William J "Stiller Bill" Caudill b 5 Jul 1827 Letcher Co KY d 26 Nov 1908 s/o William "Billy" Caudill and Nancy Craft. William J "Stiller Bill" Caudill m. 7 Feb 1847 Letcher Co KY to Nancy Dickson Dixon b 19 Apr 1830 Letcher Co KY d 31 Dec 1899 d/o Thomas S. Dixon (aka Dickson) b about 1795 Ashe Co NC and Susannah Profitt. (1850 Letcher Co KY Census and 1860 Letcher Co KY Census).

Notes for William J. "Stiller Bill" Caudill: Stiller Bill was a farmer, and an excellent hunter, before the Civil War broke out in 1861. At that time he enlisted in the Southern Cause and served in some of its hottest battlefields until its end. Not only disappointed at the losing cause, he came home to find his farm overgrown with briars and bushes, and to find his family almost in poverty as were his neighbors. Seeking a quick solution to cope with his critical situation, he set-up for production of corn whiskey and apple and peach brandy. His proficiency paid off. He was regarded for years as one of the finest makers of these products and thus achieved the title which made him well-known as Stiller Bill. In 1888 the manufacture and sale of intoxicants were outlawed and he was soon apprehended by John Back and other officers at the time. The trek to the courthouse for trial had not gone far when Stiller Bill gave his word to the arresting officers that he would quit the business completely if released. Knowing Bill, the officers accepted his offer and he returned home. True to his mountain integrity, he never produced another drop. He returned to farming and also entered bee raising. He soon had hundreds of stands for an abundant production of honey. Both Bill and Nancy are buried in the William J. Caudill Cemetery on lower Caudill Branch, two miles north of Blackey, in Letcher County, KY. Children of William J "Stiller Bill" Caudill and Nancy Dickson;

1. James William "Noah" Caudill b 19 Oct 1846 Blackey, Letcher Co KY d 14 Aug 1911 m. 24 Dec 1868 Letcher Co KY to Lucinda Sumner b 24 Jan 1850 Smoot Creek, KY d 16 Jun 1911 Blackey, Letcher Co KY. d/o John Sumner b 1816 and Nancy HAMPTON b 7 MAR 1817 Letcher County, KY.

2. Thomas D Caudill b 26 Dec 1848 Letcher Co KY d about 1943 m. 29 Feb 1872 to Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" Pratt b about 1852 Letcher Co KY. d/o John M. "Knock" Pratt b 29 NOV 1829 and Elizabeth Campbell b ABT 1832. Child of Thomas D Caudill and Elizabeth Ann Pratt;

I. Nancy Caudill b 7 APR 1880 in Perry County, KY d 7 MAY 1944 in Perry County, KY m. John Newberry

3. William J "Miller Bill" Caudill b 27 May 1850 Letcher Co KY d 11 Dec 1924 buried Bill Caudill Cemetery Mouth of Elk Creek, Blackey, Letcher Co, KY, m. 8 Aug 1871 to Martha Ann Whitaker b 18 Apr 1854 d 10 Apr 1931 buried Bill Caudill Cemetery, Mouth of Elk Creek, Blackey, Letcher Co, KY, d/o Stephen A. Whitaker b AUG 1831 in Rockhouse, Floyd (now Letcher) County, KY and Lavina "Vina" FRAZIER b 18 FEB 1831. 

