Glad to see that you stopped by to check out my family archive. My wife has put many years of researching my family history. I give her all my support into doing something that at times are very frustrating, hair pulling and down right nerve racking. Esther said that since the two grandson's have come that this work will be dedicated to them.

I was born at home on 6 March 1941 in Pantego, Beaufort County, North Carolina. As growing up in a little town where most everyone is related one way or another. I never really thought about who my ancestors were or where they came from. My family didn't have much money as farmers never do. They rise up before the sun to get most of the work done before the scorching heat hits. Growing up as a young man my life was saddened when my mother (Cassie Craddock Ratcliff) passed away at the age of 26 years old; I was only four years old and my sister (Lula Mae) was a few years younger than me. My father's sister Mae, came into our home and took care of all of us for a few years. It was very hard on us when the time came for her to go back to her husband and her life without my sister and me. She had grown to love us as though we were her own children. Aunt Mae couldn't have children of her own so it was very hard on her as well. In later years, Aunt Mae did adopt a baby girl. After Aunt Mae left we were sent to stay with my mother's older sister , Ruth Craddock Radcliffe, until my father remarried. Then things started all over again when my stepmother (Louise Squires) died at the age of 26 years. We were once again shuffled between Aunt Ruth's and my father's. My father started doing long line truck- driving which didn't leave much time for us to be together. It was not a normal childhood going from house to house but we managed and seemed to have survived despite it all. I can remember Aunt Mae and my father (Horace)telling me that they too had lost their mother(Lula Frances Everett Ratcliff) also at a very young age and that our lives were a repeat of their childhood.

After high school, I enlisted in the Army, and I was off to Fort Hood, Texas after basic and advance training. I was discharged from the service in December of 1963 and came to California to find a good paying job and a different life besides farming. I met my wife of 38 years the first week that I came to California. We married almost a year to that day. We have been blessed with one son Duane Anthony, a lovely daughter-in-law(Julie)and two grandsons Zachary & Bryce that are a chip off the old block of "PA-PA". They are the greatest gifts our son has ever given us. I'm just about ready to retire and take in the good life. I love to work with wood and build furniture. Over the years I have built a cradle for our first grandson Zachary, which our second grandson, Bryce also used; I've also built a rocking chair, a toy box, and an entertainment center and many more items. I count the days until I can spend my days doing something that gives me joy.

I would like to take this time to say "Thank You" to my wife, Esther---for all the work that she has done gathering together our Family Tree so our grandchildren will be able to learn about their roots.

Please take the time to see the information that she has compiled in her many years of research. It will make her very happy to know that someone has taken interest in her hard work. Please don't forget to sign our guest book so that she can see all her work was not in vane.. and you will help me to stay in her good graces.

I will be adding the information as fast as time permits so please make sure to check back often to see what's *** NEW ***.