At age 87, "Uncle Wib" walked without a cane and he often trekked up the hill to his daughter, Liza's home with a bag of groceries or other items. His son, Dr. Millard of Kermit, WV, followed the practice of presenting his father on his birthday a dollar for each year of his father's age. When he handed over $87.00 to his father, he said affectionately "if you keep going there is going to be one broke Doc in Kermit in a few years". "Uncle Wib" was born in the year of the surrender, 1865. His family moved to Goose Creek in Letcher County, KY, when he was a baby. Wib followed in his father's footsteps as Postmaster of Baker, KY, and as a merchant until his retirement at age 70. ["Appalachia Crossroads: The Caudill Family" by Clayton R. Cox (Pg. 848)]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After Wib and Sillar were married, Sillar's uncle, Dan Baker, loaned Wib the money to start a country store at Blackey, KY, a few miles from Neon. He had the first post office and telephone exchange there. He was Deputy Sheriff for four years, and in that period arrested Bad John Wright, who was thought to have killed several men.
Their entertainment at that time was attending the Regular Baptist Church. They would meet every Sunday. The men would come early to trade and sell horses, box and tell big stories. In one of Wib's deals, he bought a horse that wouldn't work, so he planned to sell it back to the same man that had cheated him. He bought Sillar a red velvet saddle, put it on the horse, and Sillar rode it to church that Sunday. Sure enough, Wib sold it back to the same man and for more money. He got a kick out of that.
When Wib and Sillar moved to Neon, they built a hotel and store. This was about the same time several coal companies were building their camps. Elkhorn Coal Company was in Fleming, about a half mile from Neon. They bought all their supplies and lumber from Wib. He was in the logging business. Every spring they would dam up the Kentucky River, fill it with logs, and float them all the way to Frankfort, KY.
In later years he bought the west part of Neon which was named Collier Addition. He sold real estate. For many years he was police judge. He was so well liked and trusted by his neighbors that often times they would come to him to settle their disputes, and they would abide by his decision. He was very fair. He always carried a dollar in change because he said he never knew when someone might need change for a dollar. ["Appalachia Crossroads: The Caudill Family" by Clayton R. Cox (Pg. 2282); originally written by Allie Mae (Collier) Craft.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The obituary of Wilburn B. Collier as published in the February 2, 1961, issue of The Mountain Eagle:
'Wib' Collier succumbs at 95
Wilburn B. Collier was born June 2, 1865 at Paintsville, departed this life January 23, 1961, being 95 years, 7 months and 21 days old.
He was married to Slllar Reynolds in October 1889, who preceeded him in death 17 years, at the age of 72.
To this union was born 8 children, 4 of whom preceeded him in death: Delia Street, Mary Belle Wright, Morgan and Willie. Those now living are Dr. Millard Collier, Kermit, W.Va.; Liza Jones, Neon; Elsie Oaks, Birmingham, Ala.; and Allie Craft of Neon.
He was a member of the Christian Church about 30 years. He had attended the Regular Baptist Church in earlier years.
He was a merchant by trade, having a store and hotel where Craft's Funeral Home now stands.
He also dealt in real estate, had acted as Police Judge in Neon, and had served as magistrate for two terms in Letcher County.
Uncle Wib, as he was lovingly called, was well loved by all who knew him.
Our loss is Heaven's gain.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After Wib and Sillar were married, Sillar's uncle, Dan Baker, loaned Wib the money to start a country store at Blackey, KY, a few miles from Neon. He had the first post office and telephone exchange there. He was Deputy Sheriff for four years, and in that period arrested Bad John Wright, who was thought to have killed several men.
Their entertainment at that time was attending the Regular Baptist Church. They would meet every Sunday. The men would come early to trade and sell horses, box and tell big stories. In one of Wib's deals, he bought a horse that wouldn't work, so he planned to sell it back to the same man that had cheated him. He bought Sillar a red velvet saddle, put it on the horse, and Sillar rode it to church that Sunday. Sure enough, Wib sold it back to the same man and for more money. He got a kick out of that.
