Henry Ratts was born circa 1818-1822 in TN to Godfrey Ratts & Margaret Maley.  By the time he was 21 years of age he was living in MO.  On 09 Jul 1843 in Johnson Co Missouri he married Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" Beck, daughter of another early Kaufman pioneer, John J Beck & his wife, Annie Rogers.  Betsy was born 1822 & died in Kaufman Co 1851.  She was a young widow with a son named Jonathan Allen.

   Henry & Betsy came to TX in 1845.  On 15 Jan 1845 Henry signed his Mercer's Colony Land Certificate & he patented the land 30 Apr 1852.  He is listed on the 1846 Henderson Co TX Tax Rolls & is enumerated on the 1850 & 1860 Kaufman Co TX Censuses.

   After Betsy's death Henry married 19 Oct 1852 in Kaufman Co to Synthia Keen.  They remained married until his death 16 Jul 1867.
   The brother of Henry, Andrew H Ratts, also lived in Kaufman County.  He was married to Evaline Keen, sister of Synthia Keen

  Henry served in the Confederate States Army, Co G 2nd Texas Cavalry.  In the Sunday, July 21st 1867 edition of the "Dallas Herald" (originally from the 'Kaufman Sun' July 20, 1867 edition)-

Local farmer Henry Ratts was killed by his bull on the 16th inst. on his farm near Heath in Rockwall County.  Ratts came here as an early pioneer from Indiana, settling on Lyme Creek in 1851.  His estate was probated in Kaufman County, Record # 8-A, Vol. 1, pages 388-389, Executor-J D Weaver.   He received Kaufman County Headrights # A-426 & A-420 from the State of Texas.   Henry is buried at Old Kiser Cemetery near the Kaufman/Rockwall County Line, & he is buried next to Arsuelda, his daughter.