4. John Caudill b about 1851 d about 1851

5. Susannah Caudill b 20 Feb 1852 d 23 Nov 1941 Perry Co K m. about 1891 to Henry Cornett.

Notes for Susannah Caudill: The following article is from The Mountain Eagle newspaper dated 11/27/41, page 1, column 3:
"Nonagenarian Lady Passes in Perry Co." Obituary: Susie Cornett, daughter of the late "Stiller" Bill Caudill died at her home at Christopher, in Perry County, Ky., Sunday morning, Nov. 23, 1941, in her ninetieth year. She was born February 29, 1852. She is survived by one daughter, Mary Combs, two others having preceded her in death. She also leaves four brothers, Ike, Ed, George Caudill, of Letcher County, and John B. Caudill, of Stroud, Oklahoma, and a sister, Martha Cornett, of Diablock, Ky. Eleven sisters and brothers had already passed away. Fifteen grandchildren survive her. She was a member of the Regular Baptist Church, and had been for many years, receiving baptism of the late Ira Combs. She was laid to rest by the side of her parents, on the old "Stiller" Bill farm, on Caudill Branch, Letcher County, in the presence of many friends and relatives. Elder G. M. Caudill officiated in the services. 6. Hiram W Caudill b 22 Dec 1853 d 20 Dec 1913 buried Lower Campbell Branch Cemetery, Hallie Letcher Co KY, m. 7 Apr 1873 to Ester Banks b 8 Apr 1853 d 25 Sept 1905 buried Lower Campbell Branch Cemetery, Hallie, Letcher Co KY. Children of Hiram W Caudill and Easter Banks;

I. Nancy Caudill b 14 NOV 1874 d 22 DEC 1951 in Waynesburg, KY buried at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery, Lincoln Co KY m. Silas Caudill b 16 NOV 1884 in Letcher County, KY d 11 MAR 1968 in Nicholasville, Jessamine County, KY buried at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery, Lincoln Co KY; s/o Levi Caudill b 21 MAY 1854 and Charity Ingram b 5 MAY 1859. Children of Nancy Caudill and Silas Caudill;

i. Carmie Caudill b 18 APR 1909 in Letcher County, KY d 23 DEC 1998 in Stanford, Lincoln County, KY buried Ermine, Letcher County, KY, m. Letcher Co KY to George Adams b 14 SEP 1906 in Letcher County, KY d 25 DEC 1981 in Somerset, Pulaski County, KY buried Ermine, Letcher County, KY, s/o Jesse E. Adams b MAY 1868 and Sarah MILLER b 17 OCT 1872. Children of Carmie Caudill and George Adams;

i.1. Female Adams m. Guy Leslie Palumbo b about 1932 d 15 MAR 2005 in Knoxville, Knox County, TN; occupation, attorney; s/o John Palumbo b in Italy and Della Howard b in Breathitt County, KY

ii. Myrtle Caudill

II. Wesley Caudill b about 1878

III. Amelia Caudill b AUG 1879

7. Sarah Ann Sally Caudill b 22 Jan 1855 d 2 Mar 1930 m. Aug 1876 Letcher Co KY to Silas Watts b 4 Apr 1856 Letcher Co KY d 5 Jan 1945.

8. Nancy Jane Caudill b 5 Oct 1856 d 6 Jan 1929 m. 17 Mar 1877 to Moses "Little Mose" Whitaker b 1 Feb 1858 Letcher Co KY d 21 Aug 1928 s/o John W. Whitaker b ABT 1835 and Martha Halcomb b 25 JAN 1837 in Perry County, KY. Children of Nancy Jane Caudill and Moses "Little Mose" Whitaker;

I. Martha Whitaker m. 14 Mar 1906 Letcher Co KY to Rufus Hogg s/o Stephen Hogg and Millie Emily Stamper.

9. Isaac D Caudill b 17 Feb 1859 d 19 Feb 1946 Tolson, KY m. 9 May 1878 to Lucinda "Cindy" Whitaker b 10 Mar 1860 Tolson KY d 7 May 1938 Tolson KY buried Roxana, Letcher County, KY d/o Moses E. Whitaker b 22 OCT 1837 in Roxana, Letcher County, KY and Anna Ison b 9 NOV 1835. Children of Isaac D Caudill and Lucinda Whitaker;

I. Moses Caudill b 15 APR 1879 d 3 MAY 1942

II. Harrison Caudill b 26 DEC 1889 d 27 MAY 1949 m. 1914 to Matilda Boggs d/o Joseph "Joe" Boggs b 1857 in Wise County, VA and Minerva Ingram b 1855 in Linefork, Letcher County, KY.

10. Elizabeth "Betsy" Caudill b about 1860 d about 1927 m. 9 Apr 1891 Letcher Co KY to Elijah Combs b about 1867 d 19 Aug 1921 Perry Co KY.

