George Washington Cavitt 1832-1907
GEORGE WASHINGTON CAVITT was born February 22, 1832 in Rush County, Indiana, and died January 24, 1907 in Antelope County, California. Burial: Sylvan Cemetery, Citrus Heights, California. He married REBECCA J. PERKINS February 28, 1856 in Clark County, Missouri. She was born about 1832 in Virginia, and died May 8, 1911 in California. Also have a death date of January 8, 1911.
George Washington Cavitt left Rush County, Indiana with his family and settled in Van Buren County, Iowa about 1845. The Perkins family moved to Iowa about the same time.
George and Rebecca were living in Van Buren County, Iowa, with Rebecca's mother, Polly Perkins, in the 1856 census. They were living in Clark County, Missouri, in 1860.
About 1864, the Cavitt clan travelled west by ox team. Page 336 of the 1923 "History of Sacramento County" says the family had some "interesting experiences with Indians."
George and Rebecca settled near Antelope, Sacramento County, California, where George purchased 280 acres of land and grew almond trees on an 80-acre tract. He was known as an orchardist. He also ran a blacksmith shop. His first home in California was destroyed by fire. He sold 200 acres before his death.
George and Rebecca were buried at Sylvan Cemetery, Citrus Heights. Part of the cemetery is located on a portion of the property that was their ranch. The ranch was described in the 1923 "History of Sacramento County" as being located 15 miles northeast of Sacramento on Auburn Road.
George and Rebecca were members of the Roseville Grange No. 161, which was organized in 1874, according to "The Patrons of Husbandy on the Pacific Coast" by Ezra Slocum Carr (1875).
Michael Milligan,36, was listed with the family inthe 1880 census. Most likely he was a ranchhand.
Politically, George was a Democrat. His biography is printed on Pages 932-933 in the "History of Sacramento County" by William L. Willis. The orchard is mentioned on p334.
The 1900 California census shows widowed son, Thomas. F. and married son, Walter in the home. The following children are listed as George and Rebecca's children, but are more likely their grandchildren: Frank, 1875; George, 1880; Eva, 1881; Edith, 1882; Alice, 1885; Emily, 1889; and Isabell, 1890; Jessie, April 1882 (age is given as 8, so it should be 1892).
Children of GEORGE CAVITT and REBECCA PERKINS are:
i. WILLIAM CLARENCE CAVITT, b. November 30, 1856, Van Buren County, Iowa; d. March 12, 1923, San Francisco, California. His body was cremated.; m. FRANCES CATHERINE "FANNIE" BURNS.
William was a self-taught lawyer. He also operated a lodging house in San Francisco and spent some time in Alaska. In 1880, atage23, he was listed alongwith severalothers in the home of Anson Waldo.
William's wife, Fannie, went blind.
ii. THOMAS FRANKLIN "FRANK" CAVITT, b. September 20, 1858, Van Buren County, Iowa; d. January 1917, California. Buried at Sylvan Cemetery, Citrus Heights, California; m. EMMA STEELE; d. Bef. 1900.
Frank was married three times. Two of his children died in infancy.
His marker at Sylvan Cemetery was an old wooden marker in 1950. He farmed in the Sylan area.
iii. IDA BELL CAVITT, b. January 30, 1861, Clark County, Missouri; d. November 5, 1923, Antelope, California Burial: Sylvan Cemetery, Citrus Heights, California; m. RICHARD T. BUTLER, June 29, 1876; b. March 4, 1851, Evansville, Indiana; d. July 7, 1924, Antelope, California. Burial: Sylvan Cemetery, Citrus Heights, California
Ida's husband, Richard Butler, grew up in Sacramento. He operated a dairy ranch, then began teaming for Bowers & Wattes. Later he learned to be a moulder with the Southern Pacific Railroad Co.
In 1911 he became the manager of the Cavitt Orchard Farm, the estate left by Ida's mother, Rebecca.
Richard managed the Cavitt Orchard beginning about 1910. A biographical sketch of his family is on Page 334 of the 1923 "History of Sacramento County".
iv. EVA CAVITT, b. April 10, 1867; d. November 5, 1923; Burial: San Diego, California m. NATHAN STACKHOUSE; b. 1850.
v. WALTER CAVITT, b. 1871.