His obituary in the Hazel Green Herald reported:

“Uncle Silas K. Ratliff, the oldest man in the county, or in the state, perhaps, departed this life on Monday morning at about 6 o’clock. Mr. Ratliffe was a native of Virginia, a solider in the war of 1812, and many years ago moved into this part of Kentucky, which was then but little more than a vast wilderness.

For years he had been too feeble to perform manual labor, and having no other means he was a charge on the county. His application was on file for a pension for services rendered his country in the hour of her peril, but through lack of political influence, negligence or some other cause, none was ever granted him, else his declining uyears might have been nourished with the necessaries of life, at least. At the time of his death he lacked but two days of being one hundred and two years and six months of age, having been born on July 9th, 1892. His remains were laid to rest Tuesday in what is known as the Holderly burying ground, a few miles below Hazel Green on Red river, now the property of F. McGuire, of this place.”