Still was born in Macon County, Missouri, the son of James Still,[1] a medical doctor trained in Chicago, Illinois, and Rahab Saunders Still.

Still University) in Kirksville, which was founded by his uncle, Andrew Taylor Still, the developer of osteopathic medicine in the United States and the president of the school.

He then became an anatomy professor at the Kirksville school and, after his son's accidental gunshot death in 1922, succeeded him as president of the facility, serving two years.

[2] He had a wide range of interests in different branches of science the likes of astronomy, mathematics, archaeology and anthropology.

Still died in Kirksville on November 20, 1931, and his body was brought back to Des Moines the following day for burial at Woodland Cemetery.