When Wib and Sillar moved to Neon, they built a hotel and store. This was about the same time several coal companies were building their camps. Elkhorn Coal Company was in Fleming, about a half mile from Neon. They bought all their supplies and lumber from Wib. He was in the logging business. Every spring they would dam up the Kentucky River, fill it with logs, and float them all the way to Frankfort, KY.
In later years he bought the west part of Neon which was named Collier Addition. He sold real estate. For many years he was police judge. He was so well liked and trusted by his neighbors that often times they would come to him to settle their disputes, and they would abide by his decision. He was very fair. He always carried a dollar in change because he said he never knew when someone might need change for a dollar. ["Appalachia Crossroads: The Caudill Family" by Clayton R. Cox (Pg. 2282); originally written by Allie Mae (Collier) Craft.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The obituary of Wilburn B. Collier as published in the February 2, 1961, issue of The Mountain Eagle:
'Wib' Collier succumbs at 95
Wilburn B. Collier was born June 2, 1865 at Paintsville, departed this life January 23, 1961, being 95 years, 7 months and 21 days old.
He was married to Slllar Reynolds in October 1889, who preceeded him in death 17 years, at the age of 72.
To this union was born 8 children, 4 of whom preceeded him in death: Delia Street, Mary Belle Wright, Morgan and Willie. Those now living are Dr. Millard Collier, Kermit, W.Va.; Liza Jones, Neon; Elsie Oaks, Birmingham, Ala.; and Allie Craft of Neon.
He was a member of the Christian Church about 30 years. He had attended the Regular Baptist Church in earlier years.
He was a merchant by trade, having a store and hotel where Craft's Funeral Home now stands.
He also dealt in real estate, had acted as Police Judge in Neon, and had served as magistrate for two terms in Letcher County.
Uncle Wib, as he was lovingly called, was well loved by all who knew him.
Our loss is Heaven's gain.
At age 87, "Uncle Wib" walked without a cane and he often trekked up the hill to his daughter, Liza's home with a bag of groceries or other items. His son, Dr. Millard of Kermit, WV, followed the practice of presenting his father on his birthday a dollar for each year of his father's age. When he handed over $87.00 to his father, he said affectionately "if you keep going there is going to be one broke Doc in Kermit in a few years". "Uncle Wib" was born in the year of the surrender, 1865. His family moved to Goose Creek in Letcher County, KY, when he was a baby. Wib followed in his father's footsteps as Postmaster of Baker, KY, and as a merchant until his retirement at age 70. ["Appalachia Crossroads: The Caudill Family" by Clayton R. Cox (Pg. 848)]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After Wib and Sillar were married, Sillar's uncle, Dan Baker, loaned Wib the money to start a country store at Blackey, KY, a few miles from Neon. He had the first post office and telephone exchange there. He was Deputy Sheriff for four years, and in that period arrested Bad John Wright, who was thought to have killed several men.
Their entertainment at that time was attending the Regular Baptist Church. They would meet every Sunday. The men would come early to trade and sell horses, box and tell big stories. In one of Wib's deals, he bought a horse that wouldn't work, so he planned to sell it back to the same man that had cheated him. He bought Sillar a red velvet saddle, put it on the horse, and Sillar rode it to church that Sunday. Sure enough, Wib sold it back to the same man and for more money. He got a kick out of that.
When Wib and Sillar moved to Neon, they built a hotel and store. This was about the same time several coal companies were building their camps. Elkhorn Coal Company was in Fleming, about a half mile from Neon. They bought all their supplies and lumber from Wib. He was in the logging business. Every spring they would dam up the Kentucky River, fill it with logs, and float them all the way to Frankfort, KY.
