OKGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of OKGenWeb State Coordinator.

Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This
material can not be included in any compilation, publication,
collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission. Files
may be printed or copied for personal use only.
=====================================================================

J. S. RATLIFF
Vol. 3, p. 1263-1264

Eight years or more have passed away since the news went round the
world that a new state had been born into the American Union and
christened by the euphonious and aboriginal name of Oklahoma. Among
the first officials of Johnston County under the new regime was the
subject of this memoir, J. S. Ratliff who assumed the duties of
county attorney, being the first to hold that office under statehood.
Mr. Ratliff was born in Murray County, Tennessee August 14, 1876 a
son of N. W. and Margaret (VERNON) Ratliff. The father, a native of
Tennessee is now a farmer in Johnston County, Oklahoma. Mr. Ratliff's
maternal grandfather was for many years a well known Baptist minister
in Tennessee.

When J S. Ratliff was a small boy his parents moved to Wise County,
Texas, where he attended the public schools, being afterward a pupil
in a Baptist college at Springtown, that state. After completing the
college course he taught for two years in the public schools of
Texas, and then came to Indian Territory, where he followed the same
occupation for a like period. He then engaged in farming and while
thus occupied began to prepare himself for the legal profession by
home study and reading in the law office. In 1906 he was admitted to
the bar and began the practice of the law at Sulphur, Indian
Territory. Here, however, he remained but a few months, at the end of
that time removing to Tishomingo. Soon after, as above narrated, he
was elected county attorney and tried the first case under state
government in the county, in the room of the old Chickasaw capitol
where once Indian orators have poured fourth their eloquence and
Indian law had been framed. His assistant was Charles STEPHENS, who
had been his partner for a short time previously. Three hundred cases
left on the dockets of the territorial courts were transferred to
Johnston County, and the disposition of those was the first task of
County Attorney Ratliff. Some of them were transferred to Marshall
County, others were dismissed and others were tried. Two men were
convicted of the murder and are now serving life sentences in the
penitentiary.

After serving one term as county attorney, Mr. Ratliff retired from
public office, preferring to earn a more lucrative living in private
practice. In 1911 he formed a law partnership with C. S. FENWICK,
which existed until the following year, when Mr. Fenwick was elected
county judge. Mr. Ratliff then associated himself with M. A. LOONEY
and the firm of Ratliff & LOONEY is still continued and handles a
large amount of legal business annually. Mr. Ratliff is a member of
the County Bar Association and of the Tishomingo Commercial Club,
also of the Odd Fellows and M. W. A. lodges. A Baptist in religion,
he belongs to the church of that denomination in Tishomingo. He owns
a stock ranch in the country and devotes considerable attention to
its improvement. As a progressive citizen he is interested in the
development and prosperity of the town and county and has served as
chairman 2qof the town board of trustees.

Mr. Ratliff was married at Tishomingo, October 20, 1909 to Miss Ruth
WHITE, and they have two children; Ruth Iline, aged four years, and
Joseph Looney, aged one year. The family occupy a pleasant,
comfortable residence in Tishomingo. Mr. Ratliff has four brothers
and three sisters living: W. L. Ratliff is an attorney at Amarillo,
Texas; J. M. and C. E. Ratliff are farmers in Johnston County, C. H.
Ratliff lives on a farm with his father in this county; Mrs Dora
GRISHAM, who lives in the county; Mrs Beulah KEENON and Mrs. Blanche
DANNER are wives of Johnston farmers. All members of the family are
prosperous and respected residents of their respective communities.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Jean Owens October 11, 1998.