Leven Stokes Caffey (1819 - 1885)

Born 4 Dec 1819 in North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Celia (Perry) Caffey — married 24 Dec 1844 in Meigs County, Tennessee

Descendants

Died 1 Feb 1885 at age 65 in Laclede County, Missouri

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Arleen Tackett [send private message]

Biography

Leven Stokes Caffey was born December 4, 1819 to Thomas Caffey and Sarah Stokes Caffey in North Carolina.

Leven Stokes Caffey married Celia Perry on December 24, 1844 and they had twelve children.

Leven or Stokes Caffey as he was sometimes called was among the early pioneers and homesteaders of Laclede County, Missouri. He and his family traveled by wagon through Tennessee into Missouri settling around Phillipsburg in the mid 1850's.

Leven Caffey was born to Thomas and Sarah (Stokes) Caffey on December 4, 1819 in North Carolina. He was 4th in a family of 10 children. He was named for a favorite brother of his mother, Leven Stokes, who also came to Laclede County, Missouri. His father moved to Tennessee in the early 1830's settling in Meigs County. Leven was raised and received schooling in Meigs County, Tennessee and later served as overseer for the roads in the county.

On December 24, 1844, Leven Stokes Caffey married Celia Perry, in Meigs Tennessee, daughter of James Perry and Ruth Perry. Celia Perry Caffey was born June 6, 1829 in Tennessee and died September 28, 1883 in Laclede County, Missouri.

To the union of Leven Stokes Caffey and Celia Perry Caffey were born 12 children, however, only 11 grew into adulthood. Thomas, Ruth and Sarah were born before they came to Missouri. Children Tennessee, Edward, James, Mary Ann, Allen N., Jefferson, Leven, Joseph and Lewis were born in Missouri.

Leven and Celia Caffey were married 38 years until her death in 1883.

In 1857, Leven S. Caffey bought 80 acres in Union Township for $1.00 per acre. In later years he bought more land and farmed throughout his life. He also spent some years as a Justice of the Peace.

During the time of the Civil War, Leven enrolled in Company A, 73rd Regiment, Missouri Militia at Lebanon, Missouri on May 1, 1864. He was 45 years old at the time. Although Leven was in the Union Forces, his father and brother were fighting in the Confederate Army from neighboring Webster County, Missouri.

In the 1880 United States Federal Census, Leven Stokes Caffey was 60 years old living in Union Township in Laclede County, Missouri. Also in the home was his wife, Celia Caffey who was 51 years of age. Also living in the home was Tennessee Caffey, 27; Newton Caffey, 20; Jefferson Caffey, 19; Leven L. Caffey, 17; Joseph W. Caffey, 13; Louis W. Cafey, 11; Sarah Price, 30; Mary E. Price, 10; John T. Price, 8; and Margaret S. Price.

Leven Stokes Caffey and Celia Perry Caffey were Presbyterian in their faith and were charter members of the old Salem Presbyterian Church which has since burned down. They are buried in the secluded old Salem Cemetery grounds, along with a few members of their family.

Celia Perry Caffey passed away on September 28, 1883 in Laclede County, Missouri.

Leven Stokes Caffey passed away on February 1, 1885 in Laclede County, Missouri. When Leven Caffey passed away, he was survived by 10 children and many grandchildren.

According to an article in The History of Laclede County, Missouri written by the Great-Great-Great Granddaughter of Leven and Celia, Mrs. Kay (Caffey) Stephens the following gives more information on the rest of the family:

Edward Caffey, fifth child of Leven and Celia Caffey was born in 1853 in Laclede County, Missouri. He was raised and schooled in the county/ In 1873 he married his brother's widow, Ellen (McAdoo) Caffee and took his niece Emma and nephew Charles to raise as his own. To this union were born 6 more children: Martin, Hattie, Theodore, Maude, Lucy, and Corda. All 6 children grew into adulthood and remained in the Ozark area except Hattie who married and moved to California. Edward was a farmer by trade and farmed around Phillipsburg and Conway until his death in 1898. Ellen Caffey never married, she spent her remaining years living with different children.

Martin Luther Caffey, eldest child of Edward and Ellen Caffey, grandson of Leven Caffey, was born October 14, 1874 in Laclede County, Missouri. He was 24 years old at the time of his father's death. As a young man he became subject to Asthma, thought due to Oak trees in the region. Looking for a more comfortable climate he left after his father's death and moved to Colorado and worked for Colorado Fuel and Iron at Pueblo. He returned to Laclede County, Missouri several times and would stay until his Asthma would get worse. Martin at age 29 married Kate Lowrance, the daughter of another early pioneer, John G. Lowrance. They were married June 17, 1903 and settled down to farming near Phillipsburg, Missouri. To this union were born 6 children, 2 infants who died at birth, a daughter, Lorene who died young of Diptheria, Thomas C., Dorothy and Lawrence E. Caffey.

Martin L. Caffey died in Caney, Kansas May 6, 1962. Kate, his wife, died April 21, 1973.

Leven Stokes Caffey passed away on February 1, 1885 and is buried at the Salem Cemetery east of Conway, Missouri.

Sources

Ancestor files from Dorothy Calton who researched family tree

• Genealogy.com Thomas Caffey 1880 posted by William Maroney

The History of Laclede County, Missouri Copyright 1979 by Lois Roper Beard and Heritage Publishing Company

1880 United States Federal Census