Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Cornelius Ratliff

This venerable pioneer was born in Randolph County, N. C., Dec. 25, 1798, and was the son of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Charles) Ratliff. His great-grandfather came from England with William Penn and was present when the latter made his famous treaty with the Indians. The parents of the subject of this sketch removed to Indiana Territory in 1810, and settled a mile northwest of Richmond. Here they lived, among the Indians, but were not molested by them on account of their principles, though all other families in the neighborhood were obliged to remove during the trouble between the Shawnees and Pottawatomies. Cornelius inherited the home farm and still lives upon it.

He was married June 12, 1822, to Mary Kindley, of Warren County, Ohio, a grand-daughter of John Rudolph Waymire, who came from the kingdom of Hanover (where he had been one of the king's body-guard) to Pennsylvania prior to the American Revolution. Mary Ratlift was a true type of pioneer womanhood, and nobly assisted her husband in all his undertakings. Few men in Eastern Indiana have done more to develop and improve the country than Cornelius Ratliff. He has ever been liberal in assisting every worthy undertaking.

He began the nursery business in 1822 and continued it for more than thirty years, furnishing trees to various parts of Indiana and neighboring States. He has always followed farming and has been very successful. In politics he was formerly a Whig and is now a Republican. He was strongly opposed to slavery, and was among the early Abolitionists. He has been a life-long member of the Society of Friends, and is one of the most devoted and consistent adherents of that faith, always active in religious work. His life has been peaceful, blameless and useful, and he is honored and esteemed by his fellow-citizens generally.

Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2