JOHN F. CAVEN, whose magnificent farm of 456 acres lies just one mile northwest of Fletcher, in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, was born on a farm just across the highway from his own property, in 1855, and is a son of George B. and Catherine (Simmons) Caven.

The grandfather, John A. Caven, came to Brown Township as a pioneer, and he cleared off the land, eighty acres of which has never since been out of the possession of the family, and he built the log house which stood on the place for many years, and was the birthplace of his son, George B. The grandfather died on this farm.

George B. Caven grew to manhood in Brown Township, inherited a large part of the family estate, and erected the present comfortable farm dwelling and other buildings, and at the time of his death he owned 430 acres of land. He lived on the, farm, until within a short time of his demise, which occurred after he had retired to Fletcher. He was a Democrat in his political opinions, and acceptably served in numerous township offices, for twenty-one consecutive years, being a trustee of Brown Township. He lived into honored old age, dying February 9, 1909, within six weeks of his eighty-first birthday. He married Catherine Simmons, a daughter Peter Simmons, and they had five children born to them, as follows: Alice A., who is the wife of Willis Hill; John F.; Jane deceased, who was the wife of R. C. Morrow; Mary E., who is the wife of George W. Sanders, of Fletcher; and Ruth, who now deceased.

John F. Caven secured his education in the schools of Brown Township of Piqua, after which he remained on the home farm for over a quarter of century. In 1902 he came to his own property, where for several years he has done nothing more than oversee the large agricultural operations he has carried on, residing in a very fine modern residence he erected, with other structures, about the time he came here. Mr. Caven is numbered with the township's representative and substantial men. He has taken a hearty interest in public matters ever since attaining his majority, and as his landed interests have been so large, his judgement has been very often consulted concerning township improvements and like affairs. Following his father's example, he has bee n a stanch Democrat, and on that ticket has been elected township trustee for the past eleven years, has served usefully on the School Board, and has filled other township offices.

Mr. Caven was married (first) to Florence Berryhill, and they had two children: Maud, who is the wife of R. O. Brown; and Carrie J., who married Charles Wiles, and lives in Shelby County. Mr. Caven was married (second) to Nellie B. Moore, who is a daughter of J. B. Moore, a retired farmer living at Piqua, and they have two children: Herbert Milton and Martha Blanche. Mr. and Mrs. Caven are members of the Presbyterian, Church at Fletcher. He is identified with the Odd Fellows.