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Surnames: Lowe, Caywood, Weaver
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UII.2ACEB/106
Message Board Post:
From the Rockdale (Tex) Reporter - May 20, 1954 - page 6
"Milam Pioneer, Mrs. W. I. Caywood Is Buried Here
Mrs. W. I Caywood, 93 year old Rockdale resident who came to this section of country
in a covered wagon, died Friday afternoon at her home after a prolonged illness.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon from the Phillips and Luckey chapel
by Rev. Roy Turner of the First Christian Church and assisting minister was Rev. Burton
Smith of St. John's Methodist Church. Burial was made at Sandy Creek cemetery.
Grandsons served as pallbearers.
Frances Dora Caywood was born August 19, 1860 at Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her parents
were Elizabeth and J. Reilly Lowe. In the later eighteen seventies when still in her
teens she married W. I. Caywood and a year or so later they, with an infant son, Will,
started out for a journey to Texas in a covered wagon that was drawn by oxen.
Being fleet of foot she walked over much of the way and would help with the oxen and
wagon where streams had to be crossed along the route. Mrs. Caywood had vivid
recollections of the venturesome journey and often related to the younger generations the
incidents that took place.
Outstanding in her memory was the terrifying experience of passing through the Indian
Territory where they came upon a band of Indians who were so captivated with the
couple's baby son that they offered one hundred horses as an exchange for him. The
young mother became so alarmed that as night approached she frantically brought safety
pins into play and pinned the child to her. They had no further trouble and slowly made
their way to Lee County, Texas, locating at Old Dime Box.
For the next few years Mr. and Mrs. Caywood made return trips to Arkansas but each
time the Texas call became so strong that they returned and later came to Milam County,
locating on farm land near Rockdale.
Mr. Caywood died in 1932.
Mrs. Caywood was the mother of ten children. She was greatly interessted in the
younger generations of her family and readily called their names as they made frequent
visits with her.
Up until recent years she had led a most active life, and had a love for the
out-of-doors whre she could see something grow.
Mrs. Caywood had lived in Rockdale for many years, her son Ruben Caywood having
remained with her throughout the time until his death on the fourteenth of February this
year. Since that time the younger son, Lewis Caywood and his wife had been in the home
with her. She was a long time member of the Christian Church.
The following eight children survive, all of whom were present for her final rites:
Will, Lee, Jim, Ed and Lewis Caywood of Rockdale and George Caywood of Silsbee, Mrs. Susie
Davis of Wichita Falls, Mrs. T. W. Cotton of Milano; also there are 31 grandchildren, 48
great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Two sons, Roberrt and Ruben met
death in automobile accidents."