Thomas Donald Caven

Thomas Donald Caven (May 21, 1871 – February 20, 1926) was a Canadian politician and railway employee.

Thomas D. Caven
MLA for Cranbrook
In office
1909–1916
Preceded byJames Horace King
Succeeded byJames Horace King
Personal details
Born(1871-05-21)May 21, 1871
Picton, Ontario
DiedFebruary 20, 1926(1926-02-20) (aged 54)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Dickerson
(m. 3 Nov 1906)
ResidenceCranbrook, British Columbia
Occupationrailroad employee

Caven was born in 1871 in Ontario to John Caven and Adelia Bougard.[1] He came to Cranbrook around 1898 upon the completion of the Crowsnest Pass line of the Canadian Pacific Railway.[2]

Caven was an employee of the Canadian Pacific Railway, a longtime railway conductor.[1] A 1903 article stated that his property interests were largely a part of his money earned as a railway employee, noting that he "[represented] the people that have made Cranbrook one of the flourishing and progressive towns of the province."[3] In the 1903 British Columbia general election, he obtained the Conservative nomination for the provincial electoral district of Cranbrook, but he would ultimately lose out to Liberal James Horace King. After another defeat in 1907, Caven would eventually head to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, elected in 1909 and again, this time by acclamation in 1912.[4] His term ended in 1916 when he was defeated again by James H. King. He attempted a return in 1920 as an Independent Conservative but he was defeated by King once again.[2][4] He retired from the railway in 1923.[2]

In November 1906, Caven married Elizabeth Dickerson of Emporium, Pennsylvania.[1] He was an active member of the freemasons, taking part in the Cranbrook Masonic Lodge, Royal Arch Masons and Seklirk Preceptory.[2] Thomas Caven died suddenly February 20, 1926 at Vancouver.[5] A newspaper report noted the "profound shock" that his death sent across the East Kootenay region, as it was not known that he was in ill health at the time.[2]

Electoral history
10th British Columbia election, 1903
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
ConservativeThomas Donald Caven43546.52%unknown
     Liberal James Horace King 500 53.48% unknown
Total valid votes 935 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
12th British Columbia election, 1909
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
ConservativeThomas Donald Caven76154.16%unknown
SocialistJohn William Fitch14310.18%–unknown
     Liberal Malcolm Archibald MacDonald 501 35.66% unknown
Total valid votes 1,405 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
13th British Columbia election, 1912
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
ConservativeThomas Donald CavenAccl. -.- %unknown
Total valid votes n/a -.-%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
14th British Columbia election, 1916
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
ConservativeThomas Donald Caven50440.94%unknown
     Liberal James Horace King 727 59.06% unknown
Total valid votes 1,231 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
15th British Columbia election, 1920
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
Independent ConservativeThomas Donald Caven90549.02%
     Liberal James Horace King 941 50.98%
Total valid votes 1,846 100.00%

References
  1. "Record Details —". Familysearch.org. 1906-11-03. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  2. "Thomas Caven of Cranbrook, Dies at Coast", Lethbridge Herald, The, Monday, February 22, 1926, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
  3. "BC Historical Newspapers|UBC Library". Historicalnewspapers.library.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  4. An electoral history of British Columbia, 1871–1986
  5. "Record Details —". Familysearch.org. 1926-02-20. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
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