David George Ratliff

DANNER, HERRON, LEOTO, MARDIS, RATLIFF, WESTON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/28/2006 at 22:43:02

David George Ratliff, deceased, was for many years active in commercial and official circles in Winterset and was a representative citizen of the county. He was born in Noble county, Ohio, in September, 1838, a son of William and Mary Melvina Ratliff, who emigrated to America from County Down, Ireland. They first settled in Canada but removed successively to Ohio and Warren county Iowa, where they located in 1849 and where William Ratliff was a well known landowner and farmer and where he died in 1851. His widow removed to Madison county in 1853 and remarried.

David George Ratliff was fifteen years of age when the family settled in this county and while still a youth he went with a freight train to Denver, Colorado, and for a year carried mail to the mining camps and new towns of that section of the state and then returned to Winterset and for a time clerked. As soon as he was financially able he engaged in the mercantile business on his own account and in 1875 was elected sheriff of the county on the democratic ticket, being the only one on that ticket to be elected. In 1877 he was reelected, although at the time engaged in the implement business and made practically no canvass of the voters, not expecting to be elected, as the county was strongly republican. In 1880 he formed a partnership with C. W. Eastman and engaged in the general merchandise business and later added a clothing store, which store Mr. Ratliff eventually took over and which he conducted until about 1897, when he was elected county treasurer and won reelection two years later, defeating the strong candidate on the republican ticket. After the expiration of his second term in the office of county treasurer he engaged in the grocery business with his brother Robert for two or three years and at the end of that time he sold his interest and engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, handling both life and fire policies. He so continued until his death, which occurred May 5, 1913. He was unusually active for his years and his mental vigor appeared not to have abated, as he conducted his business successfully until just before his demise.

In May, 1864, Mr. Ratliff married Miss Matilda C. Danner, who was born in Ohio but came to this county with her parents, Michael and Elizabeth Danner, when but a child. Mrs. Ratliff died in October, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff were the parents of nine children and eight of the number grew to maturity: William E, who was his father's partner in the real-estate and insurance business and who is still conducting that business; Frederick G, who is engaged in the insurance business in Sioux City, Iowa; Nellie, who married J. C. Mardis, of Des Moines, and who is now deceased; Bertha M., now Mrs. J. C. Mardis of Des Moines; Lena Leoto, now Mrs. Elmer Weston of Fresno, California; Ralph E., of Omaha, Nebraska; Jessie Louise, now Mrs. A. B. Herron, of Twin Falls Idaho; and Robert R., of Waterloo, Iowa. Lillian died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff were both members of the Presbyterian church and took quite an active part in its work. Mr. Ratliff was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, in which orders he was^ well known and popular. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he was one of the leaders in its councils. He and his son William built up an extensive business as real-estate and insurance men and the son is now prominent in that line of work. The name of Ratliff has always stood for integrity in business dealings and for public-spirited citizenship.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.