DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Littleton Rattan — the marker spells his name two different ways, and maybe that right there tells you something about a man who was hard to pin down. Born in 1809, a native of Illinois, he'd already seen enough action in the Black Hawk War — the 132nd — before he ever set foot in Texas.
But Texas called to him, and in 1839 he came, bringing family with him, and he put down roots right here in Delta County. Planted a farm. The kind of man who could break ground in the morning and ride out on patrol by afternoon.
And ride out he did — not once, not twice, but three times he served as a Texas Ranger, three separate area militia companies, all of it during the Republic of Texas era. Three companies. That is not a man who sat still.
Then came the Mexican War, and Rattan found himself riding under Jack Hays — legendary Ranger Jack Hays — which tells you the company he kept and the caliber of the work he was doing. And then December 18, 1847. That's the date the marker gives, and it gives it with a kind of weight that a date earns when it's the last one.
Rattan was killed in battle with Native Americans. And here is where the story goes quiet in a way that stays with you — because the details of his death, the location of that battle, where he was laid to rest, all of it remains unknown. The land swallowed those answers and never gave them back.
What the marker holds onto, what Delta County holds onto, is what he gave: the safety of pioneers here and across the state. A man from Illinois who came to Texas and gave everything to it, right down to the last undocumented mile.
What the marker says
A native of Illinois and a veteran of the 132 Black Hawk War, Littelton Ratta (b. 1809) came to Texas with family members in 1839. He established a farm at this site in Delta County and also served as a Texas Ranger in three area militia companies in the Republic of Texas era. Later, during the Mexican War, he served under legendary Ranger Jack Hays. Rattan was killed on December 18, 1847 in battle with Native Americans, but the details of his death, including the location of the battle and his gravesite, remain unknown. He is remembered for his contributions to the safety of pioneers in Delta County and throughout the state. (2005)