Ratcliffe, John Terrell; News Article, Unidentified and Undated. Howard County Man, Who Assisted Slaves to Escape, to Celebrate 100th Birthday.
Russiaville, Ind., Jan 14. Friends and relatives of John T. Ratcliff will gather at his farm home Sunday for the 100th birthday anniversary of the life-time Republican, “when it was dangerous to be a Republican,” and who cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, emancipator of the slaves Ratcliff himself helped escape in the famous underground railway.
Although his hearing is impaired, his sight still is keen, and he keeps in touch with world affairs – particularly politics – through the newspapers and magazines. Occasionally one of his sons brings him into Russiaville, and he makes the rounds of shops and stores chatting with old friends.
Aided Slaves to Escape
A birthright member of the Friends church, he was born at Lynchburg, O., Jan. 17, 1843, and today he recalled that, as a youth of 14, he helped his father in the transportation of slaves escaping to the North along the “underground.”
“It was dangerous in those days to be a Republican,” he said, but he added that he had cast his first vote for Lincoln and has voted the Republican ticket in every election since that time.
Mr. Ratcliffe removed to the vicinity of Cadiz in Henry County in 1848 and was elected sheriff of Henry County in 1856.
Clears Virgin Timber
Three years later he loaded his furniture and possessions in a covered wagon and made the trip to Howard County, settling on the farm which now is at the south edge of Russiaville. He cleared the virgin land, a part of the 305-acre farm on which he and his sons, Thomas and Owen Ratcliff now live.
Mr. Ratcliff was married to Rebecca Wadman in 1876 and built a home for his bride at that time. The modern residence in which now lives was built in 1914.
He had the distinction of operating the first steam thresher ever used in Howard County and remembers when a trip Indianapolis required three days’ travel instead of the few hours by automobile now. Mr. Ratcliff served as Howard County commissioner for one term, being elected in 1894.
Earned Special Pin
Long active in the I.O.O.O.F. lodge, he has served in all chairs of the order and has the distinction of being the oldest member of the organization in the nation. It was necessary for the order to design a special 75-year membership pin for Mr. Ratcliff, the only man entitled to wear this badge denoting long service.
Contributor: Susan K.R. (46997541) •
Russiaville, Ind., Jan 14. Friends and relatives of John T. Ratcliff will gather at his farm home Sunday for the 100th birthday anniversary of the life-time Republican, “when it was dangerous to be a Republican,” and who cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, emancipator of the slaves Ratcliff himself helped escape in the famous underground railway.
Although his hearing is impaired, his sight still is keen, and he keeps in touch with world affairs – particularly politics – through the newspapers and magazines. Occasionally one of his sons brings him into Russiaville, and he makes the rounds of shops and stores chatting with old friends.
Aided Slaves to Escape
A birthright member of the Friends church, he was born at Lynchburg, O., Jan. 17, 1843, and today he recalled that, as a youth of 14, he helped his father in the transportation of slaves escaping to the North along the “underground.”
“It was dangerous in those days to be a Republican,” he said, but he added that he had cast his first vote for Lincoln and has voted the Republican ticket in every election since that time.
Mr. Ratcliffe removed to the vicinity of Cadiz in Henry County in 1848 and was elected sheriff of Henry County in 1856.
Clears Virgin Timber
Three years later he loaded his furniture and possessions in a covered wagon and made the trip to Howard County, settling on the farm which now is at the south edge of Russiaville. He cleared the virgin land, a part of the 305-acre farm on which he and his sons, Thomas and Owen Ratcliff now live.
Mr. Ratcliff was married to Rebecca Wadman in 1876 and built a home for his bride at that time. The modern residence in which now lives was built in 1914.
He had the distinction of operating the first steam thresher ever used in Howard County and remembers when a trip Indianapolis required three days’ travel instead of the few hours by automobile now. Mr. Ratcliff served as Howard County commissioner for one term, being elected in 1894.
Earned Special Pin
Long active in the I.O.O.O.F. lodge, he has served in all chairs of the order and has the distinction of being the oldest member of the organization in the nation. It was necessary for the order to design a special 75-year membership pin for Mr. Ratcliff, the only man entitled to wear this badge denoting long service.
