She was daughter of William Shawhan of KY and wife Eliza Lloyd.

[Contributor Michael L. Ramsey #46546076 gives her full maiden name as Martha Bell Shawhan.]

1870 census, Lees Summit, Jackson Co., MO, p. 117
W Shawhan Male 36 b. 1834 Kentucky White
Eliza Shawhan Female 25 1845 Kentucky White
D D Shawhan Male 13 1857 Kentucky White
W E Shawhan Male 11 1859 Kentucky White
Martha B Shawhan Female 10 1860 Kentucky White
Jno Morgan Shawhan Male 7 1863 Kentucky White
Chs T Shawhan Male 2 1868 Missouri White
Geo Ed Shawhan Male 0 1870 Missouri White

1880 census, Van Buren Township, Jackson, Missouri
William Shawhan Male 47 b. 1833 Kentucky, Married Farmer White Self; parents b. KY
Eliza A. Shawhan Female 32 1848 Kentucky, Married Keeping House White Wife; parents b. KY
Mattie B. Shawhan Female 18 1862 Kentucky, United States Single White Daughter
John M. Shawhan Male 16 1864 Kentucky, United States Single Laborer, School White Son
Charles C. Shawhan Male 12 1868 Kentucky, United States Single Laborer, School White Son
George R. Shawhan Male 10 1870 Missouri, United States Single Laborer, School White Son
Joseph Shawhan Male 6 1874 Missouri, United States Single White Son
Minerva Shawhan Female 4 1876 Missouri, United States Single White Daughter
Mary F. Shawhan Female 2 1878 Missouri, United States Single White Daughter
E. Shawhan Male 0 1880 Missouri, United States Single White Son

She married 12 Feb 1890, Independance, Jackson Co., MO to William J. Cave, son of John S. Cave and his wife Nancy Hunter.

1900 Jackson Co., MO, Van Buren Twp., p. 232
William Cave, b. Nov 1863, 36, m. 10 yrs, MO VA VA
Mattie, b. Jul 1860, 0 chdn, KY KY KY
Joseph Shanohan, boarder, b. Jan 1876, MO KY KY

Living in Lone Jack, Jackson Co., MO in 1905.

Mattie died in 1934 and according to her death certificate was buried in Lees Summit cemetery.

No children.