Highly successful Kentucky physician, businessman, and civic leader; substantial underwriter of Williamsburg Institute/Cumberland College. Married (1876) Florida Ellen Moss, with whom he fathered five children.
Dr. Ancil Gatliff was raised on a farm in Whitley County, Kentucky. He and his wife Florida raised five children: Ruby Gatliff Archer, Pearl Gatliff Perkins, Una Gatliff Mahan, J.B. Gatliff, and E.M. Gatliff. Dr Gatliff was trained at the Louisville Medical College, and became well known for success in treating pneumonia. He then went into the coal mining business and prospered. Dr. Gatliff founded the Kentucky Baptist Educational Society, became its first president, and gave 4,000 acres of land to the organization in 1906. He did much to develop Williamsburg Institute (opened 1889), which later became Cumberland College. He funded Gatliff Gymnasium in 1911 and provided financial aid to students. In 1915, Gatliff was moderator of the Kentucky General Association of Baptists. At his death in 1918 Gatliff was the president of the Southern Coal and Coke Company, Southern Mining Company, Gatliff Coal Company, and High Splint Coal Company. He was also president of the Bank of Williamsburg, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cumberland College.
From the description of Papers of Dr. Ancil Gatliff 1887-1988 1889-1901. (Berea College). WorldCat record id: 57418112
