When Dennis Ratcliff Sr was born on 22 February 1814, in Ohio, United States, his father, John Ward Ratcliff, was 32 and his mother, Rachael Ray, was 28. He married Rebecca Brown on 27 December 1837, in Jackson, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 8 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Harrison Township, Vinton, Ohio, United States in 1850 and Northwest Marion Township, Polk, Missouri, United States in 1860. He died on 10 June 1863, in Polk, Missouri, United States, at the age of 49, and was buried in Mount Gilead Cemetery, Bolivar, Polk, Missouri, United States.