11. Jeremiah P "Jerry" Caudill b 23 Nov 1861 d 25 Feb 1922 buried Caudill Cemetery across from Campbells Branch Elementary School, on Hwy. 1103 Linefork, Letcher Co KY, m. 30 Jan 1882 Letcher Co KY to Nancy Ann Campbell b 11 May 1863 d 28 Aug 1936.

12. George W Caudill b 5 Oct 1863 d 2 Feb 1946 Tolson Creek, Letcher Co KY buried Mose Whitaker Cemetery, Tolson, Letcher Co KY, m. 10 Mar 1881 to Mary Whitaker b 11 Oct 1863 Tolson Creek, Letcher Co KY d 2 Jun 1954 Roxana, Letcher Co KY, buried Mose Whitaker Cemetery, Tolson, Letcher Co KY d/o Moses E. Whitaker b 22 OCT 1837 in Roxana, Letcher County, KY and Anna Ison b 9 NOV 1835.

13. Margaret Caudill b 25 Aug 1865 d 21 Sept 1928 m. 1 Feb 1883 in William Caudill's home, to Thomas J Watts b about 1865 d 23 Dec 1914 (or b 1863 d 21 SEP 1939 ) s/o Thomas Watts b 20 JUL 1812 in Floyd County, KY and Nancy Hagins Higins b 22 MAR 1823.

14. Henry Clay Caudill b 8 Dec 1866 Caudill Branch, Blackey Letcher Co KY d 6 Sept 1938 Red Star, KY buried Elmer Dixon Cemetery, Blackey Letcher Co KY, m. 22 Dec 1887 Letcher Co KY to Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Collins b 8 Nov 1870 Letcher Co KY d 19 Sept 1965 Cincinnati OH, buried Elmer Dixon Cemetery, Blackey, Letcher Co KY. d/o Henry Powell Collins b 18 APR 1836 in Russell County, VA and Clarissa BOWMAN b 18 NOV 1844 in Owsley County, KY. Children of Henry C Caudill and Margaret E "Maggie" Collins;

I. Louada CAUDILL m. Johnny Tolliver

II. Louisa CAUDILL b 12 JAN 1888 d 10 MAR 1917 in Letcher County, KY

III. Malissa CAUDILL b 9 JUL 1890 m. 1910 Letcher Co KY to Hargis Simmons b 2 Jun 1893 d 22 MAY 1962

IV. William H. CAUDILL b 9 MAR 1892 d 25 FEB 1950 m. Rhoda Profitt d 1928. William H Caudill m. 1930 to Ruth Boobar b MN

V. Johnny CAUDILL

Notes for Henry Clay Caudill: The following obituary is from The Mountain Eagle newspaper dated 09/08/38, page 1, column 4: Obituary 1: "Henry Clay Caudill, 71 Well Known Citizen of County Dies Tuesday" Uncle Henry Clay Caudill, well known citizen of lower Letcher County and father of ex-sheriff W. H. Caudill, died suddenly Tuesday evening, September 6, at 5 o'clock. Mr. Caudill had worked on the farm all day and was cutting kindling when he suddenly dropped dead, he had been in good health and was very active. He was a native of Letcher county, born on December 9, 1867, a few miles below Blackey and has spent all of his life in the county. He was the son of William J. Caudill and Nancy Dixon Caudill. Early in life he was married to Margaret Elizabeth Collins, who survives him. To this union were born five children who survive him, W. H. Caudill, ex-shariff of Letcher county, now Chief of Police of Whitesburg, John B. Caudill of Polly, Malisa Simmons of Whitesburg, Vada Tolliver, of Jenkins, and ...................... of Blacky. He also leaves one sister, Martha Cornett of Perry County and three brothers, John B. Caudill of Straud, Okla., Isaac D. Caudill and George W. Caudill, both of Roxana, Ky. Funeral services were held at the Indian Bottom Regular Baptist Church by Elders Willard Akers and Willie Francis, Thursday morning, September 8 at 10 o'clock with a large crowd of friends and relatives in attendance. Interment took place in the Dixon Cemetery near Blackey. Burke Funeral Home had charge of the funeral arrangements.

