John Canavan was the 2nd oldest child of Anthony Canavan, Sr. and Ann Hughes. Also a farmer, he struck out for central Iowa, just northwest of its capital Des Moines. John Canavan married his cousin Anna Doyle (1852-1938). Her mother was Anthony Canavan, Sr.’s sister, Honora Canavan (1823-1901), one of nine children born to their common partents, Anthony Canavan and Catherine Kirby. The Hart family became related to the Canavan family when John and Anna Doyle’s daughter, Anna Delores Canavan (1855-1971), married James Francis Hart (1880-1954).
