Henry Caviness (1813 - 1887)

Born Dec 1813 in Chatham, North Carolina, United States

Husband of Nancy (Roberts) Caviness — married 1837 in Benton, Arkansas

Descendants

Died 4 May 1887 at age 73 in Mancos, Montezuma, Colorado, United States

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Biography

Henry was born Dec 1813 in Chatham, North Carolina. He was the second child of George Cavness and Fersibly "Phoebe" Jerdan James. Phoebe was George's second wife. Henry also had two half-brothers from his father's first marriage. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

In the 1830s Henry moved with several brothers to northwestern Arkansas outside of Bentonville, Arkansas (present-day Pea Ridge, AR). The three brothers each "homesteaded" land just west of the future site of Civil War battle, Battle of Pea Ridge. By the 1850 Census, the three brothers that had migrated into Benton County, Arkansas were: Edmund, Mathew, and Jeremiah. When brother Robert Caviness was old enough he migrated to Fayateville, Arkansas. George's eldest son, William, and his youngest son, James, stayed in North Carolina. ^{[2] [7]}

The land they settled in Arkansas was virgin forest. They had to clear and build the farm. In time, they perfected their land grants and took title to their farms. ^[7]

Around 1837, Henry (aged 24) married Nancy Roberts (aged 13). This marriage date is imputed from the birth date of their oldest child born in 1838.

Henry and Nancy had seven children in Arkansas. Then around 1855 Henry (aged 40) and brother Edmund moved their families down to San Saba county, Texas. San Saba was mostly populated by the Comanche. They would be building new ranches from scratch again. In her later years, Nancy recalled defending their ranch against Comanche attacks on numerous occasions. ^[8]

Many accounts depict Henry as a consummate horseman. In Nancy's recollections, Henry owned a prized race horse named "Billy Caviness". Henry's horse and oldest child had the same name. The horse was coveted by the Comanche and they attempted to steal the horse on several occasions. Nancy described how she defended the cabin while Henry was constantly in the saddle protecting their stock. Once, Henry gave chase to a band of native Americans that had stolen some cattle. As he caught up with them, they were joined by another group of native Americans. He turned back to run, his horse outrunning their arrows. The horse leapt a 25 foot wide arroyo allowing their escape, but Billy Caviness (the horse) was injured and had to be put down. Indians shooting across the arroyo, shot Henry with 4 arrows. Two, he pulled clean through. Nancy says he never really fully recovered from this injury. In her telling, she also clearly admired the horse. His children carried on with the same avocation and horsemanship. They went on and later raced horses in the streets of Colorado towns for prize money. ^[8]

With the end of the Civil War and expansion of the railroad, cattle ranching Texas became big business. Henry prospered, but longed for the frontier. His family left Texas in 1868 for New Mexico and shortly thereafter, Huerfano county, Colorado. Henry was 54 by this time.

The 1870 Census shows Henry settled in southwest Colorado. His daughter Nancy remained in Texas with her husband, George Kemp. Eldest son, William, stayed in New Mexico with his wife Telitha Williams. Daughter Saphronia ("Sophie") stayed in New Mexico with her husband, Johannes Gerhardt. Henry and Nancy's other nine children went to Colorado. In Colorado, Henry and Nancy had one more child. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Henry, Nancy, and their children built a beautiful home on their property southeast of Mancos, Colorado. It was along the road between Mancos and Durango, Colorado. It was known as Thompson Park in the newspapers of the day and was considered a handsome home. It was there that Henry passed away 4 May 1887 at age 73. He left his wife Nancy (age 62) and two minor children at home. Henry outlived 5 of his 13 children. ^[9]

Analysis of 1840 Census for Caviness, Henry

In the 1840 Census, Henry Caviness' household included 4 free white persons and no slaves. 1 Male Aged 20-29 (Henry himself, age 27), 1 Female Aged 15-19 (Henry's wife, Nancy, age 15), 1 Male Aged Under 5 (Son William, age 2), 1 Female Aged Under 5 (Daughter Nancy, age 1). This implies his wife, Nancy's birth year as 1824/5. ^[1]

