86 yo h/o Dora Caudle,died from kidney disease per death cert.
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Son of William and Nancy (Brown) Caudle.
Little is known about Amos's early life in North Carolina. He was born in Surry County and most likely lived in the same house until he married and left home although he is listed in Yadkin county with his parents in 1860 census. Since Yadkin was formed from Surry in 1852 it is reasonable to assume that he residence did not change.

He married Mary Catherine "Mollie" Hair 23 Aug 1861 in Yadkin County. Their first 4 children were born in North Carolina, the 5th William, was born in Apr 1870 in Missouri. In the 1880 Amos and Mollie are listed in the Wright County, Missouri census. Sarah and Martha are not with the family then so had to probably married by then.

Amos farmed north of Norwood, Wright, Missouri until his death in 1929. In 1903 his wife Mollie died. She was survived by 12 of her 13 children. A picture of his family exists. It was most likely taken some time after her death as Amos is sitting with an empty chair to his left in the photo. Also in the photo is a young man named Roy. Ruby Moody Knickerbocker, daughter of Lizzie Caudle Moody, says she heard that one day while Amos was out in his garden a young woman came by on horse back with a 2 year old boy behind her. " I hear you been wanting a boy" she said to Amos." He said he had a bunch of girls and would certainly like a boy, so she gave him the boy, and he was too kind to turn her down. In 1900 the boy is listed as Roy Etheridge age 5 and in the 1910 the listing says Caudle, Caudle age 15 hired man.

Ruby Moody Knickerbocker remembers "Amos Caudle was well thought of. During the Civil War made home brew to help dying soldiers with frozen feet, etc. Hard worker-worked when he was quite old by sitting in an old woven caned chair. Had large home-fenced with wrought iron fence-all white weather boards house, big ice house so they could have ice all summer. Catfish pond-great orchard many acres. Gave all boys 40 acres of land when they got married - Girls (who were all beautiful) a fresh cow and calf. Furniture was beautiful most marble top. Music was in family-singers. For the large family he went to town and bought whole bolts of cloth. "

Amos's grandson Marshal relates that his Grandfather liked "egg pie" as he called custard pie (also a big favorite of our Dad's one of his Great Grandsons). Lum's wife Ella would make them and send the boys, Marshal and his brother, down the road to Amos place about 3/4 mile with a pie wrapped in a towel and still warm. "He would take a fork and start in the middle of the pie, with out even cutting the pie, and eat it that way and when he was finished there would only be the outer crust left". He also would sit in the apple orchard and run school children off because they would pick his apples by the bag and carry them off.

When Amos died one of his close friends wrote: "Amos Caudle was born in Yadkin County, North Carolina, November 15, 1842. There he grew to manhood, and in 1860 was united in marriage to Mary "Molly" Hair. To this union were born thirteen children, four of whom preceded him in death. In 1869 he moved to Johnson County, Missouri. In 1871 he bought the old home place and moved his family to Wright County, residing on this farm until his death. At the time he came here there were only a few settlers and these lived in crude log cabins with just a few acres of ground cleared around each cabin. About forty years of age he united with the Missionary Baptist Church and was ordained to preach by this church, being engaged in the ministry for twenty-five years. He built the church that bears his name with his own money and a school. He was active in the development of the community and lived to see great progress in all lines.

His first wife departed this life in 1903, and in 1904 he was united in marriage to Dora Yandle. To this union also thirteen children were born, two having died in infancy.

He died October 21, 1929 at the age of 89 years, 11 months, and 9 days after an illness of about 3 weeks. He was buried in the family cemetery at the Caudle Baptist Church, and by his own request no funeral was held, only a life sketch being read by a friend after which his body was quietly consigned to the silent tomb.

He leaves a wife, 20 children, 59 grandchildren, 91 great-grandchildren 5 great-great-grandchildren".
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Amos is my Paternal Great Great Grandfather.

By; W. Loy Frisk Simmons
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