Amos Reed Clifton
Amos Reed Clifton, son of Thomas Clifton and Lucy Dalton, was born 27 Sep 1891 and died 31 Jul 1974 in Patrick Co, VA. He married Anna Lee Cruise 01 Feb 1912 in Patrick Co, Va. She was born 04 July 1895 in Patrick Co, Va and died 02 May 1984 in Patrick Co, Va.
Children of Anna Cruise and Amos Clifton are:
i. Nellie Clifton, died 28 Apr 1996 in Greensboro, NC.
ii. Minnie Clifton.
iii. Dora Clifton.
iv. Reva Clifton.
v. Elma Clifton.
vi. Bertha Clifton.
vii. Clarice Clifton.
viii. Lucy Clifton.
ix. Cora Clifton.
x. Thomas Clifton.
This photo was in Fred Clifton's photo album.
I believe this may be Amos Reed Clifton -
Photo from Lorna Clifton Souza.
Reed Clifton and Beatrice Clifton - From Linda Page
Fred Clifton wrote this story for Amos Reed Clifton's children when he died. This copy was sent to Nell Thompson, who sent it to me.
Story by Fred Clifton
Brief Sketch of Fond Meomories of My Boyhood Days With A Beloved Friend and Cousin -
Amos R. Clifton
I was fortunate to be reared one mile from the home of the kind and talented Thomas L. Clifton. His father William Barton Clifton was a master craftsman. His occupation was making Mussle Loading, Cap & Ball Mountain Rifles, that were so highly prized by hunters in that day. During the Civil War, he make and repaired guns in the Army. He always cut the initials W.B.C. in the barrel of his rifles. The rifles that exist today bearing that mark are very valuable antiques sought by collectors. I am told that the price, for one in perfect condition, ranges from $700.00 upward.
I am the grandson of Andrew Clifton, a brother of William Barton Clifton. However, from boyhood days, I learned to admire Thos. L. Clifton so dearly that I have always called him Uncle Tommy -
Tom Clifton's children - Grogan, Edd, Amos, Tecora and Viola were my close friends and schoolmated. Amos was a cherished playmate.
Uncle Tommy Clifton was a skilled workman - Blacksmith, Carpenter, Cabinetmaker and Millright. As a lad, I often shouldered 1/2 bushel of corn and down the path through the mountain laurel and rhododendron along the creek to Uncle Tommy's Mill. If the weather was warm, Amos and I would chase the original, native, pink sided, red speckled mountain trout up and down the creek, while Uncle Tommy ground my corn. In cold weather, I would find Grogan, Edd, and Amos eating chestnuts or cracking walnuts and sometimes popping corn by the little iron woodstove in the corner of the Millhouse. I would join them and we would eat our fill, then heat the poker in the fire and burn our initials in the old oak boards of the wall. Sometimes we would show off our talent as an artist by using the redhot poker to draw rabbits, birds etc.
I recall that one summer day, I was helping mother in the garden. When all of a sudden, my attention was attracted by an unusual whisting sound coming from the direction of Uncle Tommy's home. It was really trying for me to help finish the garden work before mother would let me go see what it was --- "JUST WHISTLING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY." ---
I will never forget the amazement and thrill of climbing over the old rail fence near the creek and there it was right in the cow pasture. In my estimation the product of an ingenious inventor and a brilliant mechanic. There he was with the sweat on his brow, sut and mud on his precious skilled hands, chucking dry bark and wood into the rock pile on whick it was sitting. The fire was lapping the bottom of it and jets of steam escaping in various places around both the bottom of it and the head. When I caught my breath enought from the long run I had made to get there, and the smoke and steam cleared enough, sure enough there it was, a two foot section of a big blackgum log with a wooden heading and a sheetiron bottom. Both the bottom and the head was well chinked with rags. The rock pile on whick it rested and which served as the forebox, was dobbed with mud. A 10 inch piece of elder, with the pith pushed out, served as "The Whistle". One end inserted in a hole in the head. Well, it all paid off--- For when he pulle the string that WHISTLE really whistled, ---OH---BOY-- No wonder my bristles raised when I heard that whistle a mile away. What an inventor, and what a thrill. The proud inventor was delighted to see me and so glad that I came that he let me pull the string.
Amos was, also, skilled in making rabbit gums and catching rabbits. Uncle Tommy's children traveled the pathway by our home to our little one-room school. Amos had rabbit traps, in desireable places along this route and I would go along and watch him get the rabbits out. This made him richer than the boys who did not have rabbit traps. For when he caught one he could get .10 cents a piece for a rabbits at the store.
The memory of the whole family is dear to me. Even after I married and lived near Uncle Tommy, I still went to his shop to get a Mattock sharpened or an axe handle replaced. For such jobs, he charged 15 cents.
I have never forgotten the good cornmeal that he so carefully ground.
I have in my memory collection, a picture of the big yoke of horned oxen that Uncle Tommy owned, pulling a wagon. They were driven by Edd with Amos seated by him.
This narrative a true story from personal parcipitations and observations. -------
By -- Fred Clifton, a cousin
The Enterprise, Stuart VA - Wednesday, 9 May 1984
Mrs. Anna Cruise Clifton, 88, of Rt. 1, Stuart, died Wednesday at her home.
She was a native of Patrick Co., daughter of the late Frank and Rozina Rakes Cruise.
Surviving are nine daughters, Miss Nellie Clifton of Greensboro, NC; Mrs. Minnie Mitchell of Summerfield, NC; Mrs. Dora Hawkins of Sandy Ridge, NC; Mrs. Reva Key of Gibsonville, NC; Mrs. Elma Hazelwood and Mrs. Clarice Dempsey of Martinsville, and Mrs. Bertha Blackard, Mrs.
Lucy Nowlin and Mrs. Cora Hazelwood, all of Stuart; one son, Thomas Clifton of Randleman NC; two brothers, Levi Cruise of Vesta and Bergin Cruise of Hillsville; 31 grand-children; 51 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Moody Funeral Home at Stuart. Elders Donnie Conner and Rupert Turner officiated. Burial followed in Patrick Memorial Gardens.
Amos Reed Clifton WWII Draft Card