The Cavnars of McClain County

The Cavnar's Of McClain County

Delbert Cayce Cavnar

Cayce was born near Detroit, Texas on July 7, 1890. His family came to McClain County, 1906 and settled southwest of Purcell. He and his brothers attended school at Stealey, Fairview and Coins. Cayce's basic education came to an end in 1909, when he received a near fatal knife wound in his back. The occassion was a Christmas party and Cayce was trying to stop a fight. During his recuperation of almost two years, he read and studied most of the time. This self-teaching helped him pass a teacher's examination. Cayce began teaching at Midway School, the Hopping, Box Elder, Sandy, Mitchell Hill, and Peavine.

During WWI while in training, he taught some of the "dough boys", how to read and write, so that they could write home. His buddies called him "PROF". Cayce attended college at Ada and Edmond. Most of this was when school was out in the summer. Cayce Cavnar and Allie Kathrine Harper were married March 27, 1921. Allie was born October 7, 1901 near Fulsom in Johnston County to Richard and Matilda (Wolfe) Harper. The Harpers were long time residents of Indian Territory, having lived in Bryan, Johnston, and Pottawatomie Counties before coming to McClain County in 1912. Allie and seven of her brothers and sisters were students of Cayce. Cayce was elected County Assessor of McClain County in 1924 after an unsuccessful attempt in 1922. He served in this position until October 1976, when he resigned for health reasons. Allie had worked hard as a young woman and had received a minimum education, but this didn't prevent her from being a faithful wife and loving mother. Allie had six children. She was the best of homemakers and made every effort to keep her family together until her death. During WWII, Allie worked at the Douglas Aircraft Plant. She worked over 25 years at the Purcell Hospital. The work was hard with many long hours, but she enjoyed taking care of people.

Cayce was born near Detroit, Texas on July 7, 1890. His family came to McClain Co. 1906 and settled southwest of Purcell. He and his brothers attended school at Stealey, Fairview and Coins. Cayce' s basic education came to an end in 190 9, when he received a near fatal knife wound in his back. T he occasion was a Christmas party and Cayce was trying to s top a fight. During his recuperation of almost two years, he read and studied' much of the time. This self-teaching helped him pass a teacher's examination. Cayce began teaching at
Midway School, then Hopping, Box Elder, Sandy, Mitchell Hill and Peavine. During World War I while in training, he taught some of the "dough boys", how to read and write, so that they could write home. His buddies called him "PROF". Cayce attended college at Ada and Edmond. Most of this was when school was out in the sum mer. Cayce Cavnar and Allie Kathrine Harper were married March 27, 1921. Allie was born Oct. 7, 1901 near Fulsom in Johnston C o. (IT) to Richard and Matilda (Wolfe) Harper. The Harper s were long time residents of Indian Territory, having lived in Bryan , Johnston and Pottawatomie Counties before coming to McClain Co. in 1912.
Allie and seven of her brothers and sisters were students o f Cayce. Cayce was elected County Assessor of McClain Count y in 1924 after an unsuccessful attempt in 1922. He served in this position until October 1976, when he resigned for health reasons . Allie had worked hard as a young woman and had received a minimum education , but this didn't prevent her from being a faithful wife an d loving mother.
Allie had six children. She was the best of homemakers an d made every effort to keep her family together until her death. During World War II, Allie worked at the Douglas Aircraft plant. She worked over 25 years at the Purcell Hospital. The work was hard with many long hours, but she enjoyed taking care of people.

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