Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace Deputy Collector Ratliff.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 29, 2022

Thank you for your service and please know that no passage of time will ever erase your sacrifice. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

June 29, 2020

Deputy Collector Ratliff,
On today, the 120th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol
El Paso Station

June 29, 2019

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
GOD Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

July 4, 2015

I’m Harold Richardson. I am kin to all parties involved in this incident (my great grandfather Albert Richardson was a brother to Charlie and my 2nd great grandmother Catherine Jane Strouth was a sister to Tom, and my 2nd great grandmother was Rachel Ratliff). I am describing an event that happened in June of 1899. I have no issues with either side of my family I would like to expand on this story, as a teenage boy I lived on the Elihue Steelman farm, and the farm next to ours was that of John Newton Brown, his son John Martin was living there. Mart as we knew him was an eyewitness to the killing. He was born 2 Nov 1891. His father John Newton Brown, his older brothers Charles J. and William Brown, Richard (Dick) Dye, who was married to John Newton Brown’s sister Fannie, Charles J. Newberry son of Andersen T. Newberry and Arkansas Crouce, married to John’s daughter Lydia Jane, William (Bill) Strouth who was married to John’s niece Amanda Melvinia Brown, daughter of Hardin Brown & Nancy Rose, Henry Strouth was Bills brother, and Thomas Strouth son of Michael Strouth and Mary Miller, who was married to Sarah Jane Dye the sister of Dick Dye. Tom was the uncle of Bill and Henry, who were sons of John M. Strouth and Mary M. Pritchard.
My dad Stuart Richardson, told us the story many times of Charles Richardson, paying a US Marshall $200.00 to kill Bill Strouth. Dad said that his grandfather Albert Richardson told him that Charlie had divorced Almeda Steelman and wanted Bill Strouth’s wife Amanda. Amanda was a niece to Almeda Steelman, Charlie’s first wife. I heard it said in family stories that Almeda was having an affair with Henry Strouth, Almeda had three children with Charles W. Hunt after her and Charlie divorced, she never married again. Charlie divorced Almeda Steelman on grounds of adultery according to Russell Co court records. Bill Strouth and Amanda divorced on 9 Aug 1898. She had been living with Charlie before the divorce. Charlie had fathered 3 children with Amanda before he married her on 21 Aug 1899 in Russell Co VA. The children were John Henry 15 Jul 1896, Floyd 28 Nov 1897, and Ida Belle 1 Jul 1899. Dad said that Charlie Richardson paid the $200.00, and told The US Marshall where the Moonshine was being made. Mart Brown told us this same story.
The Browns, Strouths, Dick Dye, and Charles Newberry were making whiskey just above where Mart lived when George Ratliff came along. It was said that George Ratliff told Bill Strough that he was going to kill him. He said that Ratliff shot first, hitting a small tree that was between the two men. The one thing that we know for certain is George Ratliff was killed that day.

Harold Richardson

February 8, 2015

A thankless job that took (takes) more courage than many of us could ever hope to muster. On this 115 anniversary of your murder at the hands of cowardly filth, I salute your bravery and dedication.

God Bless and may you be Resting comfortably in Peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

June 29, 2014

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 113th anniversary year of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

December 10, 2012

Deputy Ratliff, you will not be forgotten! R.I.P.

Deputy Sheriff
Livingston County (Il) Sheriff's Ofc.

April 20, 2011

Deputy Marshal Ratliff,
Sir, it has taken almost 112 years but you are finally being honored. I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
USBP

April 7, 2011