RATCLIFF, Ernest R., Natchez, Mississippi, then Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000



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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 369.  Edited by Alc‚e
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Ratcliff, Ernest R., prominent in oil and real estate operations, Shreveport,
La., was born near Natchez, Miss., March 10, 1874; son of Halloway H. and
Frances (Jenkins) Ratcliff, the former of whom is a native of the state of
Virginia and at this time is resident in that state.  The mother died in 1888. 
Eleven children, 9 sons and 2 daughters, all of whom are living at this time,
were born to their union, Ernest R. Ratcliff being the ninth child and eighth
son.  He was reared and educated in his native state of Mississippi, where he
attended private schools.  Following the completion of his education, he spent
5 years in Texas as a telegraph operator and station agent, following which he
located at Shreveport, La., in 1896 and became interested in the wholesale
grocery business, which connection he continued until the year 1905, when he
became identified with the oil business, since which time his interests in
this business have multiplied and increased very rapidly and largely.  Mr.
Ratcliff is at this time president of the Louisiana Oil & Refining Co.,
president of the Union Gas, Oil & Pipe Line Co., of Shreveport, and president
of the Louisiana Oil Exporting Co.  He is also interested in the real estate
business and is a member of the real estate firm of Ratcliffe Brothers,
extensive operators in the real estate in the city of Shreveport and adjacent
territory.  Mr. Ratcliffe has been twice married.  His first marriage was to
Miss Bessie Ogilvie, and to their union 1 daughter, Bessie, was born.  Mrs.
Ratcliff died in 1902 and in 1908 Mr. Ratcliff was married to Miss Ruby Moss. 
In addition to his extensive business connections and complicated financial
interests, in oil, gas and lands, Mr. Ratcliff finds time to take great
interest in fraternal work, and is widely known in this connection.  He is a
prominent 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine,
and has various other fraternal connections and associations.