John and Mary (Read) Cavanaugh, 1895 Family Portrait

Many years ago I received this photocopied 1895 family portrait from Lavera Cavanaugh, a granddaughter of John and Mary Cavanaugh. It shows John Houston Cavanaugh and his wife, Mary Calier (Read) Cavanaugh, with their first three sons. Lavera's father was their son Orvel, who was born about a year after the portrait was taken. It was the first time I had seen a picture of the couple and I was thrilled to receive it. 

John and Mary (Read) Cavanaugh with sons  Lexon Charlie, Elmer Diamond and Arthur Virgil.
Taken in late summer or early fall 1895, probably in Mountain Grove, Missouri.
Photocopy from original provided by Lavera Cavanaugh.

John Houston Cavanaugh was born 1 February 1870 near Grovespring in Wright County, Missouri to William S. and Nancy Charity (Moser) Cavanaugh, their second son. Nancy died when John was about 5 years old and he and his brother James were raised by their father and step-mother, Elizabeth (Latimer). At age 20, John married Mary Calier (or Colyer) Read, born 29 December 1871, the daughter of Benjamin Burgess and Sarah Jane (Gartin) Read. They were married in Douglas County, but made their home near Mountain Grove in Wright County.

In the portrait, they are shown with their first three children, sons Lexon Charlie, Elmer Diamond and Arthur Virgil. The photo was probably taken in Mountain Grove as son Arthur was born there in January of 1895 and the next child, son Orvel, would be born there in January of 1897. John and Mary had a total of six children. Following the four sons, two daughters were welcomed to the family. Zona Ruby in 1901 and Opal Edna Jane in 1906. The years surrounding the births of the girls were tumultuous ones for the family. The young couple and their four sons had moved to neighboring Texas County where they were found in Clinton Township by the 1900 census taker. A year later, Zona was born in Waterville, Douglas County, Washington. Soon they were back in Missouri where Opal was born in 1906. Within ten years, they were back up in Washington state, living first in Grant County and finally in Yakima County.  Mary died on 12 January 1949, followed by John on 26 August 1954. They are buried at Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima, WA.

Lexon Charlie Cavanaugh, John and Mary's first son, was born on 3 October 1891 in Mountain Grove. In the family portrait, he is the one standing behind his parents. Called Charlie, he found himself in California after 6 months in the Navy and settled there, working for many years in orchards near Redlands in San Bernardino County and later in Sacramento. Charlie never married and died tragically in May of 1949, just months after his mother's death. I don't know the whole story, but Charlie had been living in California. It may have been the death of his mother in January of 1949 that brought him back to Washington, but that part of the story isn't known. What is known is that he  was hit and killed by a freight train. A newspaper article says he was dozing on the tracks a few miles south of Kent. He is buried at Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima, Washington in the Veteran section.

Elmer Diamond Cavanaugh, the second son of John and Mary, was born on 11 January 1893 in Moutain Grove. He is seen leaning on his father's leg in the portrait. Elmer, a decorated WWI Army veteran, was called "Curly" by his friends and family. After his return from service, he married Ethel Juanita Bradley. They had three children; son Norman Wellington 1921-1925, daughter Bethelma Beatrice 1923-1929, and daughter Helen Darlene 1926-1994. Daughter Bethelma died as the result of injuries sustained in a house fire. Perhaps it was her death that caused the marriage to crumble. In 1930, it appears they were separated. Ethel and Darlene were living with Ethel's parents and Elmer had son Norman with him, though both listed their status as married. In 1931 Ethel was remarried. Elmer became a policeman in Grant County and died in 1957. He is also buried at Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima; his grave is located near those of his parents.

Arthur Virgil Cavanaugh, the baby seated on his mother's lap, was born on 31 January 1895 in Mountain Grove. He married Sarah Kate Erickson in Ephrata, Grant County, Washington on 12 July 1915. They had three children; son William Virgil 1916-1997, daughter Evelyn Winnifred 1918-1922, and son Melvin Roy "Deacon" 1921-1985. They, like Art's parents, moved around a bit before finally settling in Selah, Yakima County, WA. Art was a farmer and had orchards in Naches and in Selah Heights. He and his wife lived the rest of their lives in Selah. Art died in 1988 and is buried with Katie at West Hills Cemetery in Yakima. Evelyn and Deacon are buried in plots next to their parents.