sambkchap5
CHAPTER 5
William Caudill

William Caudill, b Nov. 20, 1821, in Perry Co., Ky., d 1911, Johnson Co., m Martha Hitchcock, b about 1824, in Floyd Co., d April 27, 1916, in Johnson Co.,
daughter of John and Mahala Fitzpatrick Hitchcock.  William was a brother to my grandfather, John Caudill, and a son of my great grandfather, Stephen Caudill who
was born 1794.  He was my great uncle.  William and Martha raised eleven children.  One of those children was named Lewis Franklin Caudill, b Sept. 26, 1852, d
July 2, 1942, m Cynthia E. Conley.  They had 9 children.  Lewis was born on Barnetts Creek in Johnson Co.  He and my father were first cousins.  For about 30
years, Lewis was a county school teacher in Johnson and Magoffin Counties.  During that time he became a minister and preached in many Baptist Churches and
was a renowned Evangelist in Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.  He died in Magoffin Co.  His obituary follows:
 

OBITUARY
    Rev. Lewis Franklin Caudill was born in Johnson Co., Kentucky on the waters of Barnetts Creek on Sept. 26, 1852 and died at Falcon, Ky. in Magoffin County,
on July 2, 1942, at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 6 days.  He was united in marriage to Cynthia Conley who died March 21, 1935, and to this union there were
born 9 children.
    For about 60 years, Brother Caudill, the name by which he was better known, was minister of the Gospel and served as Pastor of churches in Paintsville, Pikeville, Ashland, Salyersville and Magoffin County.  For several years he served as Moderator of the Enterprise Association and did Evangelistic work in a wide territory
covering Eastern and Central Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.  he was instrumental in establishing and organizing numerous churches in Eastern Kentucky.  He
was one of the founders and builders of the Old Magoffin Baptist Institute which was located at Salyersville, Ky. from 1904 to 1940, and which did an outstanding
piece of work in the field of Christian Education.
    He was a strong advocate of Education.  He taught school for about 30 years in the hills of Eastern Kentucky but at the same time never neglected the preaching
of the Gospel of Christ.  He served with dignity and confidence the people of Magoffin County as their County Court Clerk for a term of four years.
    We can truly say that in the passing of Brother L. F. Caudill an impressive figure has been removed from our midst.  Intellectually speaking, he stood like Saul of
Tarsus, "Head and shoulders above the average of his fellowman."  In character, as well as physical structure, he was dignified and erect.  As a soldier of
righteousness, he was unconquerable.  Figuratively speaking he was born with a sword in his hand, and in the age-old struggle between good and evil, he was always
the first to charge and the last to retreat.  He was ever conscious and confident of his own strength, a conviction based upon the idea that "Right makes Might."
Instead of an old man conquered by age and infirmities, Brother Lewis Caudill will be remembered as a tower of strength.
    In the last few years of his life, he stood between two generations: one upon whose activities the stage curtain had fallen, the other actors in the new drama of life.
It was a difficult position to occupy, one generation schooled in the lessons of the past, the other departing from the old and adopting modern philosophies.  As
between the two, he naturally clung to the fundamentals: to the rugged notions of honesty, to the principles of the Golden Rule, to the lessons taught in the Sermon of
the Mount, in other words to the Old Time Religion.
    Brother Caudill was a man of untiring effort.  The spirit of his long ministry manifests something of the heart of his Christ in behalf of the world.  He stood head and
shoulders above his brethren in the ministry.  He was earnest, courageous and fearless in all his work.  Many were the times when he had to stand alone for the things
the great book stood for, yet he never wavered.
    Over the counties of this section of our state there remain in memory of him many trails blazed by him, trails upon which today fly the Flag of Christianity.  Many
are the churches that he helped to build and establish which are now preaching his Christ to the world.
    We could never estimate the number he has won to Christ, yet in the City to which he has gone, there will be a great reunion and these will go to make up the
jewels in his crown.
    Magoffin County and Eastern Kentucky have given up a great soldier of the cross, a great preacher of the gospel as well as a great leader.
    Brother Caudill was a Bible student.  His great mind was scripture stored.  His conversation was filled with scripture.  Upon one occasion he spoke these words,
"If the preachers of today would study the Bible as much as they read other books, they too would have a Scripture filled mind."  He knew God and God knew him.
They walked closely together down through the avenues of time.
    He has left an honorable and outstanding family.  They knew him for what he was, a devoted husband, a loving father and a steadfast believer in the Word of
God.  He has left to those nearest him, a priceless heritage, an honored name, the record of a life that was lived for Christ.
    When he was enfeebled with age, and after he had grown very tired and very old, the flickering candle went out, and he fell asleep in the arms of his Elder Brother,
the understanding Christ.  May God bless and comfort you who mourn is the prayer of those who share with you this sorrow.