My Genealogy Hound

Mrs. Diana B. Cavenagh is the widow of William C. Cavenagh. She was born in Chicago, Ill., April 15, 1834, being a daughter of Col. Richard J. and Diana (Buckner) Hamilton, both natives of Kentucky, the former born in 1800 and the latter in 1804, their union taking place in 1820. Col. Hamilton was educated near Louisville, Ky., and became a lawyer by profession, which calling received his attention all his life, the city of Chicago, Ill., being the field of his labors. He held all the offices which the city could bestow upon him, and in 1858 ran for governor of the State against Col. Richardson, and was defeated by a small majority. He was a Knight Templar Mason, and at the time of his death, December 24, 1861, he was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife was a daughter of Col. William B. and Etena Buckner, and bore her husband the following family: Sarah A. (the wife of Henry A. Mitchell, a resident of Groton, Conn.), Ellen (the wife of Dr. John H. Kenon, a resident of Chicago, Ill., she being the first white child born in that city), Diana B. (Mrs. Cavenagh), Henry E., Richard N. (deceased), Sidney B., Pauline (deceased), and Pauline (named for her sister). The mother of these children died April 24, 1834, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their daughter, Diana B., was first married November 1, 1855, to Breckenridge Blackburn, who was born in Woodford County. Ky., February 26, 1832, and was educated in Louisville, Ky., for the profession of law, which occupation received his attention all his life. He served in the late Civil War, and was major of the first company that went out from Memphis, Tenn., but at the time of his departure from that city he held the rank of captain, being afterward promoted. He presented the first Confederate flag to Gen. Forrest’s brigade in Forrest Square, of Memphis, Tenn., and during his term of service was in the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge (in which engagement he lost his right arm), Arkansas Post, and at one time was captured and taken prisoner to Camp Chase, and after being kept in captivity for eleven months was exchanged. He then took up the practice of law in Memphis, Tenn., and there died of that dreadful scourge, yellow fever, on October 21, 1867, being an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. To himself and wife a daughter was born: Mary E., who was born September 17, 1856, in Chicago, and on August, 8, 1877, became the wife of Walter A. Jones (an architect by calling), who was born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1855, and died on August 8, 1878. Mrs. Cavenagh was married to Dr. William C. Cavenagh, December 14, 1877, he being a native of Dublin, Ireland, born December 24, 1826, and educated in Trinity College of that city, and in 1849 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Mississippi. After remaining in that State a short time he removed to New Orleans, and after practicing there for three years moved to Memphis, Tenn., where he practiced the healing art until his death, being a very successful practitioner. He joined the Southern army as a surgeon in 1861, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, then returned to his home in Memphis and practiced medicine until his death, August 30, 1880. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, the K. of H., the Catholic Knights of America and the A. O. U. W. He was, as is his widow, a member of the Catholic Church.