Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, December 6, l900

CAROLINE KNAPP was born in Gallia County, Ohio, March l2, l823, and died at her home in Garden Grove, Iowa, Monday evening Nov. 26, l900, at 8 o'clock, after an illness of a little over two weeks' duration.

The subject of this sketch moved with her parents from Gallia County, Ohio, to Mason County, West Virginia, when she was about five years old, where she resided until her marriage with GILBERT B. AMOS, April l4, l842. She and her husband continued to reside in Virginia until the fall of l852, when they moved to Iowa, which was then located by the people of Ohio and Virginia as the "far west."

They landed at Keokuk, but soon after located on a farm in Monroe County, upon which they lived until the year l868, when they sold their farm there and purchased one in Wayne County, which they occupied until they moved to Garden Grove, Iowa, in the spring of l877. She resided with her husband, who survives her, until her death.

She was the mother of thirteen children, twelve of whom attained to manhood and womanhood, five of these have preceded her to the land beyond. One of the five - her eldest son - gave his life to his country while in young manhood, dying in the south-land, where he still sleeps with his dead comrades. Of the surviving children, three live in this State and five in Montana.

She joined the Methodist Episcopal Church when she was only fifteen years of age, and ever since lived a zealous, consistent Christian, one who was never known to grow tired working for the Master.

Her life was a useful one, crowded full of kindly deeds. Always thoughtful for others, and ever ready to minister to those in need, she was always the most happy when doing for others; and such was the kindly genial way in which she would go about performing acts of kindness, that she added ten fold to the blessings confered.

Her life was full of years, everyone of which, since her early girlhood, was spent in such a way, that as old age came on she could enjoy the happy reflection consequent upon a well spent life, and thus have the brighter hope of a glorious immortality. She died in this hope feeling that all is well.

"To tell the story of a well-spent life,
The mother true builds her own monument,
But not of bronze, nor yet of marble white,
These are soon gone.
"A richer life is then her monument,
Which through the ages grander will become,
As it more fully breathes His spirit and is spent
To help and bless mankind."

Funeral services conducted by her Pastor, Rev. I.N. Woodward, were held at the M.E. Church Wednesday afternoon, when she was laid to rest in the Garden Grove Cemetery.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
January l4, 2003