IX. DAVID ALMOND CAVERLY 1880 - 1972
(Redford, Charles H., Philip Jr., Philip Sr., John Sr., Peter I, Peter Gerardus, Jean)

The above writing was probably by Sadie Leach. The original is still in the Leach family.
David was born March 1, 1880 in Bingham Twp. To Redford and Julia (Stillwell) Caverly per Huron Co., MI birth record #1592. He never married and although he moved around the state of Michigan a lot, he was always close to a relative.

In the April 18, 1902 issue of the Huron County Republican, page 1 we find “IN THE THUMB: Last Saturday while assisting at the raising of a barn frame on Dan Wood’s farm, David Caverly of this village was quite seriously injured. In some manner, the bent fell and a part of it struck Mr. Caverly and pinned him to the ground. For awhile it appeared that his injuries would be fatal but we are glad to say that he is now gaining and will soon be out again.--from The Elkton Advance.”

David is listed as being a lieutenant in the Salvation Army in the 1908 Alpena, MI City Directory on page 77. His Uncle William, cousins, and John Thompson (husband of his deceased Aunt Cinderella) were living in Alpena at that time. He later lived in Kingston and tried to take care of Redford after his brother William and his wife decided to return to Elkton in 1935. Redford deeded the house to David but he wasn’t able to care for his father properly. So his half brother and sister-in-law Alton and Delilah traded their home and 160 acres they had in Hill Twp., Ogemaw County for the house in Kingston in order to care for Redford. David moved up to the 160 acres in Lupton but didn’t keep up the payments and let the land go back. As before, he had relatives near; his uncles Allen and Marshall also lived in Ogemaw County.

The 1947 Pontiac, MI City Directory lists David as a janitor at Pontiac General Hospital. He was living at 85 Lincoln Ave. in Pontiac which was also Norm and Lucy Caverly’s address at that time. For a number of years in the 1950s he lived in a trailer at his nephew George’s place. Then George and Rose moved to a different house in Pontiac where the trailer could not be accommodated. Great niece Mary Ann recalls that he was living in her parents’ spare bedroom when she got married in 1965.

Even though he was a bachelor, he liked children. He was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and loved to listen to them on the radio. When a meal was ready you could be sure he’d be promptly at the table which probably contributed to his short, butterball appearance. He lived to the ripe old age of 92.

The obituary in the Tuscola County Advertiser of April 16, 1972 says that David died March 28, 1972 at the Avondale Rest Home in Rochester. The Pontiac Press obituary says that he was retired from maintenance at the Pontiac General Hospital. David
is buried in the East Dayton Cemetery in Mayville, MI.

The picture on the left was taken around 1947 or 1948. The other picture was taken when he and his sister Effie were living with nephew George and Rose Caverly, probably the late 1950s.

michigan@thecaverlys.com

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