Rebecca Caudill Birthplace: Harlan Co. , KY USA Author Biography Rebecca Caudill was born in Harlan County, Kentucky on February 2, 1899. She died in 1985. Both of her parents were teachers. Caudill graduated from Wesleyan College and received a Master's Degree from Vanderbilt University. She worked as a history and English teacher, including teaching school in Brazil. The author and her husband, James Ayars, had two children, James Jr. and Becky Jean. Caudill is best known for her novels, often set in the hill country of Kentucky and Tennessee. "Tree of Freedom" was a Newbery Honor Book in 1950. The state children's choice list of Illinois is named after the author. Updating Results ...No matching titles were found. Loading...