Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/501

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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member the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to Pulaski Camp, Sons of Confederate \'eterans, is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a Democrat in politics.

He married Bertha Lucy Graham (his cousin), born in Mercer county. West Vir- ginia. i\Iarch 20, 1873, daughter of Thomp- son and Ella (Grill) Graham. Children: Mary Ellen, born in Pulaski county, Vir- ginia, in 1891 ; Lucy Jane, November 8, 1892: Joseph Thompson, February 29, 1896; A^irginia Burton, December 18, 1897; Eliza- beth G.. .April 29, 1899: Nellie M., Alarch 18, 1901 ; Nellie Gertrude, June 30, 1902.

George Raymond RatclifFe. For ten years connected with National Bank of Manassas and since 1903 cashier of the People's Na- tional Bank. Mr. RatclifFe has gained an enviable reputation in the financial circle of his district and won the friendship of the patrons of the bank by his unfailing cour- tesy, exactness and upright dealing. He is the only son of George Alarcellus RatclifFe, torn in Prince William county, Virginia, April 9. 1845, ^ merchant of Dumfries in his native county. He married Mary C, daugh- ter of William F. Dowell, a Confederate sol- dier, who died in a Federal prison. George M. Ratclift'e had two brothers, Henry, first lieutenant of a Prince William company in the Confederate army, and James E., a pri- vate. Children of George M. and Mary C. Ratcliflfe : George Raymond, see fcirward ; Annie J., married Henry Clay Speak; Ella Cornelia, married Robert A. Waters.

George Raymond Ratcliffe was born in Prince William county, Virginia, April 12, 1870. He was educated in Dumfries (Vir- ginia) public schools, then entered William and Mary College, attending the sessions of 1889 and 1890. He then took a special course in Spencerian Business College, at Washington, D. C, completing a full course, and receiving a diploma. He then taught in the public schools of Prince Wil- liam county for five years, then entered the employ of the National Bank of Manassas, as a clerk. He possessed the necessary qualifications for a successful banker and was advanced rapidly until in 1903 he was elected cashier of the People's National Bank, a responsible position that he most .ably fills. He was a member of the execu-

tive council of the Virginia Bankers' Asso- ciation, elected for three years in 191 1, is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is an active, prominent member of the Masonic order ; member and treasurer of Manasseh Lodge, No. 182, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Manassas, Virginia ; Manassas Chapter, No. 59, Royal Arch Masons, Manassas, \'irginia ; Old Dominion Com- mandery. Knights Templar (Alexandria, Virginia) ; Acca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Richmond) ; and of Alex- andria Lodge of Perfection (fourteenth de- gree). Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (.Alexandria, Virginia) ; also a member of Robert E. Lee Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Dumfries, Virginia.

Mr. Ratcliffe married, September 3, 1902, Lillian, daughter of .Andrew Jackson and Mary Elizabeth (Donaghe) Silling, born in Fauquier county, Virginia, February 21, 1875; children: Raymond Jackson, born March 26. 191 1; Rose Silling, August 5, 1912.

William Ward. The \\'ards of Norfolk, A'irginia, herein recorded, descend from Wil- liam (i) Ward, born in Ireland, later of New York City, and Norfolk, Virginia. He came to the United States after his mar- riage, and in the home of Miss Julia R. Ward, in Norfolk, is an old hall clock that he brought with him. He was a man of means, and the owner of a large amount of land in Brooklyn and New A'ork. Among his holdings was a part of the present Brooklyn navy yard site, Ward's Island in the East river, and the old site of Niblo's Garden, once the most famous playhouse in New York City. This Niblo at one time was a cook in the Ward family, and when William Ward came to Norfolk he deeded to Mr. Niblo a piece of property on Broad- way that he deemed of little value. There Mr. Niblo started his resort that later be- came famous as Niblo's Garden. \Villiam Ward came to Norfolk, \'irginia, shortly after 1800, when he engaged in trade with the West Indies and added materially to his fortune. He married the daughter of an English bishop of county Armagh, Ireland, who bore him three sons and three daugh- ters: George, Anthony, W'illiam (2), Mary, Jane, Ann.

William (2) Ward was born in New York