CASKEY, JAMES A.
WEDDED FIFTY-FIVE YEARS
JAMES A. CASKEY AND WIFE OF MCKINNEY.
MARRIED SEPT. 6, 1849,
In Murray County Tennessee–
Both Still Enjoying Good Health.
McKinney Daily Courier, Oct. 10, 1904.
Among the oldest married couples in our county may be named James A. Caskey and wife, who reside on South Tennessee street near the city cemetery in McKinney. For more than fifty-five years these old people have trodden life’s pathway together, sharing each others joys and burdens, and devotedly sustaining each other through every cloud and difficulty that has fallen across their pathway. The period of their marital journey exceeds, by many years, the average span of human life. Yet, at this writing, both are in fairly good health and naught but a trace of feebleness incident to advanced age is noticeable in their busy and active home life.
James A. Caskey was born in Murray County, Tennessee, Oct. 24, 1823. His father, Robert Caskey, was a saddler and harness maker by trace. His son, James A., was a gallant trooper in the confederacy, serving in Co. F, 1st Tenn. Cavalry– first under Gen. Van Dorn, until the latter was killed at Spring Hill in Murray County, Tenn., Mr. Caskey’s native county, then under Gen. N. B. Forrest, and later under Gen. Joe Wheeler. He served throughout the war, seeing the most active service and surrendered at Charlotte, NC, in the spring of 1865. He seemed to have led a charmed life throughout the war, never having received a wound in any of the numerous fierce engagements in which he participated, nor having been in the hospital a day. He had four brothers who served with him in the same company. Like himself, all came out of the struggle unharmed except one, R. H. Caskey, who was severely wounded. This one recovered and still lives in Murray county, the other three brothers all being now deceased. James A. united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the spring of 1849 and has been a faithful adherent of that faith ever since, at present being an elder of the McKinney church where he holds his membership. Eld. T. W. Caskey, of Sherman, a minister of the Christian Church, but now deceased, was his first cousin. He preached in McKinney a number of years ago and is remembered by our older citizens.
The maiden name of Mrs. Caskey was Miss Almanza A. McDonald, also a native of Murray County, Tenn., where she was born Feb. 4, 1827. She is of Scotch descent, her grand-parents having come across the ocean together. She was the daughter of Allen McDonald, being the eldest of five children, three of whom besides herself are still living, namely, Rev. J. N. McDonald, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister of Vincennes, Ind., Mrs. J. D. Howard of California, and Alexander W. McDonald, a prominent land owner of Tennessee, with large lumber interests in Florida. Rev. J. W. McDonald, a prominent Illinois C. P. pastor of Decatur, that state, is her nephew. At the early age of 12, Mrs. Caskey, in 1839, united with the Cumberlands and for a period of 55 years has remained a faithful, zealous communicant of that faith in all probably being the oldest member of that church in Collin county, in point of number of years of membership.
Mr. and Mrs. Caskey were united in Marriage Sept. 6, 1849 in Murray County, Tenn., Rev. W. H. Baldridge, a Cumberland Minister officiating. The occasion was a double wedding, the other couple being Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Howard, parents of the late T. D. (Dick) Howard, for many years one of the widest known business men in McKinney. The brides in this double wedding were sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Howard lived in McKinney until about 17 years ago when they moved to California where Mr. Howard died, but where his wife still resides. Rev. Baldridge, the officiating clergyman, also moved to Texas and lived at Plano and died several years ago at Wylie in this county. He was the father of Dr. Baldridge, Finis and George Baldridge, all of Wylie and of Mr. B. E. Caskey and Mrs. Emma Wilson, of McKinney.
For 22 years Mr. and Mrs. Caskey resided in Tennessee and then emigrated to Texas in 1871. W. W. Kerr, of Celina, came to Texas with them, all driving through in wagons. They were five weeks and three days in making the trip. Mr. and Mrs. Caskey lived at first about two miles north of McKinney, then for sever or eight years on the Dallas and Preston road in west Collin, after which they moved to McKinney, their present home, where they have ever since remained. Four children came to bless their union as follows: John N. Caskey, a young man who died in 1875, and lied buried at Walnut Grove; Mrs. J. L. (Lawson) Kerr, of Vineland; B. F. and B. M. Caskey, both of McKinney.
This esteemed old couple observed their golden wedding anniversary in 1899 when numerous relatives and friends assembled at their hospitable home and enjoyed the day in feasting and social pastime. Mr. Caskey’s fellow officers of the church presented him with a fine gold headed cane and Mrs. Caskey a gold thimble on that occasion. These and other substantial tokens of cheer and good will were greatly appreciated by this old father and mother. As before stated, Mr. and Mrs. Caskey are both in the enjoyment of good health for people who are so near to the octogenarian milestone of life. Mrs. Caskey is very active, performing her household duties and cooking with all the zest and pleasure with which she performed the same wifely affairs when a blushing bride over a half century ago. An unfortunate fall while getting out of a wagon a year or more ago resulted in crippling Mr. Caskey so that he uses a crutch now to get about. Both these old people came from long-lived ancestors.
This devoted old couple long since have passed beyond the springtime of life thus sung of by the poet. but the flight of time has dealt gently and kindly with them and the evening of life is not without its ardor and zest.