The following obituary is from The Mountain Eagle newspaper dated 09/15/38, page 2, column 1: Obituary 2: Henry C Caudill: Funeral services for Henry C. Caudill, thirteenth child of the late W. J. "Stiller Bill" and Nancy Dickson Caudill, born December 8, 1866 on Christian (later Caudill's) Branch at Indian Bottom, (later Blackey) Letcher County Kentucky, where he grew to manhood with his nine brothers and six sisters. The following of them survive him: Mrs. Susan Cornett, age 85 years and Mrs. Martha Cornett, age 70 years, both of Diablock, Ky.; Isaac D., age 79 years, of Roxana, Ky.; John B. and the baby of the family, Chandler, Okla.; George W. of Roxana, Ky. Married Maggie Collins, December 22, 1887 which was a happy union for little more than fifty years. Unto them was born two sons and three daughters, William H. and Mrs. Malsia Simons, of Whitesburg, Ky. Johnny of Polly, Ky. Lavada Tolliver of Jenkins, Ky. and Louisa, who lives with her parents. Also has a number of grand children and great grand children. All of this family are highly respected by who ever known. He never took fellowship with any church, but was an ardent believer in the old time Regular Baptist faith and Orthodox Order of same. A consistent reader of the "Book of all books", the Bible. Good principals dominated his life. He was truthful. His word was his bond. He worked and managed in the light. Fair in his dealings. He did not seek to advance himself at the expense of his fellow men. He wanted for himself and his only, what was fair and right. No traveler was ever turned away from his table for want of that which he could grant. He loved his kindred and neighbors, who with his family will miss him around and about his home at Red Star, Ky. His hospitality and pleasant conversations are heard no more. His passing has broken the earthly family circular, but we trust it will be complete again some day in that "better home over yonder." His passing was sudden, from heart failure on the afternoon of September 6, 1938. On Thursday the 8th Inst. by 10 a.m. his kindred and friends; from Hazard, Whitesburg, Knott County, from the valleys creeks and over the hills, by the hundreds were gathering at the Baptist Church at the Elmer Dixon Cemetery, where the body was laid. Aunt Clara Collins, his 94 year old mother-in-law was present. The whole family and friends will ever be grateful to Elder G. M. Caudill, Moderator, Dawson Dixon, Clerk, and the members of this church for their kindness in opening their door and inviting them into it for the services. To Aunt Maggie and the children and friends may you comply with these spiritual conditions which will prepare you for a glorious passing like his. Active Pall Bearers; I. D. Caudill, R. B. Caudill, Sr., C. B. Caudill, Letcher Collins, Byrd Collins, and J. D. W. Collins. Honorary Pall Bearers were W. J. Caudill, John Back, Ace Collins, Arthur Dixon, Bony Caudill, Jim Caudill, Cleveland Caudill, Dawson Dixon, R. B. Caudill, Jr., Print Ison, E. B. Collins, Pearl Watts and I. T. Dixon. All came to pay tribute and hear the gospel messages as delivered by the Devine power through the preaching by Elder W. S. Akers and Willie Francis. ****end obituary.

15. Martha Caudill b 10 May 1868 Lower Caudill Branch, Letcher Co KY d 3 May 1943 Diablock, Perry Co KY m. 22 Mar 1888 in William Caudill's Letcher Co KY to Ira B Cornett b 25 Jan 1864 Perry Co KY d 5 Feb 1897 Kentucky s/o John Cornett b 1839 in Perry County, KY and Catherine COMBS b 1835 in Kentucky.

16. John Breckinridge Caudill b 11 Mar 1870 Letcher Co KY d 24 Feb 1947 Stroud, Lincoln Co OK m. 6 Oct 1895 Perry Co KY to Polly Ann Smith b 14 Dec 1873 Hazard, Perry Co KY d 11 Dec 1947 Cushing, Lincoln Co OK d/o Newton Smith and Elizabeth Combs. Child of John Breckinridge Caudill and Polly Ann Smith;

I. Doshia Caudill m. Leonard Oscar Whipkey

II. Dewey Caudill

III. Ventice Caudill

Notes for John Breckinridge Caudill:

