Daniel P. Bratcher is a native of Grayson County and was born in what is now Spring Lick Precinct March 15, 1829.  He is the eldest in a family of nine children, and has always lived in his native county, following the occupation of farming, in which he has been singularly successful, having at the present time one of the best improved places in the Spring Lick Precinct.  Like the majority of old residents his education was limited to such schools as the country afforded, and at the age of eighteen he engaged in business for himself on a farm about two miles east of his present home place.  In 1849 he purchased the beautiful farm on which he has since lived; the original tract contained 200 acres, which has since been reduced to 170 acres, almost all of which is under successful cultivation.  Mr. Bratcher has been twice married; the first time in December, 1846, in Grayson, County to Judy K. Green, daughter of George and Lavica (Neal) Green, by whom they had five children: James H., Harvey B., Lavica and Mahala (twins, deceased), and an infant, deceased.  Mrs.Bratcher died May 26, 1871.  October 14, 1883, Mr. Bratcher married Mrs. Sarah E. Mason, daughter of John and Eliza Cain, of Nelson County, Ky.  Mrs. Bratcher is the eighth of fourteen children, and was born November 24, 1835.  Her father, John Cain, died October 29, 1879.  Her mother was a daughter of John Wakefield and died April 6, 1870.  Mr. Bratcher is an active member of the United Baptist Church, and a strong advocate of temperance reform.   Mrs. Bratcher is a member of the Baptist Church also, and an active member of her congregation.  Mr. Bratcher's paternal grandfather was William Bratcher, a native of South Carolina and one of the early settlers of the falls of Rough Creek, Grayson County.   He was a successful farmer and died about 1857.  His son, Joseph Bratcher, father of our subject, was born near the falls of Rough Creek, August 10, 1807, and died in Butler County, July 3, 1885.  Rebecca (Byers) Bratcher, wife of Joseph Bratcher, was the daughter of John Byers, one of the pioneers of Grayson County.  She was born February 9, 1810, and died in November, 1879.  The family of Joseph and Rebecca Bratcher consisted of nine children: James H., Daniel P. (subject), William, J. W., Joseph A. (killed in the battle of Lookout Mountain), Jonathon E., Lydia (wife of I. House), Rebecca J. (deceased) and Rebecca J. (wife of C. C. Ferguson).