Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Union Soldiers
Wilson G. & Elizabeth Cates Pension Summation
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.
Source: National Archives, General Index to Pension, Files T-288 - #77
Contributed by Dorann O'Neal Lam
Updated August 12, 2017