In 1867, Stephen A. Caudle, Jr. began the Caudle sawmill, store, gun and blacksmith shops, gin, and grist mill a half-mile southwest of the present Guin town center. He served as postmaster of the U.S. Caudle post office at this mill from 1883 until 1888, and it was the original nucleus of the present town. In 1888, the post office was moved to the new railway depot, Guin, named for the land donor, Dr. Jeremiah Guin. Stephen A. Caudle, Jr. is buried in a family cemetery on the hilltop west of the mill site.