David Caudill was born 2/1958 to James "Limber Jim" and Elizabeth "Betsy" Mullins. Caroline Cornett was born 3/1865 to Charles Lewis Cornett and Polly Creech. The Caudill and Cornett families were enumerate in the Leatherwood district of Perry Co in the 1870 census records.

 

When the railroad made its way through Letcher co in January of 1911 new jobs were created and many  towns we either named or renamed including the town that would be known as Blackey.  Billy Rogers returned to Kentucky from Rushville, Indiana to serves as it first section foreman. Billy Rogers hired David Caudill and other members of the Caudill family to form the work crews who would lay the tracks through town. 

 

At that time Billy was married to Julia Charles of Powell Co . In 1917 Julia Rogers contracted the dreadful disease of tuberculosis. The disease force Billy to hire young David Caudill daughter Jessie to care for his wife and children.  Julie Charles Rogers would not recover. Julie died in Sept 1918.   

 

In the spring of 1919 Billy Rogers married young Jessie Caudill.  The year would end tragically when David Caudill was killed by a train while crossing a trestle on 12/7/1919 near Blackey.  Caroline Cornett Caudill was left a widow. 

 

Caroline Cornett Caudill Tyree Webb died on 10/25/1948.  Caroline was buried in the Horsemill Point Cemetery near Jeremiah, Ky.  Her bother Dixon Cornett and her offspring were photographed the day of the funeral.

 

Michael C. Rogers