Simon Ratcliff was born on August 23, 1800. He was the youngest of ten children. His parents, John and Ruth Ratcliff, traveled by wagon from North Carolina to Ohio shortly after his birth. Simon eventually settled in Liberty Township and purchased nearly 700 acres of land, which he farmed. In 1820, he married Rachel Dixon. They reared a family of eleven children. Simon operated a store in the nearby village for 20 years.