This is more of a "HELP me see" if I am on to something here? Job Marshall RATLIFF, b. 1841 probably Arkansas. d. 1916 (per pension app.Mullin, Mills Co. TX.) He married Susan Frances MEEKS in 1861 in Bell co, TX. Their children? recently I have heard that possibly a Roy RATLIFF was a son, or grand son in their line, and that his son was Marshall Fields RATLIFF. Job Marshall RATLIFF was the son of Guilford RATLIFF and Mahala ?. Job was also the brother of my great grand dad Joseph RATLIFF who married Frances HARRELL; and Archelous Ratliff who married Lucinda ANDERSON. I have to insert something about Lucinda here so that this can fall together as I am thinking I am seeing it. Lucinda's parents were Henry ANDERSON and Sarah...? Collier ? >From a book called Fort Belknap, Frontier Saga it was stated Sarah was a LOWRY, but this has come under fire and it is thought that maiden name of LOWRY is actually associated with MAHALA who was Guilford Ratliff's wife, rather than with Sarah wife of Henry Anderson. Lucinda and Arch had a daughter named Nancy but she was called NANNIE or NOMIE. Guilford RATLIFF hails from Job RATLIFF, b. 1872 - who married an Agnes and it is thought that Job's father was a John RATLIFF, b. abt 1750 in Virginia.. Also another of Guilford's sons was a Thompson RATLIFF and there are Thompson RATLIFFs back ... so the name is handed down in our family in that combination reasonably often. Now I have introduced all the given names & surnames and combinations "I think".. that I am using at the moment with this search. There is a book titled "JACKSON's WHITE PLUMES", written by Charlotte HOOD. This book is about families who helped Jackson during the era of 1812 --- 1814 or so. In an area that was Georgia, but later became part of Alabama (if I am reading right). There were SEVERAL RATLIFF families and variations of the name there. (one RATLEY that I suspect is related too) I am focusing on Richard RATLIFF, John RATLIFF, and a Thompson RATLIFF, all three mentioned in the book. Richard married a Nannie FIELDS and they had lived in MARSHALL COUNTY. John Ratliff was felt to be either Richards son or a brother? In association with the RATLIFFs was mentioned a George LOWREY and as I just noticed again.. SAM HOUSTON (a name that shows up in our branches as well). Lucinda Anderson's mother might have been a descendant of a STARR from recent discussion, nothing conclusive yet, but if that too turns out to be so, in the book was mentioned a STARR as well.. There are other names, people, things that are starting to look just WAY to familiar when the RATLIFFs I am a part of. Though I can not put my finger on any thing directly. Does anyone know more about these lines, those in the book and are they able to see any connection with any of the ramblings I have suggested here? Kelly kelleen2@icehouse.net