Mary Jane Ratliff
I am trying to find the family of Mary Jane Ratliff, b. 4 Aug.1865, d. 27 Aug. 1952, place of death is Hamilton County, Texas. She was married to Melvin E. Green, b. 29 Nov. 1842 in Tennessee, d. 10 Apr. 1925, Hamilton County, Texas. Melvin and Mary Jane moved to Texas from Georgia around 1900. They had 5 children, Laura Jane, Caroline Amanda, Sally, Alice, and Willie.
Laura Jane and Caroline Amanda both married Hall brothers, and Sally and Alice both married Kirkland brothers. Laura is my grandmother.
The "family story" has always been that Mary Jane Ratliff was 1/2 Native American and that Melvin Green and her father were best friends and had fought together in the Civil War. I have found Melvin's application for a civil war pension. He fought under the alias, "Melvin Fox". Again, the family story has always been that he was paid to take a draftee's place.
Melvin and Mary Jane eloped one night. Mary Jane went out to feed the chickens and never returned home. My aunt has the crockery bowl she was carrying full of chicken feed the night she left. Laura Jane was born 12 Jan. 1892, in Atlanta, Georgia. I assume it was from Atlanta that the family moved to Texas.
I would appreciate any help in placing Mary Jane and possibly Melvin.
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Re: Mary Jane Ratliff, TN>GA>TX
Marc Hall 6/02/01