Chilela J. "Sky" (Azbill) Cornelius was the daughter of Dr. Overton Terry Azbill (1836-1896) and Elizabeth T. (Becknell) (1839-1913). Her father was a very accomplished man who besides being a medical doctor was said to also, as the need called for, be a dentist and veterinarian. He did carpentry work, was a blacksmith and gunsmith. He was also a minister who preached in many churches of various denominations. He was also involved in politics and knew President Abraham Lincoln. During the Civil War, Lincoln reportedly sent Overton Azbill on a diplomatic mission to England where he carried secret papers sewn in the tail of his long-tailed minister's coat to the British Prime Minister.

Chilela's paternal grandparents were William "Billy" Asbell and Cecil Van Winkle. Billy was a gunsmith. One of Billy's half-sisters, Lydia (Asbell) Bennett, was this writer's great great grandmother. The name Asbell was spelled different ways throughout history, even in the same family. It seems that Overton Azbell and his children preferred this spelling over that of Overton's father's family.

Chilela had the following known siblings:

Nancy Ellen "Nannie" Azbill 1855-1925
Mary Louisa Azbill 1857-1918
Joseph R. Azbill 1858-1914
William D. Azbill 1860-
Charles M. Azbill 1863-
Juann Azbill 1865-
Laura B. Azbill 1868-
Albert H. Azbill 1871-

Chilela grew up in Kentucky. In the June 1880 census, this family was living in Raccoon Precinct of Laurel County, Kentucky.

On April 3, 1884, Chilela married Dr. Preston Cornelius. They had two known children:

Dr. Albert Franklin "Bert" Cornelius 1886-1950
Gracie L. Cornelius 1888-1951

In 1900, this family was living in Berea, Madison County, Kentucky.

- Written by Blytha (Dennis) Ellis, distant cousin. (Our common grandfather was William Asbell (1763-1820); 1 great for Chilela and 3 greats for me.)