Pierce RATLIFF

RATLIFF, THOMAS, WATLAND, PHILLIPS, HESTWOOD, RHINEHART, TAYLOR, CORKEY, PATTERSON

Posted By: Judy Dankert Parsons (not related) (email)
Date: 1/27/2006 at 17:22:29

Obituary found pasted into a Geography Book of Calvin Tandy.

"Obituary of Pierce RATLIFF". Pierce RATLIFF was born in Fayette County, PA, June 10, 1834, and died at Morningside, Iowa, July 4th, 1906, aged 72 years and 24 days. He came when a year old and remained there until his 19th year. When he came to Iowa, and two years later went to Oregon, driving an ox team. From California, returning to Iowa in 1858, with several thousand dollars in gold, a part of which he invested in a farm in Mahaska County. His father having died when he was only a year old, he now assumed the care of the family, and he continued to provide for his mother with all the devotion of a dutiful son during the residue of her life. August 17, 1879, he was married to Miss Addie Thomas of New Sharon, Iowa, and now a life of happiness seemed to lie before them; but his hopes were sadly shattered when, on September 24, 1880, his wife sadly died, leaving an infant son, who also passed away in July 1881. For a quarter of a century a beautiful spot in Forest Cemetery has had the grass shorn every summer, and beautiful flowers blooming upon it, while a granite monument tells who sleeps below. But Pierce RATLIFF was converted in 1861, and in these fiery trials he found help in Christ.

He entered business many years ago at New Sharon, with Osman WATLAND as his partner, and in death they were not long divided. Mr. WATLAND preceded him to the spirit world only about a week. By 1886 their business had grown so that it was thought advisable to open an establishment in Sioux City in addition to the one in New Sharon. A few days before his death, Mr. RATLIFF sold his interest in the Sioux City store to his younger partners. He was a very active and enterprising business man, faithful to every engagement, and his word was as good as his bond. Men respected him as a man, esteemed him as a friend, and honored him for the manliness and sincerity of his christian profession.

During all these years after the death of his wife, he made headquarters in this city, at the home of his life-long friend, Mrs. Semira A. PHILLIPS. Mrs. PHILLIPS, in her "Reminiscences," gives this account of Bro. RATLIFF's conversion: "Rev. Samuel HESTWOOD was once pastor of the Eddyville circuit (1860-61). Not long after coming, he held a protracted meeting in the RHINEHART neighborhood, southeast of Oskaloosa. He was a good man and singer, and a forceful preacher. A number of the young people of the vicinity were converted, among them Pierce RATLIFF. What joy there was that day in that little congregation, when Pierce--jolly, good-hearted Pierce--who was the life of the niehgborhood, and a favorable with everybody, rose up to tell with joy beaming in his face, and tears streaming down his cheeks, that God, for Christ's sake, had forgiven his sins! Every face beamed with joy. I can never forget the glad look on the face of the saintly old mother, as she went about shaking hands with everybody, and thanking God for converting her son. An Bro. HESTWOOD, how happy he looked, when Pierce, in giving his testimony, said: Mr. HESTWOOD, I thank the Lord for permitting me to hear you preach. You convinced me that I ought to be a christian!" Then he went on to say: "Ever since this meeting began I have felt that I ought to give my heart to God and lead a new and better life. Early this morning I went away down a slough west of my house and when I had reached a place where I thought nobody but God could hear me, I fell on my knees and wrestled with my convictions, my love of the world and my pride. I told God all about it, and promised then and there if he would forgive my sins, I would serve Him all the days of my life. And when I arose I felt that the burden of sin was taken from my soul and that I was a new creature in Christ Jesus."

In connection with this change, he identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he remained during life, always interested in its welfare, and especially forward to promote its spiritual interests. But he was no bigot. His hand was open to all of like precious faith with himself, no odds by what name they were called. At one time he felt strongly impressed that it was his duty to enter the ministry; but the want, as he thought, of an adequate education prevented him from taking that step. However, in after years, he did enter the home missionary movement in Minneapolis and Sioux City; not only giving to these efforts his time and labor, but contributing freely to their maintenance. He was also deeply interested in the cause of missions, and gave of his means to promote the work in India and elsewhere; and when the distinguished evangelist and missionary, Bishop Wm. TAYLOR was pushing his work on the Dark Continent, Bro. RATLIFF placed $500 in his hands to be used in that field for the redemption of Africa to Christ. To further his labors in these directions, the church gave him a license as a local preacher, and this he used sometimes with great power. He also identified himself with Mahaska County Holiness Association, and was an ardent supporter of the Central Holiness University, and watched its development with great interest. In a word, his whole heart delighted in God, and his life was a continual prayer, "Thy Kingdom Come!" He went home suddenly. While making an address at the Holiness camp meeting at Morningside on July 4th, immediately after expressing the thought that he expected soon to "shuffle off this mortal coil, and sweep through the gates of the New Jerusalem, washed in the blood of the Lamb," he fell over, and "was not, for God took him." And he was ready to render up an account of his stewardship at a moment's call.

Does anyone that knew him doubt his welcome, or question his approval by the Master? For of all such Christ has given us the words of welcome: "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

The funeral was held from the Central Methodist Episcopal church on Sabbath, July 8th, and the trustees of the church served as pall-bearers. The sermon was by Rev. Alex. CORKEY, of the Presbyterian church, and was a beautiful delineation of the character and life of the deceased, to which Rev. R. L. PATTERSON added some words of grateful reminiscence. The remains were then followed by a large cortege to Forest Cemetery and deposited beside those of his wife and child.