William J. 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 Co KY.

Notes: Henry Clay Caudill
9 (8) Dec 1867 (66) - 6 Sept 1938

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, (1938) 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 Co born on December 9, 1867 (66), 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 Co now Chief of Police of Whitesburg, John B. Caudill of Polly, Malisa Simmons of Whitesburg, Vada Tolliver, of Jenkins, and Louisa 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.

Notes: Henry Clay Caudill
8 Dec 1866 - 6 Sept 1938
Obituary Number 2

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 Co 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.

Notes: John Breckinridge Caudill
11 Mar 1870 - 24 Feb 1947

John Breckinridge Caudill 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 Co 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 Co 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".