Dear List Members,
Just about everyone, has at least one elusive ancestor. Mine is my G-grandmother Mary
Elvira Cagle, born Aug 1860 in Arkansas.
( This was taken from her 1900 Census entry ). Her husband my G-grandfather Thomas William
Cagle,born April 1,1840 in Hickman County, Tennessee. They were married in Alton Oregon
County, Missouri on July 24,1877. Her name was listed on the marriage certificate as Mary
E. Cagle. The question for me was this cousins getting married? If she was a Smith, for
example then this should have been indicated on the marriage certificate.
My G-grandfather died on August 29,1917 and is buried in the Oak Grove cemetery in
Charleston, Missouri. His wife Mary, is not buried at this cemetery. So as time went on
and further research was undertaken, there was an newspaper article I found.
My G-grandfather had a younger brother William M. Cagle, born December 24,1853 in Lawrence
County, Missouri. He was married to Louisa Elizabeth Risenhoover, born September 19,1854
in Wayne County, Missouri.
Sometime in the late 1880's they settled in Red River County, Texas. There was an
newspaper article about their 50th. wedding anniversary. It had some very help full
genealogy information on his family and his mother and father ( Charles Jacob Cagle &
Mary Cagle Patton.)
Long story short Mary E.Cagle, wasn't in the 1910 census with her husband. So further
research on LDS genealogy Family Search, found a death record for Mary E.Cagle, who died
July 25,1905 in Peters Prairie Red River County, Texas.
Believe me I searched high and low for her for many years. Just shows you that
perseverance pays off eventually.
So I am 98% sure that this is her, and she is buried in Clarksville Red River County,
Texas. She may be buried in Lanes Chapel Cemetery there. William & Louisa Cagle, and
some family members are buried there. There is also a marker and burial plot with just the
name Mary A. Cagle. None of my friends on our list have attached her to a Cagle family,
that I know of.
Her middle name was also spelled Alvira. I don't know why she wound up in Red River
County, Texas. As I mentioned she last appeared in the 1900 census with her husband and
children. By the 1910 census she was gone and all of their children, were young
adults, except their only daughter Ida Mae Cagle, who was 15 and was listed in the census
with her father.
She may have went to Clarksville, Texas to take care of a family member. Or she may have
left her husband for unknown reasons. My dad Mark D. Cagle Jr. was the only boy with three
sisters.
Long before I started genealogical research my dad's sister, my Aunt Sophie told this
tale. She said there was a family feud between our Cagle family, and that one group went
to Texas. She didn't know the date or any details other than what she learned from her
mother or father. So flash to the future and this indeed is what happened. The reason for
the feud is unknown to me at this time. The Texas Cagle's, took the family bible with
them. So some present day relative of theirs may have the bible today. Although it may
have been lost to time. I suppose you could use DNA, ( although I don't know how for
sure ) to connect me to Mary E. Cagle, who died in Texas. This would prove or disprove, if
she is indeed my G-grandmother.
Any ideas or suggestions from list members is very much appreciated. Now tell us your
elusive ancestor tales.
Kind Regards,
Earl D. Cagle Sr.