Genealogy is not only names and dates. It is a rare opportunity to know about the individual whose name we are adding to our lists... My Ratliff lineage may be from the wild bunch.. I love 'em any way.... With families permission: Louisa Ratliff, called LU for short was born in Jan of 1859 in Florence, Williamson County, Texas. I have one photo of her (sharing) Louisa married a poor man by the name of Anderson who worked himself into an early grave, leaving her with three children. Frankie, Frances, and Walter. She later married a Wm Wright and they owned the BOX T bordering Texas and Oklahoma. Their children being, Billy (a girl), Constance, Harrell and Kelly. Lu, as my mother put it was "a fine looking woman, and even into her later years stepped out like a young girl when she walked". Though for all her good looks she was a pistol and had a temper that raised eyebrows and put the fear of damnation into most folks. Lu made the meals for the ranch hands on the Box T, served them up at her own table. Mind you I said "HER" table. Lu had rules of etiquette that the hands were to follow and seasoned ranch hands knew them well. It so happened on this particular day she was serving up some sort of roast that she had sliced up on a platter. She was putting the platter on the table for the men to serve themselves from. Now, a new Ranch hand was at the table and for some unknown reason he must have not been informed of her required table manners, or he was so hungry he forgot himself. This fellah reached for the meat, with his fingers, as soon as the platter hit the table. This would be a mistake he would never forget, nor would my family forget either... Lu like lightening struck. She must of had the knife in her other hand, or it was near her on the table. Before he could get that meat off the platter and to his own plate, she had taken that knife and whacked two of his fingers clean off. Lesson number one: Never reach for food with your fingers at Lu's table, always use a fork. (and wait your turn). Kelly ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]