Thomas Donald Caven

Thomas Donald Caven (May 21, 1871 – February 20, 1926) was a Canadian politician and railway employee. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1909 to 1916, representing Cranbrook.

Thomas D. Caven
MLA for Cranbrook
In office 1909–1916
Preceded by	James Horace King
Succeeded by	James Horace King
Personal details
Born	(1871-05-21)May 21, 1871 Picton, Ontario
Died	February 20, 1926(1926-02-20) (aged 54) Vancouver, British Columbia
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Dickerson (m. 3 Nov 1906)
Residence	Cranbrook, British Columbia
Occupation	railroad 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 on 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
	Conservative	Thomas Donald Caven	435	46.52%		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
	Conservative	Thomas Donald Caven	761	54.16%		unknown
	Socialist	John William Fitch	143	10.18%	–	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
	Conservative	Thomas Donald Caven	Accl.	-.- %		unknown
Total valid votes			n/a	-.-%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout			%

14th British Columbia election, 1916

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±	Expenditures
	Conservative	Thomas Donald Caven	504	40.94%		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 Conservative	Thomas Donald Caven	905	49.02%
	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.