government » charles a. ratcliffe
Charles A. Ratcliffe

For over a century the Ratcliffe Co. was a stable part of the Cheney market, popular and highly respected. It remained in the family until 1964 when it was sold to Don Helm and Ron Rehn.

Born to Lynn and Margaret Ratcliffe on July 16, 1854 in Wheeling, W. Virginia, Charles and his family moved to Iowa to make their home in Lansing. In his teens he attended schools in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, returned to Lansing and entered the lumber business. Seven years later he moved on to Denver, Colorado to continue in the lumber industry for another three years before coming to Portland, Oregon to work in the Northern Pacific R.R. auditor's office for a year.

He came to Washington Territory in 1884 as a representative of the Frank Brothers implement store in Cheney. He was engaged to marry Louise Anne Bressler of Illinois but after seeing the primitive country here wrote a letter still treasured by the family, in which he declared, "I cannot in good conscience ask you to come here to live as it is over-run by wild Indians." (He had seen where an Indian had been hanged from a tree behind the present Christian Church.) However, Louise was not a timid soul and he returned to Belleville, Illinois to be married to her on December 24, 1884. The young couple then came back to Cheney where they made their home the rest of their lives.

The couple had six children, all born and raised in Cheney: Lynn, Benjamin, Ruth, Louise, Kent and Mark.

Several successful years of managing the implement company encouraged him to buy out the Franks and enter into the business for himself selling farm machinery and a variety of building and fencing materials, enjoying a prosperous trade which was patronized by farmers within a radius of many miles. Wagons and buggies could also be purchased from him.

C.A. Ratcliffe constructed a building on Second and College. One section on Second and E Streets still stands. 1892 saw Ratcliffe having the dealership for J.I. Case and in 1894 the John Deere products, both established names in farm equipment. In 1907 his eldest son, Lynn, joined the business bringing fresh new ideas, one of which was obtaining the Ford dealership in 1912. A newspaper article later described C.A.'s trepidation at such a venture. He was certain the "horseless carriage" would never replace the horse and predicted young Lynn would "lose his shirt" on the 11 touring cars ordered to sell. It is now history how those cars sold, three more having to be ordered to meet the demand that first year. They were purchased not only by city people but by farm families as well -- the beginning of change in the social structure of the rural communities, with breath-taking speeds of up to 25 mph reducing the miles between outlying districts and town. By 1983 the Ratcliffe Ford Co. was the third largest in the state and one of the earliest Ford agencies in the nation still being operated by the same family.

Although the wild Indians Louise had been warned about were not so wild as he stated, there were several threats of Indian uprisings in the late 1880's. In the early years he was here, C.A. took an active part in preparations to defend the city and citizens should one actually materialize. Fortunately, Colonel George Wright kept a tight rein on the tribes so that none occurred.

Aside from the pressures of business Charles Ratcliffe was an interested and willing participant in community and civic affairs. He served at various times as assessor, school clerk, school director, city councilman and advanced to the office of Mayor in 1911 for a one-year term.

One of Mayor Ratcliffe's first duties was to appoint A.E. Clawson as city attorney and J.C. Addington as City Marshal, the latter to be paid $75.00 a month.

Investigation of the city water supply revealed the urgency for a new well. On October 11, the city officials decided to go ahead with digging an additional well, the work to be done on a day labor plan, diggers to be hired at $3.00 a day. Two shifts were used at the start but as the year advanced another shift was added so that digging went on around the clock. Bonds were to be issued in the amount of $9,000.00 to pay for the project. In the meantime, all water users were prohibited from carrying water for use outside the city limits. All homes and businesses were required to install meters and assist in the cost of same. This ordinance was enforced to the letter.

Many small items were on the agenda, such as matters of horses standing on the street and chickens running loose. The city already had a chicken ordinance therefore the city Marshal was instructed to see it was carried out. The offending chickens were to be confined to pens on their owners' property.

Positive proof of the continuing growth of Cheney was shown in a communication from the Spokane County Auditor showing the valuation of the city of Cheney in 1911 was $527,486.00.

Years of service to his community ended for C.A. Ratcliffe when he was 77 years of age. He died on May 12, 1931 leaving his sons to carry on the Ratcliffe agency.

Contributed by Ellen Proctor, 1988.