RATCLIFF, Aaron

RATCLIFF, MORRISON, RAIL, WILEY, FELLOWS, BACHMAN, BENNET, STANDRIDGE, FINDLEY, COPE, REDDICK

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/21/2013 at 08:30:18

**Handwritten above obituary: PART OF OBIT MISSING
AARON RATCLIFF

Aaron married Charlotte Morrison, Oct. 5, 1867. They moved to a farm west of Portland, which is now known as Leando. In Feb. 1881, after the death of his father, he moved back to the old home to care for his mother and this became their home until his death.

Aaron's girls often asked him to change the house, but he always refused, saying his father had built it and lived there until his death, and that he would not be the one to change it.

Aaron's son, Roy Ratcliff, now owns the old home and he also keeps it as his father did. Last May a woman came to see the old place. She had been gone 46 years and she said it looks just as it did when she was a child and played there, when she stopped to gather a handful of Aunt Lottus, old-fashioned wild flowers that the grandchildren still tend.

There have been several weddings in the house, also a few births, but only two deaths, those of Jess Ratcliff and his wife. Aaron died at Douds at the home of his son, Roy and his wife died at the home of another son, Harley, in Ottumwa.

Aaron Ratcliff's children still live in Van Buren county and include H.L. Ratcliff and Mrs. Gabriella Rail of Birmingham, Mrs. Hattie Wiley, Roy A. Ratcliff and Mrs. Mary Fellows of Douds.

Grandchildren include: Mrs. Archie Bachman, Longmont, Colo.; T.G. Fellows, San Francisco, Cal.; Mrs. Jennie Bennet, Ottumwa; Mrs. W.M. Standridge, El Cajon, Cal.; Mrs. Bertha Findley, Agency, Iowa; Mrs. Laura Cope, Hoxie, Arkansas; Mrs. Charlotte Reddick, Dale Ratcliff and Mrs. Vane A Wiley, all of Douds.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 159, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA