This
history furnishes few examples which
illustrate more strikingly, both the possibilities and the achievements
of
success in the new world, than that set forth in the life of Mr. Caven;
he is
essentially a self-made man, and the prototype of "successful men in Texas." Born in Georgia, October
27, 1833, and receiving a good common school education in Russell
county, Alabama, where, in
addition to English, he studied Latin and Greek, Mr. Caven came to
Texas, we
may say, a poor man, with no capital except a good name, a robust
physique, a
strong will and a keen appreciation of the opportunities which would be
afforded for money making in the development of this grand, but, at
that time,
almost unknown country.
At the
age of 24, Mr. Caven immigrated to Texas,
settling near Caddo
Lake, in Harrison
county , in the winter of 1859. Here he engaged in farming, having
purchased
five hundred acres of land, which at that early time, was very cheap.
He was
successful, from the first; and as immigration began to pour in, and
the
country to fill up with sturdy settlers, real estate, of course,
advanced in
value. To his farming interest, Mr. Caven then added buying and selling
real
estate, principally town property, realizing often, a handsome profit.
At one
time, notably, just after the war, and before railroads were extended
into the
interior, the town of Jefferson, in Marion county, being the head of
navigation
on Cypress Bayou—a tributary to Red River—the main artery of commerce leading to the
seashore, became the chief shipping point for a large section of North
and East
Texas, as well as the distributing point for all merchandise shipped to
that
section; hence the headquarters of an immense wagon trade. Mr. Caven
foresaw
that Jefferson
would be rapidly built up, and
that it offered rare opportunities for real estate speculation. He was
not slow
to avail himself of the advantage; but removing at once to that city he
made a
small sum of money by judicious investment. He continued, at the same
time, to
earn-on his farming interest which he enlarged from time to time, until
he
became one of the leading cotton growers in East
Texas.
Anticipating the time when, railroads being projected all over the
country and
pointing to Dallas, that then village, would become a metropolis and
great
railroad center, Mr. Caven purchased town lots and other property
there. These
investments yielded him large profits, though some of the properties he
held
seventeen years before he was induced to sell. Here, the bulk of his
fortune
was accumulated; and to-day he is one of the wealthiest and most
influential
citizens of Texas.
Amongst other handsome property
owned by him are, a business block on Main street, and a magnificent
residence
which occupies two acres of ground in the heart of the city, one of the
ornaments and attactions of that lively metropolis; besides which he
has a
quarter million of dollars invested in business, and other real estate.
Mr.
Caven is a son of David and Eliza I.
Caven, of Georgia.
He married in early life,
Miss Virginia Driskill, by whom he has had six children: Janie, aged
18;
William, aged 16; David, 14; George Peyton, 12; Virgie Rose, 10; and
Thos.
Preston, aged 8 years; all of whom are living.
Though
actively engaged as we have seen, in
his private affairs, building up a colossal fortune, Mr. Caven has
found time
and inclination to serve his country in more capacities than one. He
distinguished himself as a soldier, in the late unfortunate war,
serving in
Third Texas Cavalry, Ross' brigade. He was actively engaged in the
campaigns of
this famous command, all over Tennessee
and Georgia, and
was twice wounded; once at Iuka, and once at
Rome,
Georgia.
In
politics he is a staunch Democrat; and
though not a politician in the full sense of the word, he has, as a
Democrat,
been returned to the legislature three successive terms, representing
his
district (Rusk, Panola, Shelby, San Augustine, Sabine and Harrison
counties),
in the 17th, 18th and 19th sessions, where he was largely instrumental
in the
preparation and enactment of the wise and beneficient laws passed
during his
term of service; and as illustrating the esteem in which he was ever
held by
his colleagues and the presiding officer, he was either chairman, or a
member
of the most important committees.
Mr.
Caven is not a member of any religious
organization; humanity is his creed; he believes in the common
brotherhood of
man, and this is his guide and rule in life; and many there be who can
bear
testimony to his practical charity and benevolence.
Miss
Janie, his eldest daughter, who was
educated at Christiansburg,
Virginia,
on one occasion while going from school to East Virginia in company
with
friends, was caught in the great Thackston wreck, on the Norfolk
and Western railroad. Many killed and wounded and seventeen perished by
the
flames which followed the disaster. Miss Caven being but slightly
wounded, at
once set herself to work for the relief of her unfortunate
fellow-travelers,
administering to their wants, with a heroism scarcely paralleled in
history;
and it is related that she was the means of rescuing quite a number of
wounded
by dragging them from the debris of the ill-fated train. At the time
the press
throughout the country rang with encomiums on her bravery and unselfish
devotion to the wounded. This incident is related to illustrate the
nature of
the material of which the Caven family is composed. "Like father, like
son;" the daughter inheriting doubtless the predominating traits of her
father's character, traits which were called, in her case, into
activity by the
circumstances related. Mr. Caven enjoys the reputation of being as
unselfish as
his daughter has shown herself to be, and never turns a deaf ear to the
woes of
others, however humble.
In
physique the subject of this sketch is
large, and compactly-built, and of commanding presence, being six feet
in
height and weighs two hundred pounds. He is a man who
would be conspicuous in any gathering of intelligent men,—a distinctly
representative Texan by adoption, and a type of her successful
foster-sons.
