DATE: 1861-1904, bulk 1861-1863
CREATOR: Cavender, John Smith
SCOPE: Correspondence and related papers of John Smith Cavender, Union soldier in the Civil War.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Gen. John Smith Cavender was born in Franklin, N. H., March 11, 1824. Gen. Cavender's grandfather, who was of Irish descent served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his children were prominently identified with the early history of the country. His son John Cavender, early engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods, but in a few years gave up manufacturing to become a merchant. He married a woman of Scotch-English descent, who was the mother of John Smith Cavender.
When the son was twelve years of age the Cavender family removed to St. Louis and embarked in the grocery business. Young Cavender had been sent to the district school in his native town before he was removed to the West, and after spending four years in the St. Louis schools he was sent back to New Hampshire to complete his education. He first entered Phillips' Exeter, and, after fitting himself for a college course, concluded his studies with a year in the Mercantile Class and Law school at Cambridge, Mass.
Soon after leaving college Mr. Cavender engaged in the hide and fur business in St. Louis, which he pursued nearly three years during which he traveled extensively through the Western country. Upon quitting the hide and fur business, in 1848 he purchased the shoe manufacture and boot and shoe house of John C. Abbott, and conducted them with such signal success that in ten years he had accumulated a handsome fortune...
In 1860, complaints having been made that Col. Montgomery of Kansas was contemplating a raid into Missouri, a brigade of the National Guards, with Mr. Cavender as adjutant, went to the border counties to capture the invaders. In the meantime he had been elected by the Free-soilers to represent the county of St. Louis in the state legislature and immediately after his return from the border counties he took his seat in the general assembly. At the close of the session, which was a stormy one, military preparations were making and he returned to St. Louis and began to raise recruits for the first company of the First regiment of Missouri volunteers, of which he was made captain. The first regiment joined the troops under Lyon, and after the taking of Camp Jackson proceeded up the river on steamboats toward Jefferson City. From Springfield Lyon sent Capt. Cavender back to St. Louis with letters to Gen. Fremont asking for reinforcements. He returned with the promise of the reinforcements, and arrived in time to take part himself in the fight at Wilson's Creek, where he was wounded three times in the body and left for dead...
For gallant conduct at Arkansas Post and Shiloh he was made a brigadier general by brevet.
On hearing of the death of his father Gen. Cavender returned to his home in St. Louis and resigned his commission. In 1867 Gen. Cavender was elected to the state senate from the Thirty-third senatorial district...
Gen. Cavender was married to Miss L. W. Rogers of Massachusetts in 1854, who survives him with their four sons, the oldest 30 and the youngest 13.
(Transcribed from the Missouri Republican. St. Louis: February 24, 1886.)
EXTENT: 25 letters with transcriptions, 3 transcribed obituaries, 1 biography (typescript copy)
ACCESS: This is collection M-411. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.
RESTRICTIONS: None
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.”