Henry Caviness Probate

NOTICE OF HEARING OF PETITION

Notice is hereby given. That the above named petitioners have filed in the District Court aforesaid: their above mentioned petition, alleging that Henry Caviness, a resident of that part of La Plata County, Colorado, now Montezuma County, died May 5th, 1887, intestate as to his real estate, and being the owner of the South Half of the North East Quarter and the North Half of the South East Quarter of Section 28, Township 36 North of Range 13 West N.M.P.M., together with a half interest in the Lee Irrigation Ditch taking water from the Rio Mancos; except that part of said North half of South East Quarter beginning at the south-west corner thereof, and running thence north 300 feet, thence east 150 feet, thence south 300 feet, thence west 150 feet; situate in said La Plata County, Colorado. In that part thereof now Montezuma County: that said water right was thereafter. at the 1893. term of said District Court adjudicated as Priority No. 12. In the amount of 1 ½ cubic feet per second, and Priority No. 34. in the amount of ½ cubic foot per second; that said Henry Caviness left surviving him as his only heirs at law, said Nancy Caviness, his widow, and Joseph F. Caviness, Edward Caviness, Ellen Ritter, now Ellen Burnett, Matthew Caviness, Robert Caviness, James M. Caviness, John Caviness, Sophronia Gerhardt, Rebecca Drew, and Alice Hoffman, his children by his wife, said Nancy Caviness; that on March 16, 1894, said Nancy Caviness, then a resident of said Montezuma County, died intestate, and being the owner of an undivided half-interest in said real estate and leaving her surviving said children as her only heirs at law; that the estates of said Henry Caviness and Nancy Caviness were duly administered upon and settled, but that the descent of the real estate of neither said Henry Caviness nor Nancy Caviness was determined in the said administration proceedings, or otherwise; that said children, as such heirs at law, conveyed all their right, title and interest in said real estate to said Joseph F. Caviness, and that said petitioners are now the owners of all of said real estate in the certain respective parcels thereof as more fully described in said petition: that said Robert Caviness, James M. Caviness and John Cavness died after so conveying their said interests in said real estate to said Joseph F. Caviness; and that the names of the heirs of said Henry Caviness and Nancy Caviness so far as the names are known or can by due diligence be ascertained , are as follows: Joseph f. Caviness, Ellen Burnett, Margaret Caviness, widow of said John Caviness, Edward, Matthew Caviness, Rebecca Drew, Sophronia Gerhardt, Alice Hoffman, Elizabeth Caviness widow, and Roy Caviness, , Eva C. Brittain, and Jessie Caviness, children, and Hazel Menefee, grand-daughter, of said James M. Caviness, and that said Eva C. Brittain as guardian of said Hazel Menefee: that said petiontioners pray in said petition the findings and decree of the Court, that the heirs of said Henry Caviness and of said Nancy Caviness at the respective date of their decease were, and now are as above in red, said that said petitioners are now the owners of all of said real estate in the several respective parcels thereof as set forth in said petition. That the time for the hearing of said petition has been fixed for October 15, A.D. 1919, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, at the District Court Room in the County Court House of said Montezuma County, at Cortez, Colorado; and that at or before the time so fixed for said hearing, any person interested in the subject matter of said petition may appear and answer said petition and set up any proper defense to the same or any part thereof, or intervene to assert or protect any interest he may have.

Witness, J.M. Brumley, Clerk of said District, and the seal of said District Court, at Cortez, Colorado, this 28th of August A.D. 1919. ^[9]

Sons of Henry Caviness

Three of Henry's sons were murderers: William (1838-1877) (murdered by a mob after running a murderous gang), Robert (1854-1898) (who shot an unarmed man), and Edward (1870-1921) (in a jealous rage shot a man in a saloon).

His other sons were successful merchants, ranchers, miners, loggers all over the western United States.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1840 United States Federal Census; Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Family History Library Film: 0002474; Census Place: Bentonville, Benton, Arkansas; Roll: 17; Page: 3; Line 19. Household of Henry Caviness. (Ancestry $) (Family Search)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1850 United States Federal Census, Population Schedules. National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls. Washington, D.C., ; Census Place: Osage, Benton, Arkansas; Roll: M432_25; Page: 75B; Image: 150; Line 13. (Ancestry $) (Family Search)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1860 United States Federal Census, Population Schedules. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C., ; Family History Library Film: 805304; Census Place: San Saba, Texas; Roll: M653_1304; Page: 4; Line 1. (Ancestry $) (Family Search)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} 1870 United States Federal Census, Population Schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C., ; Family History Library Film: 552394; Census Place: Huerfano River and Tributaries, Huerfano, Colorado Territory; Roll: M593_895; Page: 10; Line 19. (Ancestry $) (Family Search)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1880 United States Federal Census, Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Roll: 36; Census Place: Dos Rio La Plata, La Plata, Colorado; ED: 065; Page: 5 (570C); Line 32. (Ancestry $) (Family Search)
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50995433/henry-caviness: accessed 20 November 2022), memorial page for Henry Caviness (Dec 1813–4 May 1887), Find a Grave Memorial ID 50995433, citing Cedar Grove Cemetery, Mancos, Montezuma County, Colorado, USA; Maintained by Connie WEEAKS Pace (contributor 46984521) .
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Land Grant - Caviness, Henry. United States Department of the Interior. Bureau of Land Management. Accession Number AR0950.433. Issued 01 May 1845. General Land Office Records. (BLM GLO)
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Mancos Times Newspaper (Mancos, Montezuma (formerly La Plata) Co., 23 Mar 1894. Page 4, Column 2. (Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection) (Last accessed 4 Nov 2022).
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Mancos Times-Tribune (Mancos, Montezuma County, Colorado). 19 Sep 1919. Page 4, Column 4. (Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection)