John Ratz and. his wife Catherine came to Kansas in 1857. For a short time they lived with the Otts at Coal Creek. Frank was born that year. They lived in Grasshopper Falls,(Census of 1860) where Mr. Ratz worked at his trade of cobbling shoes. In 1862, Catherine died. Andrew was cared for by his grandparents for a while and perhaps some of the other children, too. In the census of 1865 the children are all listed under the John Hatz household. Margaret the oldest was 14 years of age. She no doubt helped care for the family.