John was probably named for the Kentucky statesman, John Breckinridge. Austin Stalford of Del City, OK, a great grandson, furnished this account of the family's move west and their early life in Oklahoma. "John was born in Letcher County, March 11, 1870. He was from a family of about 15 children, he being the youngest child of William J. and Nancy (Dickson) Caudill. At age 25, John married Polly Ann Smith, a daughter of Newton and Elizabeth (Combs) Smith. Polly was from a family of seven children, the others being: Hendrix, Dora, Rachel, Louis, Thornton, and Margaret. Polly's brother, Hendrix, married Dorcas Southers, a daughter of W. H. and Martha Southers. Dorcas was from a family of four children, the others being: Lou, Sylvester, and Hattie. In the fall of 1906, the families of John Caudill, Newton Smith, Hendrix Smith, and W. H. Southers decided to sell out and travel to Oklahoma Territory for their future homes. These families were farmers in Letcher County, KY, for several years. They either owned or rented land for farming or grazing. They owned their own farm equipment to raise grain and hay for livestock and table use, and to plant and work their garden. In November of 1906, they put their land, homes, farm equipment, livestock, furniture, etc., up for sale. After the sale they boarded a train for Oklahoma Territory, bringing with them only their clothes and some bedding. On December 6, 1906, the train arrived in Davenport, Oklahoma Territory. The town folks of Davenport were in shock to see so many people get off the train at one time and particularly at this time of the year. That night they all stayed in the Davenport Hotel. Early the next day they bought cotton sacks for those big enough to pull a sack, and off to the cotton fields they went to pick cotton. "John Caudill and family settled on 160 acres of rent land northwest of Davenport. Newton Smith and family bought 160 acres east of Davenport. W. H. Southers and family bought 160 acres north of Kendrick, Oklahoma. Hendrix Smith and family moved in with Newton Smith. "They bought a heater and cooking stove, and just enough other essential household goods to get by. They had a hard time that winter. By spring they had bought horses and enough farming equipment to farm the land. They just could get enough dry beans, sugar, flour, meal, oatmeal, pure lard, coffee, soda, baking powder, and Vanilla, if they were lucky. By summer, John Caudill had bought a milk cow, yearling calf to be butchered later that fall, hog and chickens. John raised cotton, corn, wheat, and sugar cane. He bought a sorghum mill, a grinder so he could grind his corn meal, wheat for flour, and to mill the sugar cane for sorghum. Polly and the children helped plant and worked the garden. They would plant everything from A to Z. They bought quite a few fruit jars. By fall these jars were full with canned vegetables from the garden and wild fruit. Chickens would lay eggs most of the year so they could have fresh eggs on the table. John would milk the cow, which afforded them milk, butter, cheese, and cream by use of the separator. In early winter the hog and calf would be butchered for meat during the year. Meat from the bone and intestines from the fresh hog would be used to make soap. Polly and the children would make soap from the fat, water and lye in a large black kettle. They would boil it until it got thick, then let it cool and harden. After it was cold they would cut the soap into bars. This lye soap they would use for dishes, clothes, hands and for bathing. John was a blacksmith. He could repair anything around the farm. Polly would raise her own chickens and she had an incubator which was run by a kerosene light. You had to put water in a pipe that run through the incubator. The lamp kept the water hot for 21 days, and pretty soon you would have young chickens. The eggs had to be turned each day. They were marked with an "X" on one side and "O" on the other. If the eggs were not turned for even formation of the embryo, the chicks would be crippled. Polly sold eggs and cream to buy staple foods, clothes, etc. John liked to fish and would work five days in the field, take Polly to town on Saturday, and on Sunday in the summer he would go fishing. In the winter they would make taffy candy, pop corn balls, and ginger bread from molasses. Polly washed on a wash board. She'd put white clothes in a big black kettle to boil them in lye soap so they would come out white. She would then wash them again and then rinse in clear water. John rented several different places before buying a school lease of 160 acres about 1916, two miles south of Baker School. John lived here and farmed this land until his death, February 25, 1947. Dewey and Ventice, sons of John, took over the operation of the farm until 1957. At that time they had a farm sale, selling out the land and everything on the farm".