated and found the body as described before. A watch on the body had stopped at 8 o’clock. The men found the body lying face downward, with evidence that he had wandered around in the bed of the river, which has a very muddy bottom. It was about 15 feet form the shore to the spot where it was removed from the water at about 8 a.m. Saturday. There is no suspicion of foul play, as there was not a mark of violence on the whole body. About $8.50 in cash was found in his pockets, besides the watch mentioned. The body was removed to the undertaking establishment of Theodore Fries and Coroner Dodd immediately summoned. After viewing the body he decided that an inquest was unnecessary, and it was immediately prepared for burial and thence moved to the family residence on North Count Avenue, whence the funeral occurred at 4 p.m. Sunday. The matter is shrouded in mystery. No motive for suicide can be put forward in support of that theory. He was a man in fairly good circumstances and had no financial troubles. HE was 63 years, 11 months and 13 days old, and leaves a wife and several children to mourn his sad death. Mr. Ratcliff served several terms as justice of the peace in Marengo township, and was a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He was honest and enterprising as a citizen, and had many warm friends among his social and business associates. Rev. J. M. McClelland officiated at the services at the residence Sunday afternoon, and the remains, followed by a very large funeral procession, were interred in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. The family are the recipients of very much sympathy in their very sad affliction. (Marengo Democrat, May 1, 1902)