Muhlenberg County Kentucky

Old Muhlenberg map

Family Group Records C

Notes for the Wilson G. Cates Family

Wilson G. Cates

Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, 1879-1903:
William [sic] G. Cates
Private, Company F, 3rd Regiment, KY Calvary
Cemetery: South Carrollton
Town: South Carrollton
County/State: Muhlenberg, KY
Date of death: January 06 [sic] 1884
Headstone supplied by WH F Gross- Lee Moss
Contract dated 28 September 1886

Military:
US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: William [sic] G. Cates
Enlistment Date: 20 October 1861
Rank at Enlistment: Private - Union
Enlistment Place: Calhoun, KY
State Served: Kentucky
Survived the War: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company F, Kentucky 3rd Cavalry Regiment on 13 December 1861. Mustered out on 26 December 1864.
Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky
Alternate Name: Wilson G. Cates

National Archives, General Index to Pension, Files T-288 - #77
Wilson G. Cates, widow Elizabeth, F. KY Cavalry
Date of Filing: (1) 12 May 1879 - Invalid - App. 285-565, Cert. 223.120
(2) 16 June 1890 - Widow - App. 425.658, Cert. 291-508 KY
Cause for which pensioned: injury to right thumb and left foot and disease of Abd. Vis. $4.00 monthly rate.
Date of original allowance: September 1876

Pension file contained depositions supporting Wilson's claim for pension and application following his death by Elizabeth Cates for pension as his widow. Also many papers relating to Elizabeth's son by previous marriage, including letters from him. Also photo of W.C. Johnson.

Wilson Cates was a carpenter, 6 ft. tall, and in his early seventies weighed 145-155 pounds. He was crippled in the war and stated he was unable to work at his trade; however, some of the depositions by physicians did not support this.

Deposition by Elizabeth Cates stated Wilson died 07 January 1884 in Dawson, KY. [Probably Dawson Springs. Other papers verified that this was in Hopkins Co., KY.

An affidavit by Wilson's son Samuel J. Cates: “In the matter of the pension claim of widow of W.G. Cates, he stated that he was the son of his father's second wife and that his father had married three times, the first time Miss [blank], the second time Miss Rebecca Long, who was his mother.”

Elizabeth Cates seemed to have been from Massac Co., Illinois. Her maiden name was not stated. She was married first to a Mr. Riter [Ritter?] and by him had a son James V. James V. was in the Civil War, Co. E 131 and Co. E. 29 IL Volunteers. He died 08 October 1864, Natchez, Mississippi, from fever contracted in line of duty. Elizabeth had applied for a pension as his dependent, though there were some questions as to whether she was his dependent, or whether he had married and had a child.

Elizabeth had divorced her first husband, and she married William C. “Cock-Eye” Johnson. They moved to Muhlenberg County and her second husband died (possibly) 16 January 1881. She then married Wilson Cates.

After Wilson's death she applied for a pension as his widow and received $8 per month, beginning 11 July 1890. A deposition by Nancy Stuart stated that Elizabeth Cates died 23 June 1895 near Melber, McCracken Co., KY. She was dropped from Pension Rolls, 04 May 1895.

Her address in Greenville in one of the depositions had been 7 Court Row.

Wilson G. Cates Timeline

1850 Federal Census - Slave Schedules - Muhlenberg:

Samuel J. Cates

US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: Samuel J. Cates
Enlistment Date: 16 September 1861
Rank at Enlistment: Sergeant - Union
Enlistment Place: Calhoon, KY
State Served: Kentucky
Survived the War: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company B, Kentucky 11th Infantry Regiment on 09 December 1861. Mustered out on 16 December 1864 at Bowling Green, KY.
Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of he State of Kentucky

Robert D. Cates

US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: Robert R. [sic] Cates
Enlistment Date: 25 January 1862
Rank at Enlistment: Private - Union
State Served: Kentucky
Survived the War: No
Service Record: Enlisted in Company C, Kentucky 26th Infantry Regiment on 08 March 1862. Mustered out on 15 February 1864 at Camp Nelson, KY.
Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky
Alternate Name: Robert D. Cates

Contributed by Dorann O'Neal Lam

Updated July 25, 2017