John William Ivey became an orphan at the age of twelve years and had received only a few month of schooling. He lived for two years with his sister Mrs. Ann (Ivey) Reeves.
At the age of fourteen he got his first job, which was carrying mail, by horseback. The job required him to furnish his own horse and make three round trips weekly from Leesville to Gonzales. His salary was five dollars per month. He resigned this post in 1878 and moved to Travis County where he found work on roads near Bee Cave, just west of Austin, Texas. This job paid three dollars a week.
He was a young and lonely boy among strangers and wanted to make friends. One Sunday in his new location, he saddled his horse and rode five miles to church. There he noticed a very beautiful young girl and her brother. He wanted to meet them so when the service was over he hurried out side and met them. They were also ho[13,10,]-->saw the girl in church often and even got up the courage to visit her at her home. About a year later on August 04, 1880 they were married. Her name was Rocksy Caldonia Kay and her brother’s name was James Wiley Kay. Their mother was Mary Ann (Heffington) Kay
Rocksy Caldonia (Kay) Ivey was born in the town of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas on April 21, 1864. Her Mothers’ family “the Heffington” a large and very favorably known family had extensive land holdings in Parker and Travis Counties, Texas.
Grandmother, Rocksy Caldonia Ivey was indeed a good and wonderful woman. She was truly admired and loved by all who knew her. She gave birth to fourteen children, ten boys and four girls.
From 1880 to 1897 John William and Rocksy Ivey lived at Bee Cave, Texas where the happiest moments of their lives were spent. It was there that eleven of their fourteen children were born. Throughout their lives they eluded to the good people of Cedar Valley as “Gods chosen children” “The salt of the earth”
In 1897 they moved to McGregor, McClellan County, Texas where they farmed.
In 1900 they moved to a farm and cattle ranch in Erath County near Stephenville, Texas.
It was in Erath County where John William Ivey became prosperous and was highly respected as a cowman.
John William Ivey died September 28, 1946 in Gordon, Texas. Rocksy Ivey died July 05, 1927. They are buried side by side in the Davidson Cemetery in Erath County, Texas.
Letter from LJI of his
fathers death
JOHN WILLIAM IVEY's SIBLINGS CONTINUES BELOW
