Biographies C
John Green Cates
J.G. Cates was born in Muhlenberg County, KY, November 23, 1849, and is the sixth of eight children, three boys and five girls born to Wilson G. and Rebecca S. Cates.
The eldest child, Margaret E., married P.B. Hale, of Texas; Samuel J., who served four years in the United States services, married Minerva Thrailkill, of Spencer County, Ind.; Joanna M. was married to Washington Singleton, of Indiana; Robert D., died while in the United States service in 1863; Julia A., married William M. Brisco, of Indiana; Sarah S. died in infancy; Mary A. married S. Lacefield, of Grayson County, KY.
The father of our subject was a son of Robert D. Cates, of South Carolina, and great-grandson of Robert Cates, of England. He [Wilson G. Cates] came to Muhlenberg County, KY, in 1836, and in 1839 was married to Rebecca S. Long, daughter of Samuel C. and Joanna (Culvertson) Long, and granddaughter of William Long, of Lexington, KY, formerly of Philadelphia, PA. The father [Wilson G. Cates] served over three years as a soldier in the Third Kentucky Cavalry and was with the regiment in all its battles. He died at Dawson Springs, KY, January 7, 1884.
J.G. Cates was reared on a farm; he received a good common school education and was for three years employed in teaching. In 1878, he applied for and obtained a patent on a weed-turning device, and was engaged in disposing of his invention until 1881, when he went into the mercantile business at Central City, KY.
He was married September 25, 1883, to Joanna M. Long, of Auburn, Logan Co., KY, daughter of William B. and Mary T. (James) Long and grandaughter of R.F. Long of Russellville, KY; Mary T. James was a daughter of C.L. James, who married Elizabeth Ashburn, both natives of Virginia.
Mr. and Mrs. Cates have one child - Samuel DeWitt. Mrs. Cates is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cates is a Christian free from sectarian bias, and believes the time is not far distant when the different church organizations will unite and form the grand church of Christ.
Source: Battle, J.H., W.H. Perrin, and G.C. Kniffen. Kentucky: A History of the State. Louisville, KY: F.A. Battey, 1885. Page 899-900.
Contributed by Dorann O'Neal Lam
Updated July 6, 2018