Hello
Albert (Bert) Caves, born 1885 or 11-27-1887, died 2-22-1968 in Los
Angeles California at age 80. As found in Social Security Index records.
From my information he had first wife named Panzie, with one, possibly two
daughters who migrated to California. The daughters, Panzy and Donna Mae are
said to have gotten into the movies.
This Albert (Bert) Caves has a sister, Mattie Caves, born 12-25-1883 who
resided in Ottomwa, Iowa, having died September 1969.
This Albert (Bert) Caves has a brother, my grandfather, Martie W. Caves,
who married Beulah Estella Simmons and raised his family, including my mother
Cleta Irene Caves in Greenbush Illinois.
This Albert (Bert) Caves was a known as a jokester, riverboat gambler and
one story states he shot a man then ended up serving 5 years in prison
because of it. In the 1950's Bert Caves resided on Mechanic Street in Pekin
Illinois, behind the Swisher Home, in a camper trailer. The older Swisher
family individuals remember him well, him having been close to Walter Swisher
and Walter's wife Velma.
I have also found other siblings of Albert (Bert) Caves, but have yet to
find the location of his parents burial location. His parents, my mother's
grandparents, are Merit Cave born 1852 and Jennie Swisher born abt 1849.
Merritt H. Cave and Catherine Rush (married June 21, 1835 in Monroe Co.,
Missouri) are Merit Cave's, born 1852 , parents.
Merit Cave, born 1852, had a sister named Josephine who was listed as 13
in 1860 Census. From 1860 to 1880, Merit Cave could be found mainly in
Butler and St. Clair Counties, in Missouri. However, in 1878, Merit Cave and
wife Jennie had a son Charles A. Caves, age 2, born in Illinois, listed in
the 1880 Census in Missouri. By 1900 I have not found either Jennie or
husband Merit Caves. From family stories, Merit may have died in Forest fire
in Mark Twain National Forrest Fire, and Jennie is said to have been alive in
1917 when her grandchild Mabel Caves was born in Greenbush, Warren County,
Illinois.
If any of this strikes a bell with you, or in your research efforts in the
future you bump into something, please drop me a note. I am working
diligently to find out this information for my 83 year old mother, as well as
for my self. The main thing I am hoping to find are descendants of this
family line, and key to what my mother wants to know is where her
grandparents are buried. A photo of Jennie or Merit would be worth more than
gold to my mom.
Thomas William Rogers
P. O. Box 85
Deer Creek, Illinois 61733