Hello I'm wondering if I can try to prove this to anyone yet. Cleta Irene Caves, daughter of Martie W. Caves and Beulah Estella Simmons married Donald Clarence Rogers of Yates City, having son me. (Donald, Cleta and Thomas still living). Martie W. Caves married Beulah Estella Simmons in 1915 in Knox County Illinois, with such marriage license showing his parents as Merit Cave and Jennie Swisher. Martie W. Caves listed himself as being 22 on the marriage license, having been born in Pine Bluff Arkansas. Martie W. Caves has not been found in any records of Pine Bluff Arkansas to this date, of having been born there. Martie W. Caves buried in Abington Cemetery, Abington Illinois, dates on stone 1890 - 1954. It is known that Martie W. Caves had one natural sister named Donna Mae Caves who died and is buried in Ottomwa Iowa. He also had a brother named Bert Caves who was a river boat gambler and resided in Havanna Illinois, having at least one, possibly two daughters that went to California to get into the Motion Picture Industry. Martie W. Caves is found in the 1900 Census residing with his grandfather Absolum S. Swisher and his step grandmother Mellisa. Martie is listed as having been born in March of 1888. 1900 Census Illinois: Page 76 ED 105 Sheet 2 Swisher, Absolum S. Sept. 1831 marr. 2 yrs WV WV WV Melissa A wife Jan 1839 0/0 children IL VA VA Orustes K. son June 1859 single IL WV WV Carr, Martie W. gr.son Mar 1888 MO MO IL (Was believed to be written wrong?) Merit Cave married Jennie Swisher, "believed to be the daughter of Absolum S. Swisher, on October 16, 1877 in Brown County, Illinois according to their marriage license. "No parents listed on marriagel license, went back for a copy, and they could not locate license at all". At the Mt. Sterling Court House of Brown County, Illinois, a birth was found listing Merit Cave and Jennie Swisher as parents, recorded on 12/23/1880. This Birth, took place on November 17, 1880, Cert. #815, found on Bk 1 Page 68. This birth did not list a first name, although at the time, I was unable to obtain a copy of the birth certificate. Merit Cave then shows up next in the Missouri Census Records below: 1880 Census, for Missouri Examined: Merritt Cave, age 25, born in Missouri, White, as listed in 1880 Census Residing with wife Jenny, born in Virginia, Child, Charles A. Cave, age 2, born in Illinois, Residing in Butler County, Missouri in 1880 Black River Vol. 4 - ED 4, page 5, line 20 1860 Census, for Missouri Examined: Josephine Cave, age 13 Merit Cave, age 8, born in Missouri Residing in St. Clair County, Missouri in 1860 Speedwell Twp. Page 974 -104 line 17 Enumerated with Charles F. Ashworth, age 22, born in Virginia (Notes: This may have been from Merit's father dying when he was young, resulting in Merit and his sister Josephine residing with Charles F. Ashworth) Charles F. Ashworth married Martha Ann Cave, thus Josephine and Merritt are most likely siblings of Martha Ann Cave.) No documents verify or prove this is the right Merit Cave who married Jennie Swisher on October 16, 1877 in Brown County, Illinois. Merit H. Cave of St. Clair Co. Missouri Deeded 120 acres Certificate #55932 Several Merrit Caves marriages found online (LDS), Merit H. Cave m Catherine Rush 21 Jun 1835, Monroe, MO Merrit H. Cave m Mary Ann Earles 14 May 1861, St. Clair, MO Merrott Cave m Fannie Geary 23 Jun 1872, Pettis, MO Merit Cave m Mary M. Duncan 18 Mar 1874, Hickory, MO Merit Cave m Jennie Swisher October 16, 1877, Brown Co Illinois I believe, but can't prove that the Merrit H. Cave who married Mary Ann Earles is the same Merrit H. Cave as who married Catherine Rush, and one of them is the Mother of Merit Cave who married Jennie Swisher. "speculation". But that still leaves two other marriages. Were these all the same two men? There are many Cave/Caves of Missouri/Illinois area that have not been researched or are unidentified. Is this the missing family? What is known is why Merit Cave and his sister Josephine are residing with Charles Ashworth in 1860. Is this the Merit Cave that died in a Forest Fire in the Mark Twain National Forrest, as per a family legend passed down, leaving his son Merit and his sister to be raised by his sister and her husband Charles Ashworth? Martha Ann Cave and Charles Ashworth: Charles Ashworth - actual name is : Charles Fenton Mercer Ashworth. 