My Genealogy Hound

James Caviness, a resident of Carlisle Township since 1859, is a native of North Carolina, where he was born in 1828. George and Fersiby (Jerdan) Caviness, his parents, were Virginians by birth, and moved to North Carolina before their marriage, locating in Chatham County, where they remained until death, the father dying in 1846, and the mother in 1858. They had a family of six children, all of whom lived to be grown, and three of whom are yet living. James Caviness remained at home until the demise of his father, when he hired out, working for 20 cents per day. At the age of nineteen he was married to Adeline Perry, a native of North Carolina, who was born in 1828. Following this important event he commenced farming for himself near the old homestead, where he continued until obtaining enough ahead to buy a farm. He then moved to Arkansas in 1859, and settled in Lonoke County, on the place he still owns, which was then covered with timber, and which he has since cleared and improved. When the war broke out, he (Mr. Caviness) enlisted in the Confederate army for three years, and was on detached duty with Price, on his raid through Missouri, Kansas and the Indian Territory. After the war he returned to his farm in Lonoke (then Prairie) County, the locality then being thinly settled. A great change is noticeable since that pioneer day. Mr. and Mrs. Caviness are the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: John, Maggie, James, William and Arthur. Those deceased are: Ora, Jefferson B. and an infant not named. Maggie is the wife of Arthur Screeton, and lives in Prairie County. Mr. and Mrs. Caviness are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Caviness is a strong Democrat, and a citizen of whom the county may well feel proud.