Old Historic Home Near Elkhorn Tavern Burns
Published in 1927, source unknown
Published in 1927, source unknown
Editorial note: When preparing to share this article, I thought I had a photo of the house. After checking some sources, it turns out that was not the house talked about in the article. This article includes many common names in the area, so we will go ahead and publish it. If a verified photo of this home is located, it will be added at a later time.
The country residence and all its contents, belonginging to James Mayfield were entirely destroyed by fire on December 9. There was a small insurance.
With the destruction of this home, marks the passing of the second house that has stood on these ruins.
The first was built in the early [eighteen] fifties by Matthew Cavness, an early pioneer, and grand father of Henry Cavness, city marshal of Bentonville.
In 1859, Mr. Cavness sold the farm, consisting of 500 acres, to Charles W. Rice, who came here that year with his family from middle Tennessee. Charles M. Rice, widely known Bentonville attorney, a son, was but two months old at the time.
Just before the battle of Pea Ridge was fought, Union officers told the settlers to seek safety in the big cellar underneath the Rice home. Mr. Rice says he plainly remembers the time and the crowd of women and childern who gathered in it. The country was over run with soldiers wearing the blue or the gray. It was during this battle that the house was destroyed by fire.
On the ruins of this house, Charles W. Rice built a second home for his family at the close of the war. All the lumber in it came from the mill of Peter Van Winkle near War Eagle, a famous one in early days, and many loads of pine and oak lumber were hauled by wagon to Kansas, Missouri, the Indian territory and Arkansas river points. These were the days of the big mule and ox teams and before railroads through this country were thought of.
With the destruction of this home, marks the passing of the second house that has stood on these ruins.
The first was built in the early [eighteen] fifties by Matthew Cavness, an early pioneer, and grand father of Henry Cavness, city marshal of Bentonville.
In 1859, Mr. Cavness sold the farm, consisting of 500 acres, to Charles W. Rice, who came here that year with his family from middle Tennessee. Charles M. Rice, widely known Bentonville attorney, a son, was but two months old at the time.
Just before the battle of Pea Ridge was fought, Union officers told the settlers to seek safety in the big cellar underneath the Rice home. Mr. Rice says he plainly remembers the time and the crowd of women and childern who gathered in it. The country was over run with soldiers wearing the blue or the gray. It was during this battle that the house was destroyed by fire.
On the ruins of this house, Charles W. Rice built a second home for his family at the close of the war. All the lumber in it came from the mill of Peter Van Winkle near War Eagle, a famous one in early days, and many loads of pine and oak lumber were hauled by wagon to Kansas, Missouri, the Indian territory and Arkansas river points. These were the days of the big mule and ox teams and before railroads through this country were thought of.