Contributor: Susan K.R. (46997541) •
Ratcliffe, John Terrell; News Article, Unidentified and Undated. Howard County Man, Who Assisted Slaves to Escape, to Celebrate 100th Birthday.
Russiaville, Ind., Jan 14. Friends and relatives of John T. Ratcliff will gather at his farm home Sunday for the 100th birthday anniversary of the life-time Republican, “when it was dangerous to be a Republican,” and who cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, emancipator of the slaves Ratcliff himself helped escape in the famous underground railway.
Although his hearing is impaired, his sight still is keen, and he keeps in touch with world affairs – particularly politics – through the newspapers and magazines. Occasionally one of his sons brings him into Russiaville, and he makes the rounds of shops and stores chatting with old friends.
Aided Slaves to Escape
A birthright member of the Friends church, he was born at Lynchburg, O., Jan. 17, 1843, and today he recalled that, as a youth of 14, he helped his father in the transportation of slaves escaping to the North along the “underground.”
“It was dangerous in those days to be a Republican,” he said, but he added that he had cast his first vote for Lincoln and has voted the Republican ticket in every election since that time.
Mr. Ratcliffe removed to the vicinity of Cadiz in Henry County in 1848 and was elected sheriff of Henry County in 1856.
Clears Virgin Timber
Three years later he loaded his furniture and possessions in a covered wagon and made the trip to Howard County, settling on the farm which now is at the south edge of Russiaville. He cleared the virgin land, a part of the 305-acre farm on which he and his sons, Thomas and Owen Ratcliff now live.
Mr. Ratcliff was married to Rebecca Wadman in 1876 and built a home for his bride at that time. The modern residence in which now lives was built in 1914.
He had the distinction of operating the first steam thresher ever used in Howard County and remembers when a trip Indianapolis required three days’ travel instead of the few hours by automobile now. Mr. Ratcliff served as Howard County commissioner for one term, being elected in 1894.
Earned Special Pin
Long active in the I.O.O.O.F. lodge, he has served in all chairs of the order and has the distinction of being the oldest member of the organization in the nation. It was necessary for the order to design a special 75-year membership pin for Mr. Ratcliff, the only man entitled to wear this badge denoting long service.
Contributor: Susan K.R. (46997541) •
Russiaville, Ind., Jan 14. Friends and relatives of John T. Ratcliff will gather at his farm home Sunday for the 100th birthday anniversary of the life-time Republican, “when it was dangerous to be a Republican,” and who cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, emancipator of the slaves Ratcliff himself helped escape in the famous underground railway.
Although his hearing is impaired, his sight still is keen, and he keeps in touch with world affairs – particularly politics – through the newspapers and magazines. Occasionally one of his sons brings him into Russiaville, and he makes the rounds of shops and stores chatting with old friends.
Aided Slaves to Escape
A birthright member of the Friends church, he was born at Lynchburg, O., Jan. 17, 1843, and today he recalled that, as a youth of 14, he helped his father in the transportation of slaves escaping to the North along the “underground.”
“It was dangerous in those days to be a Republican,” he said, but he added that he had cast his first vote for Lincoln and has voted the Republican ticket in every election since that time.
Mr. Ratcliffe removed to the vicinity of Cadiz in Henry County in 1848 and was elected sheriff of Henry County in 1856.
Clears Virgin Timber
Three years later he loaded his furniture and possessions in a covered wagon and made the trip to Howard County, settling on the farm which now is at the south edge of Russiaville. He cleared the virgin land, a part of the 305-acre farm on which he and his sons, Thomas and Owen Ratcliff now live.
Mr. Ratcliff was married to Rebecca Wadman in 1876 and built a home for his bride at that time. The modern residence in which now lives was built in 1914.
He had the distinction of operating the first steam thresher ever used in Howard County and remembers when a trip Indianapolis required three days’ travel instead of the few hours by automobile now. Mr. Ratcliff served as Howard County commissioner for one term, being elected in 1894.
Earned Special Pin
Long active in the I.O.O.O.F. lodge, he has served in all chairs of the order and has the distinction of being the oldest member of the organization in the nation. It was necessary for the order to design a special 75-year membership pin for Mr. Ratcliff, the only man entitled to wear this badge denoting long service.
Contributor: Susan K.R. (46997541) •
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