10/11/1850 Census - St. Clair Co., Mo., 79th District #356-356 Ashworth, Lewis R. ,44, born Va., School Teacher, Rev 100 (md. within the year) Minerva ,22, " Tenn. Cotesworth P. ,17, " Va., farmer Fenton M. ,14, " Va. ***************** Amelia C. ,12, " Va. Susan K. ,10, " Mo. Eloisa J. ,08, " " Martha M.C. ,06, " " Singleton C. ,04, " " Basey, Nancy ,40, " Mexico 08/15/1860 Census - St. Clair Co., Mo., Speedwell Twp., P.O. Howard Mill #738-704 Ashworth, Charles F. ,22, born Va., laborer, PEV 50 ********************* Martha Ann ,18, " Mo. CRW Sarah C. ,10/12, born Mo. Cave, Josephine ,13, born Mo., in school Cave, Merit ,08, " " " " Missouri, St. Clair Co., Vital Records, Marriages, Volumes A-E Volume A, Page 14 This is to certify that I did Solemnise the writes of Matrimony between Charles Mercer Ashworth and Martha Ann Cave on the 23rd day of November A.D. 1856 in St. Clair County State of Missouri this the 5th day of February A.D. 1857. John M. Elkins J P Filed for record February the 5th 1857 James M. Beck Recorder Lewis Richard Ashworth was a plantation and slave owner and later a teacher and preacher. It is said that he was shot by the Kansas Red Legs because he would not tell where his sons were, while living in Osceola, Mo. At the time of his death, ca. 1865, his family was close together, but after the Civil War and between 1866-1870, the children in this family seemed to scatter and lived with other families. Also, it seems possible that the first nine or more children (13 in all) had three given names. While living in Virginia this family was using one particular given name and continued to use it up to 1865 or 1870. After this it seems the entire family started using a different given name. This is showing up in documents, census records and just recently (1988) descendants of Lewis Richard Ashworth. The story about Lewis and the Kansas Red Legs, has not been proven as of yet, but it is still being worked on. This family has been extremely hard to research, as they do not want to stay in one place. What may be of interest to you, Lewis and family left Va. between 1838 & 1840 going to Rives Co., Mo.(which became Henry Co., Mo. 10/15/1841) and later his location fell within the boundaries of St. Clair Co., Mo. Lewis and family were in Monegan Township, Rives Co., in 1840. He is also noted, without moving, as being one of the early settlers in Cedar Co., Mo. which was formed from Dade Co & St. Clair Co., in 1845. Charles married Martha Ann Cave and they had at least one child-Sarah C. Josephine and Merit and Martha Ann Cave - seems to me to be brothers/sisters. The above Records are from the actual Census Records on Microfilm and read by me. I will get back to you after I look into a few other things about this family. Forget the 1850 Census Record-we do not need it! On August 15, 1860 the Census Taker was at the home of Charles F. Ashworth (age 22, born Va., a laborer with a personal estate value of $50) and Martha Ann Ashworth (Wife of Charles) (age 18, born Mo., Can not read or write). Charles and Martha Ann were married on the 23rd day of Nov., 1856. In 1859, they had a daughter and named her Sarah C. Ashworth. (On the day the Census Taker was at their home she was listed at 10 months old, born in Mo.). Also, living with Charles and Martha Ann and Sarah C. Ashworth on August 15, 1860, was Josephine Cave (age 13, born Mo., and in school.) She was a sister to Martha Ann (Cave) Ashworth. Also, living with Charles and Martha Ann and Sarah C. Ashworth on August 15, 1860, was Merit Cave (age 8, born Mo., and in school). He was a brother to Martha Ann (Cave) Ashworth. Where did the name Merit Cave come from? Here is the link, although not yet proven, may hold the answer. Mary, or Polly or Mary Polly Merit born 1758 married Ezekiel Haydon (Haden) on or about 1776 in Kentucky. Ezekiel Haydon was born July 1753 in Spotsylvannia Virginia and Polly Merit was born 1758 in Virginia. Their daughter Charity (or Catherine) Haydon was born December 29, 1781 in Spotsylvannia Virginia (Some have her being born in 1765). She married Reuben Cave born 1780 died 1833 or 1825 son of Richard Cave and Elizabeth Craig, in Columbia Boone County, Kentucky Reuben Cave and Polly Haydon's sixth child was named Merit Cave who was born abt 1812 or 1819. (Is this the Merrit H. Cave that married Catherine Rush, daughter of Garland Rush, on June 21, 1835 in Monroe County?) Who are the yet unknown parents of Richard Cave who married Elizabeth Craig? So, after reviewing all the above information, a huge amount of holes exist in being able to prove this heritage and or to find descendants of this line. I greatly appreciate all of the assistance many of you have provided to get me this far. If you have or find any other information relating to this difficult to research line, please contact me privately. I'm not yet a subscriber to all the lists I sent this to. Thomas W. Rogers P. O. Box 85 Deer Creek, Illinois 61733 travelback4u@aol.com