The John L. Caveness Family

Facts by Jean Thompson Petri and Others

The Caveness clan became established in Texas when John L. Caveness (1812-1892) arrived here in the late 1860s from Mississippi, bringing with him his wife, Martha Jane, and a son, W. A. Caveness.

W. A. Caveness fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War and was held prisoner at Gettysburg for a number of months. He desired a career in medicine; so after completing his war service and being released, he attended medical school in Nashville, Tenn., receiving his doctor's degree in 1867. Coming directly to Jacksonville to set up a practice, he followed the pattern of medical men of his day, going to his patients and traveling by buggy or on horseback to help those who needed him.

Dr. Caveness' wife was Alice Ann (Phelps) (1845-1914), and they had seven children, including Bolin, Albert, Edd, John, Phelps, Lou and Jeanett. Many of their descendants live in and around Jacksonville. The doctor died in 1914, and on the afternoon of the same day, his wife died. They were buried together in Meador Cemetery, where J. L. Caveness and his wife also are buried.

John L. Caveness (1875-1953) one of Dr. Caveness' sons, married Martha Jane (Jennie) Haws (1880-1964), daughter of a Jacksonville pioneer family. They had seven children: Dewey (deceased) married Lula Belle (Hooper), who is a nurse, and they had seven children; Eula married Lewis Thompson and their only child is Billie Jean (Mrs. Johnny Mack Petri). Mr. Thompson was a farmer and Mrs. Thompson an LVN nurse. The Petris have four children, Patti, Terri, Lewis and Carl. Their home is on the farm which belonged to John L. Caveness and Martha Jane (The two John L. Cavenesses who were two generations apart both married a Martha Jane). This land has now been in the family for more than 100 years.

The other John L. Caveness children are Margarite, who married Herschel Goodson (deceased), and she is an LVN nurse; Johnnie married George Barber (deceased); Esther married Eddie Brightwell. Eula, Margarite, Johnnie and Esther all are lifelong residents of Jacksonville. Buster married Ruth Magruder and they live in Huntsville, and have two children; Cordie, the youngest, married Luther Lewis and they live in Paris, Texas, with their two daughters.

John L. Caveness was well known as a farmer and rancher. He was particularly known for growing ribbon cane and making syrup, which became an East Texas delicacy. He wore a large white hat, was affable and had a hearty handshake. Many looked forward to a brisk, frosty Autumn weekend, when it was syrup-making time, to visit the Caveness farm and partake of the sweet juices, fill their jugs with newly-made syrup and watch the syrup mill work with "one-horse power."

Dr. W. A. Caveness and wife, Alice Ann.

John L. Caveness and wife. Martha Jane, in their wedding picture.