JAMES A. CASKEY AND WIFE OF MCKINNEY.
MARRIED SEPT. 6, 1849,
In Murray County Tennessee–
Both Still Enjoying Good Health.
McKinney Daily Courier, Oct. 10, 1904.
Among the oldest married couples in our county may be named James A. Caskey and wife, who reside on South Tennessee street near the city cemetery in McKinney. For more than fifty-five years these old people have trodden life’s pathway together, sharing each others joys and burdens, and devotedly sustaining each other through every cloud and difficulty that has fallen across their pathway. The period of their marital journey exceeds, by many years, the average span of human life. Yet, at this writing, both are in fairly good health and naught but a trace of feebleness incident to advanced age is noticeable in their busy and active home life.
James A. Caskey was born in Murray County, Tennessee, Oct. 24, 1823. His father, Robert Caskey, was a saddler and harness maker by trace. His son, James A., was a gallant trooper in the confederacy, serving in Co. F, 1st Tenn. Cavalry– first under Gen. Van Dorn, until the latter was killed at Spring Hill in Murray County, Tenn., Mr. Caskey’s native county, then under Gen. N. B. Forrest, and later under Gen. Joe Wheeler. He served throughout the war, seeing the most active service and surrendered at Charlotte, NC, in the spring of 1865. He seemed to have led a charmed life throughout the war, never having received a wound in any of the numerous fierce engagements in which he participated, nor having been in the hospital a day. He had four brothers who served with him in the same company. Like himself, all came out of the struggle unharmed except one, R. H. Caskey, who was severely wounded. This one recovered and still lives in Murray county, the other three brothers all being now deceased. James A. united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the spring of 1849 and has been a faithful adherent of that faith ever since, at present being an elder of the McKinney church where he holds his membership. Eld. T. W. Caskey, of Sherman, a minister of the Christian Church, but now deceased, was his first cousin. He preached in McKinney a number of years ago and is remembered by our older citizens.
The maiden name of Mrs. Caskey was Miss Almanza A. McDonald, also a native of Murray County, Tenn., where she was born Feb. 4, 1827. She is of Scotch descent, her grand-parents having come across the ocean together. She was the daughter of Allen McDonald, being the eldest of five children, three of whom besides herself are still living, namely, Rev. J. N. McDonald, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister of Vincennes, Ind., Mrs. J. D. Howard of California, and Alexander W. McDonald, a prominent land owner of Tennessee, with large lumber interests in Florida. Rev. J. W. McDonald, a prominent Illinois C. P. pastor of Decatur, that state, is her nephew. At the early age of 12, Mrs. Caskey, in 1839, united with the Cumberlands and for a period of 55 years has remained a faithful, zealous communicant of that faith in all probably being the oldest member of that church in Collin county, in point of number of years of membership.
Mr. and Mrs. Caskey were united in Marriage Sept. 6, 1849 in Murray County, Tenn., Rev. W. H. Baldridge, a Cumberland Minister officiating. The occasion was a double wedding, the other couple being Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Howard, parents of the late T. D. (Dick) Howard, for many years one of the widest known business men in McKinney. The brides in this double wedding were sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Howard lived in McKinney until about 17 years ago when they moved to California where Mr. Howard died, but where his wife still resides. Rev. Baldridge, the officiating clergyman, also moved to Texas and lived at Plano and died several years ago at Wylie in this county. He was the father of Dr. Baldridge, Finis and George Baldridge, all of Wylie and of Mr. B. E. Caskey and Mrs. Emma Wilson, of McKinney.
For 22 years Mr. and Mrs. Caskey resided in Tennessee and then emigrated to Texas in 1871. W. W. Kerr, of Celina, came to Texas with them, all driving through in wagons. They were five weeks and three days in making the trip. Mr. and Mrs. Caskey lived at first about two miles north of McKinney, then for sever or eight years on the Dallas and Preston road in west Collin, after which they moved to McKinney, their present home, where they have ever since remained. Four children came to bless their union as follows: John N. Caskey, a young man who died in 1875, and lied buried at Walnut Grove; Mrs. J. L. (Lawson) Kerr, of Vineland; B. F. and B. M. Caskey, both of McKinney.
This esteemed old couple observed their golden wedding anniversary in 1899 when numerous relatives and friends assembled at their hospitable home and enjoyed the day in feasting and social pastime. Mr. Caskey’s fellow officers of the church presented him with a fine gold headed cane and Mrs. Caskey a gold thimble on that occasion. These and other substantial tokens of cheer and good will were greatly appreciated by this old father and mother. As before stated, Mr. and Mrs. Caskey are both in the enjoyment of good health for people who are so near to the octogenarian milestone of life. Mrs. Caskey is very active, performing her household duties and cooking with all the zest and pleasure with which she performed the same wifely affairs when a blushing bride over a half century ago. An unfortunate fall while getting out of a wagon a year or more ago resulted in crippling Mr. Caskey so that he uses a crutch now to get about. Both these old people came from long-lived ancestors.
This devoted old couple long since have passed beyond the springtime of life thus sung of by the poet. but the flight of time has dealt gently and kindly with them and the evening of life is not without its ardor and zest.