In later years he bought the west part of Neon which was named Collier Addition. He sold real estate. For many years he was police judge. He was so well liked and trusted by his neighbors that often times they would come to him to settle their disputes, and they would abide by his decision. He was very fair. He always carried a dollar in change because he said he never knew when someone might need change for a dollar. ["Appalachia Crossroads: The Caudill Family" by Clayton R. Cox (Pg. 2282); originally written by Allie Mae (Collier) Craft.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The obituary of Wilburn B. Collier as published in the February 2, 1961, issue of The Mountain Eagle:
'Wib' Collier succumbs at 95
Wilburn B. Collier was born June 2, 1865 at Paintsville, departed this life January 23, 1961, being 95 years, 7 months and 21 days old.
He was married to Slllar Reynolds in October 1889, who preceeded him in death 17 years, at the age of 72.
To this union was born 8 children, 4 of whom preceeded him in death: Delia Street, Mary Belle Wright, Morgan and Willie. Those now living are Dr. Millard Collier, Kermit, W.Va.; Liza Jones, Neon; Elsie Oaks, Birmingham, Ala.; and Allie Craft of Neon.
He was a member of the Christian Church about 30 years. He had attended the Regular Baptist Church in earlier years.
He was a merchant by trade, having a store and hotel where Craft's Funeral Home now stands.
He also dealt in real estate, had acted as Police Judge in Neon, and had served as magistrate for two terms in Letcher County.
Uncle Wib, as he was lovingly called, was well loved by all who knew him.
Our loss is Heaven's gain.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After Wib and Sillar were married, Sillar's uncle, Dan Baker, loaned Wib the money to start a country store at Blackey, KY, a few miles from Neon. He had the first post office and telephone exchange there. He was Deputy Sheriff for four years, and in that period arrested Bad John Wright, who was thought to have killed several men.
Their entertainment at that time was attending the Regular Baptist Church. They would meet every Sunday. The men would come early to trade and sell horses, box and tell big stories. In one of Wib's deals, he bought a horse that wouldn't work, so he planned to sell it back to the same man that had cheated him. He bought Sillar a red velvet saddle, put it on the horse, and Sillar rode it to church that Sunday. Sure enough, Wib sold it back to the same man and for more money. He got a kick out of that.
When Wib and Sillar moved to Neon, they built a hotel and store. This was about the same time several coal companies were building their camps. Elkhorn Coal Company was in Fleming, about a half mile from Neon. They bought all their supplies and lumber from Wib. He was in the logging business. Every spring they would dam up the Kentucky River, fill it with logs, and float them all the way to Frankfort, KY.
In later years he bought the west part of Neon which was named Collier Addition. He sold real estate. For many years he was police judge. He was so well liked and trusted by his neighbors that often times they would come to him to settle their disputes, and they would abide by his decision. He was very fair. He always carried a dollar in change because he said he never knew when someone might need change for a dollar. ["Appalachia Crossroads: The Caudill Family" by Clayton R. Cox (Pg. 2282); originally written by Allie Mae (Collier) Craft.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The obituary of Wilburn B. Collier as published in the February 2, 1961, issue of The Mountain Eagle:
'Wib' Collier succumbs at 95
Wilburn B. Collier was born June 2, 1865 at Paintsville, departed this life January 23, 1961, being 95 years, 7 months and 21 days old.
He was married to Slllar Reynolds in October 1889, who preceeded him in death 17 years, at the age of 72.
To this union was born 8 children, 4 of whom preceeded him in death: Delia Street, Mary Belle Wright, Morgan and Willie. Those now living are Dr. Millard Collier, Kermit, W.Va.; Liza Jones, Neon; Elsie Oaks, Birmingham, Ala.; and Allie Craft of Neon.
He was a member of the Christian Church about 30 years. He had attended the Regular Baptist Church in earlier years.
He was a merchant by trade, having a store and hotel where Craft's Funeral Home now stands.
He also dealt in real estate, had acted as Police Judge in Neon, and had served as magistrate for two terms in Letcher County.
Uncle Wib, as he was lovingly called, was well loved by all who knew him.
Our loss is Heaven's gain.
Inscription
HOPE
W. B. COLLIER
JUNE 2 1865
JAN. 23 1961
-----
A GOOD FATHER
IS GONE
HUSBAND OF
SILLAR REYNOLDS
COLLIER
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