Thomas P. Cratty, a merchant, was born in Marion County, Ohio, December, 12, 1830, and is the son of Samuel and Jane (Pugh) Cratty, natives of Ohio, the former of Irish and the latter of Welsh descent.  His paternal grandfather is still living at the age of ninety-eight years.  Our subject was educated principally at the Delaware (Ohio) University, and pursued his studies with the view of becoming a lawyer.  Fearing he would not be able to acquire the profession for lack of funds, he abandoned the idea and resorted to store-keeping and auctioneering to gain livelihood.  He still retains his liking for the legal profession, and has argued a great many cases before Justices of the Peace with marked success.  As an auctioneer, he has but few equals, and no superiors in this part of the country.  He began his business life in 1859 in the grocery and dry goods trade in Marion County, where he remained until 1868, when he engaged in the same business at Richwood.  On the organization of the Union County Bank, he was elected its President, and has served in that capacity ever since.  He is a Republican in polities, and for a time served as Mayor of the village of Richwood.  Prior to engaging in mercantile pursuits, he had taught school from the time he was eighteen years of age.  He is a thorough business man, and the owner of 125 acres of land, all of which he has made by his own exertions.  He was married in 1861 to Ann Eliza Fish, a daughter of Samuel Fish, of Marion County, and by her has had four children, viz., S. Frank, Nina May, Mina J. and Princess Eve.  Mr. and Mrs. Cratty are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a licentiate minister.