The Caddel family is indeed a remarkable and outstanding family that has historical roots with achievements in developing of Onega into the bedroom community that it is today with the massive construction of fine homes and plans of huge business endeavors which are becoming an attraction to the one time Indian settlement. Aubrey has developed a fine school system that has progressed from the log cabin with a dirt floor into a handsome Victorian structure that gave way to more fine and elaborate masonry structures that house our educational system of the 2000s.

This Caddel family has ties back to around the Civil War Era. They were involved with the cotton industry back during the late 1800's and had many accomplishments in the building of Victorian homes that are still serving the need of today’s family life. They are also one of the early day pioneer families that stretches into the Cherokee Heritage of Aubrey when it was known as Onega, an Indian name of the Cherokee tribe.

The Caddel family has been involved with the beautiful area of these Cross timbers regions of North Texas in its development into a most attractive and productive region created by Christian seeking endeavors. I am sure that the Caddels were in Onega when it lost its Indian name of Onega to the more acceptable Black Dutch oriented name of Aubrey.

The name change meant that the suspicions of the Indian heritage were more accepted and the tribe of Indians could then see their way to becoming a new and acceptable civilization. Many of the Victorian homes of this village were designed and engineered by the Caddel family.

While they knew that their ancestry was a part of the Cherokee inheritance, they also knew that the new identity would allow them to live a life of productivity in the building of the fine old homes. Many still exist to this day, and more precisely I am one that enjoys living in and making my Grandfather’s old home a part of my life.

Riley Caddel, a builder, with the help of others including my grandfather, Wood Goin, Sanford Slaton and Will Harmon built the home that I enjoy today. It was built in 1894. My home has been in my family since 1918.

Riley Caddel used the home only a few short years after its completion.

While my Dad was serving in the World War I, he was able to save enough money to help my grandparents purchase the home, and it has been in my family since the World War I.

Jackie, my wife and I with our five children have used this home while they were growing up to adulthood.

With Beverley’s help and with what Howard Kelly has given me, I will research and continue to include the Caddel family in the rightful place in the history of our town.

One another note of local interest, the Cherokees have an option to participate in a newly formed group, that are calling themselves "The Onega District of the Texas Cherokees." The group will continue to meet on the second Saturday of each month at 11:00 a.m. at the House of God Baptist Church. DWayne Carroll, an active member in the past several years of the Northern Towns District moderated the group in an organizational business meeting and a nomination committee was elected and will be responsible for the nomination of a Chief’s Representative, a Secretary, Treasurer and other local tribal officers.

Goals and future plans are being placed into existence and the local group will be free from former responsibilities of the Northern District. The newly organized group is interested in the Onega Heritage of the local area. It was emphasized that loyalty and flexibility would be a part of the groups effort in enlisting other tribal members of the area and that a deep concern of each others effort in the preservation of the Cherokee lineage and that the group is interested in the needs of its fellow Cherokee tribal brothers and sisters.

It was also mentioned during the meeting that at least twenty families of the early day Onega settlers that are still residing in the area and many of these families have as many as 200 member per family.

Another item of discussion was that our local group has been made aware that some of the old Indian Burial grounds are being disturbed by the growing subdivisions. As a group, we would like to ask the newcomers to our area to make inquiry with the builder and make sure you new bedroom is not located on an Indian’s place of rest.

My photo this week is of one that I am sure most of us are acquainted with and it is the Tipi of Bouncer and Jackie Goin.