His death certificate records Thomas Litrel Caudel, age 76 years 5 months 13 days, born 12 Feb 1857 in Va, died 25 July 1933 at Good Samaritan Hospital, Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky, residence Frenchburg, Ky, married, husband of Mrs. Lousanne Caudel, occupation retired farmer & lawyer, father Thomas Caudel born in Va, mother’s maiden name don’t know, cause of death carcinoma of bladder, informant Kerney Caudel, Frenchburg, Ky.

His obituary reported:

“Judge Thomas L. Caudell, 76 years old, of Frenchburg, former county judge of Menifee county, died at the Good Samaritan hospital Tuesday night at 9:45 o’clock following an operation performed at the hospital last Thursday shortly after he was admitted to the hospital.

Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Louis Ann Caudell; three sons, Shelby Caudell, Umatilla, Fla., Kearney Caudell, of Frenchburg, and J. Sidney Caudell, of Owingsville, and three daughters, Mrs. D. C. Blackburn, of Umatilla; Mrs. David Cline, of Paris, and Mrs. Imogene Cornwell, of Menifee county.

The body was brought to the Mitchell Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling and prepared for burial and was removed to his home in Frenchburg, where funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Davis of Ezell, and the burial followed in the family graveyard, with services at the grave by the Masonic Order, of which organization Judge Caudell has been a member for many years.

The death of Judge Caudell causes intense regret. He had served as County Judge and County Attorney of Menifee county and made a record of which his family and his friends are very proud. A quiet, unostentatious man has gone to his reward. Judge Caudell was a dignified, cultured Christian gentleman, and never acted on any question without first seeking Divine guidance. He was a firm believer in the old-fashioned Gospel, and never wavered in that belief. He lived a good life and set an example before his children and the world that is worth emulating. He believed in no sham and shunned hypocrisy and numbered his friends by his acquaintances because of his spotless life and high character. Widely known as a lawyer, Judge Caudell commanded a good practice and was an honor to his profession. No better citizen ever lived and his passing is a distinct loss to Menifee county, to the bar and to the State. He “fought the good fight and kept the faith” and sleeps in the soil he loved awaiting that day when the Shades of Eternity Roll for the last time in the Land of Pure Delight.”

Her death certificate records Mrs. Louise Ann Caudel, age 86 years 1 month 4 days, born 24 July 1859 in Frenchburg, Ky, died 30 Aug 1945 at Jane Cook Hospital, Frenchburg, Menifee Co., Ky, widow of T. L. Caudel, father Shelby Kash, born in Morgan Co., Kentucky, mother’s maiden name Nancy Ann McCormick, born in Nicholas Co., Ky, cause of death cardiac failure, informant Kearney Caudel, Frenchburg, Ky, burial in Greenwade graveyard.

The reported date of birth is off by one year; she does not appear with the family in the 1860 census.

1880 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Frenchburg precinct, enumerated 4 June, lists on p. 14 as family #110/124:
Kash, Shelby, 54, farmer; Nancy A., 50, wife; Samuel, 21, son, married; Louisa, 18, dau, married; Lucinda, 16, dau; Lizzie, 13, dau; Reice, 8, son; Eda, 6, dau. Caudle, Thomas, 21, son-in-law, b. Va Va Va; Shelby, 9/12, b. Sep, grandson, b. Ky Va Ky. All except the two Caudles born Ky Ky Ky.

Thomas is Louisa’s husband, so she should be recorded as a Caudle rather than a Kash.

1900 census of Menifee Co., Ky, district 1, Frenchburg precinct, enumerated 12 June, lists on p. 14B as family #247/248:
Caudle, Thomas, 41, b. Feb 1859, Va Va Va, farmer; Loisana, wife, (39 corrected to 38), b. July 1861, Ky Ky Ky, married 21 years, mother of 5 children, 5 living; Shelvy, son, 20, b. Sep 1879; Maud, dau, 16, b. July 1884; Inas, dau, (14 corrected to 12), b. Sep 1887; Carney H., dau, 12, b. July 1887; Sidney, dau, (2 corrected to 1), b. June 1898. All children born Ky Va Ky.

Several of the ages originally entered were inconsistent with the birth dates, and were later adjusted to match the dates, but I suspect in most cases it is the age that was more accurate and the date should have been changed instead. E.g., Louisiana was recorded in the 1860 census as age 2 months, so she cannot have been born in July of 1861. And they cannot have had two daughters born in July and September of 1887.

1910 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Frenchburg precinct, enumerated 15 April, lists on p. 1B as family #18:
Caudel, Thomas L., 50, second marriage, b. Va Ky Va, lawyer in general practice; Louisa A., wife, 49, b. Ky Ky Ky, first marriage, married 30 years, mother of 9 children, 9 living; Inez, dau, 23; Carnie, son, 21; Sidney, son, 12. All children born Ky Va Ky.

The number of children count for Louisa must be a mishearing of five.

1920 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Frenchburg precinct, enumerated 8 Jan, lists on p. 14A as family #25:
Caudel, Thos L., 61, b. Va NC NC, lawyer in general practice; Lousianne, wife, 59, b. Ky Ky Ky; Inez, dau, 33, single, b. Ky Va Ky; Sidney, son, 22, single, b. Ky Va Ky.

Their son Kearney is listed three households below with his wife Etta. The preceding household is headed by John M. Kash, son of Louisiana’s oldest brother Miles.

1930 census of Menifee Co., Ky, Frenchburg precinct, enumerated 7 April, lists on p. 2B as family #35:
Caudel, Thomas L., 72, age at first marriage 21, b. Va NC NC, lawyer in general practice; Lousan, wife, 69, age at first marriage 18, b. Ky Ky Ky.

The preceding household is headed by their son Kearney.