Being born on Christmas Day could definitely have affected the Cason family. John Robert Cason was born December 25, 1853 in North Carolina the son of Andrew Cason and Harriett Timmons.
Tracking the family through the census records, we can put together a great deal about their life and lifestyle. Andrew Cason, a farmer in 1850, recently married wife Harriet and was living with father Elijah Cason in Gulledge, NC. Andrew and Harriet had only one child at this point, 8-month old Sarah. By 1860, Andrew was listed as A.B. Cason, living in Wadesboro, NC. He and Harriet had four more children: Lydia, John (subject of our article), Cornelia and James. A.B. had real estate valued at $2,700 and property totaling $7,461.
In 1870, John was 17 years old and working on his father’s farm in Gullidge, NC. John’s brothers James and Andrew were also a farm laborers. A.B.’s real estate and property value had declined to $1,200. John married Rebecca Ingram in 1879 and the following year they resided in Talledega, NC. The 1880 census shows John and Rebecca living next door to A.B. and having one child, 5-month old Mary. John was listed a minister for the first time. Shortly thereafter, John and Rebecca relocated to Marion, Arkansas where their seven children–John Jr., Jessie, Rebecca, Fred, Martha, Roberta and Andrew–were born. In 1900, John was a “minister of the Gospel” and daughter Mary had married and left home.
The Cason family moved to Tampa City, FL, where, in 1910, John was a Minister of a Methodist Church and daughters Jessie and Martha were teachers. Their final move was to Delray Beach about 1915, where John’s experience and dedicated to the Church led to him becoming a leading religious figure. The Cason cottage “was built in 1915 by Reverend John Cason, a community leader and Methodist minister, whose descendants live in Delray Beach. It is a vernacular style home with craftsman cottage details, solidly constructed of Dade County pine. The Historical Society maintains the museum as a permanent exhibit that reflects Florida lifestyle circa 1915-1935.” John’s son “Dr John Robert Cason was born on 13 April 1881 at Jefferson Co., Arkansas. He was the son of Rev. John Robert Cason Sr. and Mabel Rebecca Ingram. Dr. John Robert Cason married Mary Lizzie Sloan, daughter of Thomas Ashley Sloan and Joanna Williams, in August 1906 at Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He died in August 1936 at Delray Beach, Fl, at age 55. He was buried at Delray Beach, FL. John R. Cason Jr., Delray’s first physician, who’d grown tired of having to flag down trains and hop rides to Miami to get medicines.” Reverend John Robert Cason Sr. died on 31 December 1935 at Delray Beach, FL, at age 82 and was buried in Miami. The Cason Methodist Church, named for Reverend John, is located at Swinton Avenue and Lake Ida Road in Delray Beach. The Cason Cottage Museum was restored through a joint effort by the Delray Beach Historical Society and the City of Delray Beach in 1988. Reverend Cason’s community and religious efforts continue to help shape our town.
Marc D. Thompson, owner of VirtuGen, delved into writing and genealogy at a very early age, penning stories, poems, lyrics and family history. Thompson went on to write and research in high school and college, earning a BS degree from Moravian College. He combines traditional genealogical research methods with cutting edge internet methodology, while using multiple computers to produce the fastest, most accurate results. Along with over 25 years of experience, he draws from thousands of techniques to provide detailed results. He has presented genealogical lectures and authored numerous family history books and had his published works appear in Fighting Chance Magazine, Love’s Chance Magazine, Northern Stars Magazine, Offerings, Poetry Motel, Suzerian Enterprises and The Pink Chameleon. Thompson is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and has founded two Genealogy societies. He was the County Coordinator of the Chatham Co, GA USGenweb site and wrote a monthly genealogy column for Atlantic Avenue Magazine. His published books are offered at http://www.marcdthompson.net/fitness-books/genealogy-books/
Recent Comments