Buchanan County Biographies HON. MESHACK S. RATCLIFF      A farmer of Washington county, was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, March 20, 1834. He was married in that county, June 5, 1850, to Lucinda Ratcliff of Tazewell County. The fruit of the union is twelve children: Shadraek W., John R., Lydia Jane (now deceased), Mary Elizabeth, James Muncy, George W., Maggie Z. (deceased), Augustus Floyd, Eliza R., Sylvester, Vadney V., Louisa M. Richard Ratcliff of Tazewell County, son of Richard Ratcliff of Montgomery County, was the father of Meshack S. His mother is Lydia, daughter of John Ratcliff of Jackson County, Missouri, in which county he died. Lucinda, wife of Mr. Ratcliff, is a daughter of Shadrack Ratcliff, of Tazewell County, whose father, John Ratcliff, died in Jackson County, Missouri. Her mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Brooks Matnet, of Tazewell county.      Mr. Ratcliff was a resident of Buchanan County previous to his coming to Washington County, and has worthily filled a number of public offices. He represented Buchanan and Wise counties in the Virginia legislature; was two years postmaster in Buchanan County, and two years commissioner of revenue in that county. In 1861 he went into service, captain Company G, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, and so served through the war. His brother Abednego served in the same company; his brother John S. was captain Company I, same regiment, was captured in 1863, at Cynthiana, Kentucky, and held at Johnsons Island, Lake Erie, till June 27, 1865. Four brothers of Mrs. Ratcliff were in service, one, John M., lieutenant Company G, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, wounded and captured at Cynthiana, Kentucky, in 1863, held at Johnsons Island till June, 1865; the other three served in Derrick's battalion of Virginia Infantry. Five cousins bearing the name of Ratcliff were in service; two of them in the 10th Kentucky Cavalry; two commanding companies, rank of captain. [History of Virginia From Settlement of Jamestown to Close of The Civil War by Robert Alonzo Brock and Virgil Anson Lewis, 1888 – Transcribed by AFOFG] Copyright © Genealogy Trails