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JAMES J. CAVINESS, M. D.
Vol. 5, p. 1865

Among the younger generation of professional men of Jackson County,
one who is rapidly winning success and position is Dr. James J.
Caviness, physician and surgeon, who since 1912 has been engaged in
practice at Headrick. During this time his skill in diagnosis and his
successful treatment of complicated and long standing cases have
created a gratifying demand for his services and laid the foundation
of what promises to be a career of exceptional breadth and usefulness.

Doctor Caviness was born at Danville, Yell County, Arkansas, July
13, 1889, and is a son of R. S. and Margaret (COSTEN) Caviness. The
Caviness family is of Scotch-Irish extraction and its members have
been pioneers of several states in the Union, notably those of
Oklahoma and Texas. R. S. Caviness was born at Paris, the county seat
of Lamar County, Texas, in 1860, and was there reared and educated.
When still a young man he went to Danville, Arkansas, where he
embarked in business as a merchant, and continued to be so occupied
successfully until 1904, in which year he returned to Texas and
settled at Memphis, where he followed stock raising for four years.

Mr. Caviness came to Oklahoma in 1908, when he took up his residence
at Eldorado, and since that time has been proprietor of a pharmacy.
Mr. Caviness has shown versatility in his business ventures, and in
each has won a satisfying measure of success through the exertion of
energy and enterprise, good management and foresight. In political
matters he is a stanch democrat, and in each of the communities in
which he has resided has taken an active part in political and civic
matters, although rather as an influence than as a seeker for the
honors and emoluments of public office. Throughout his life he has
been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which
he has taken a helpful part, and at the present time is a member of
the official board of the church at Eldorado.

He is well known in Masonry, belonging to Eldorado Lodge, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons; Eldorado Chapter, Royal Arch Masons;
Eldorado Commandery, Knights Templar, and Consistory No. 1, Valley of
Guthrie of the thirty-second degree. While residing at Danville,
Arkansas, Mr. Caviness was united in marriage with Miss Margaret
Costen, who was born in 1870, in Georgia, and they have been the
parents of five children as follows: C, A., who resides at Eldorado,
and is associated with his father in the conduct of the drug
business. Dr. James J., of this review; Ruth, who is the wife of
_________ A. HATCH, a practicing attorney at Eldorado; _________ who
is the wife of Earl MESSERSMITH, proprietor and general merchandise
store at Eldorado; and Baxter, who resides with his parents and is a
student in the Eldorado High School.

James J. Caviness received the early part of his education in the
public schools of Danville, Arkansas, and when fifteen years of age
went with the family to Memphis, Texas, where he completed the
studies of the primary grades. He was graduated from the Memphis High
School in the class of 1907, and following this began preparing for
the medical profession which he had chosen in his youth as his life
work. He eventually entered Vanderbilt University, of Nashville,
Tennessee, where he pursued a full course of study and was duly
graduated from the medical department with the class of 1912, and
with his newly acquired degree of Doctor of Medicine settled down to
practice at Eldorado, whence the family had moved. After three months
of practice at that place, Doctor Caviness decided better
opportunities awaited him at Headrick, where he settled September 18,
1912, and where he has since remained in practice, having offices in
the Headrick Drug Store.

Doctor Caviness is thoroughly at home in all branches of his
calling, and carries on a general practice in both medicine and
surgery. To thorough professional equipment, he adds a kindly and
sympathetic manner, a genuine liking for his calling and a ready
adaptation to its multitudinous and exacting demands. He has never
ceased to be a student, passing much of his time in personal research
and investigation, and maintaining membership in the Jackson County
Medical Society, the Oklahoma State Medical Society and the American
Medical Association. While he is a stanch democrat in politics, he
has confined his activities in that direction to casting his vote,
although always eager to add his name to the list of supporters of
any good and progressive movement. Fraternally, the Doctor is
affiliated with Headrick Lodge No. 311, Free and Accepted Masons, and
Headrick Camp No. 128, Woodmen of the World.

On June 17, 1913, at Nashville, Tennessee, Doctor Caviness was
married to Miss Mary MOORE, daughter of J. T. Moore, who resides at
College Grove, Tennessee, and is a prosperous farmer and stockraiser.
One child has been born to this union: James J., Jr. Doctor and Mrs.
Caviness are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are
general favorites in social circles of their home community. Doctor
Caviness expects to locate in Altus about July 1, 1916.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins, September 23, 2000.

SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An
Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The
American Historical Society, 1916).