Hello I am sending this to the St. Clair County, Missouri Mailing List, and related surname lists in the hopes that somebody knows something of this information, that might help. Even if you can provide one single piece of the puzzle, please contact me. Thomas Subj: Thomas Rush of Virginia Date: 7/14/00 4:26:38 PM Central Daylight Time From: Travelback4u To: [email protected] Hello there: I just finished up revisiting your site and information on the descendants of Thomas Rush of Virginia. What I have been researching for over two years, is a Merit Cave who resided in St. Clair County Missouri in 1860 Census. In St. Clair County, Missouri, there is a marriage of Merritt H. Cave to a Mary Earles in 1861. The Cave family members that I am researching include a Merit Cave, age 8, in the St. Clair County Missouri 1860 Census. Now, what I am suspecting is this. Your Merrit H. Cave married Catherine (Kitty) Rush June 21, 1835 in Monroe County, Missouri, as shown in your information. I found a Merrot Cave marrying a Fannie Geary on June 23, 1872 in Monroe County Missouri. I also found a Merritt H. Cave marrying a Mary Earles on May 14, 1861 in St. Clair County, Missouri. Now, my great grandfather, Merritt Cave, age 8, born 1852 in Missouri, was residing in St. Clair County in the 1860 Census with sister Josephine Cave age 13, and another sister Martha Ann Cave age 18, with Martha's husband Charles F. Ashworth age 22, and Martha and Charles' daughter Sarah C. Ashworth 10 months old, born October 12, 1859. Martha Ann Cave and Charles F. Ashworth (actual name: Charles Fenton Mercer Ashworth) were married November 23, 1856 in St. Clair County Missouri, and are raising Martha's brother and sister. It is not known yet why Martha Ann Cave and her husband are raising Martha's brother and sister. But I suspect that Merritt Cave is deceased, having died between 1890 and 1915 in a forest fire in the Mark Twain National Forrest. (From Family Rumors pasted down thru the family to my mother and I). So, your Merritt H. Cave married Catherine (Kitty) Rush on June 21, 1835 in Monroe County Missouri. They may have had children: Martha Ann Cave, born 1842, Josephine Cave born 1847 and Merrit Cave born 1852. Catherine (Kitty) Rush may have died in child birth when Merrit was born in 1852, but such is speculation. (Merritt H. Cave may have remarried, marrying Mary Earles on May 14, 1861, but who is Merrot Cave who married Fannie Geary on June 23, 1872 back in Monroe County, Missouri, where your Catherine (Kitty) Rush married Merrit H. Cave) My grandfather, Martie Caves (spelled with the s) is the son of Merritt Cave and Jenny, who were residing in Butler County, Missouri, with their son Charles A. Cave, age 2, born in Illinois, in the 1880 Census. (Charles A. Cave is likely named after the man who raised him, Charles F. Ashworth) Martie Cave is said to have been raised by grandparents (likely that of his mother) after his father was killed in a forest fire in the Mark Twain National Forest sometime between 1890 and 1915. Martie had a half sister named Panzie of whom's whereabouts have not been found. Martie also had a full blooded sister who resided somewhere in Iowa in 1954, the year Martie died. The year I was born. I am seeking to know anything you find out in your research about your Merrit H. Cave, ancestors of Catherine (Kitty) Rush and their descendants. Thomas W. Rogers 924 E. Jackson Street Morton, Illinois 61550 [email protected] Subj: Re: [MOSTCLAI-L] 1860/St. Clair Date: 7/14/00 7:50:58 PM Central Daylight Time From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subj: Re: [MOSTCLAI-L] 1860/St. Clair Date: 7/14/00 6:55:44 PM Central Daylight Time From: EPERRY4616 To: Travelback4u Thomas -- I believe that your Cave's are descended from Benjamin Cave. These Caves are related to the Owsley's. You might like to take a look at this webpage and see if there are any names there that you recognize. I am from William T. Hatfield, Sr. whose brother Zachariah C.P. Hatfield married Elizabeth Owsley. William T. Hatfield, Jr. married Lucinda Whitley who was from Speedwell Twp., St. Clair Co. MO. All of these folks --- Caves, Hatfields, Owsleys, Coles, Halls are related. Goodluck in your search. <A HREF="http://www.grin.net/~rickshay/cavescove/families/bc1ben/PS01/PS01_317.ht m">Benjamin Cave Families</A> <A HREF="http://home.dwave.net/~skeeter/genealogy/g0000022.html">OWSLEY.dwave </A>