JAMES M. CAVEN, deceased. The death of James M. Caven, which occurred July 28,1908, removed from Brown Township one of its most esteemed citizens and substantial men. He was a member of a prominent pioneer family of Miami County, Ohio, and was born on the old Caven homestead, situated one and one-quarter miles northwest of Fletcher.

Until he was eighteen years of age, James M. Caven remained on the home farm and obtained his knowledge of books in the Brown Township schools. He then went to Illinois and from there, in 1864, to Idaho, where he remained for four years and then came back to the homestead. He cared for his aged mother until her death, after which he sold his share of the old farm to a brother, subsequently acquiring the large amount of valuable property which made him one of the men of capital in this section of the state. At the time of death his 500 acres of land were distributed in Orange Township, Shelby County; in Green Township, Shelby County, and in Brown Township, Miami County. His business had always been farming and stockraising and his good judgment and practical methods had made him successful in all his ventures.

James Caven married Annettie Sayers, who is a daughter of Samuel and Jane Sayers, the former of whom was born in Brown Township, Miami County of which his father was also a native, and the latter of Virginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Caven five children were born, namely: William,. who married Margaret Cavault, has three sons: Foster Irwin, Franklin Clay and William Garner; James S., who married Viola Sims, has two children, Marvel Floss and Grace Annis, but lost his young wife on December 21, 1908; Harley Ward, who married Lottie Fergus, has two children, Francis Sayers and Vertis Valentine; Bertha, who married Charles Wyatt; and Samuel, who died when aged fourteen years. Mr. Caven was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, to which his widow also belongs. She maintains her home in Fletcher, residing on Main Street, having rented her farms to her sons. In his political sentiments, Mr. Caven was identified with the Democratic party. He was a man of enlightened views and was in every way qualified for public office but his tastes did not lie in that direction. He was a most worthy citizen and through his long and useful life his influence was always directed to the encouragement of law, order and right living.