Captain George Leonidas Cathey

I have spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out who William Glenn Cathey who fought in the Civil War is, and I finally found him (but that’s another post for another day…it involves a chicken, just remember that).  While searching through the Cathey Family History and Genealogy, Volume 1 (Boyt Henderson Cathey, Genealogy Publishing Services, 1993) I found a family in Henry, Jasper and Heard Counties, Georgia that started as Cathy, then changed to Cathey (but that’s, again, another story for another day…but doesn’t involve a chicken…that I know of).  I went on Ancestry searching specifically for an 1827 McDonough, Henry County, Georgia census (which I couldn’t find, so I guess I will have to make my way up to the Henry and Clayton Genealogical Society again), but ended up searching the General Name File on the Georgia Archives and I found a name with a newspaper article.  BUT, before I get to the article, let me tell you what I found in the book.

Ok, so to figure out if the man in the newspaper article, Captain George Cathey, was even related to me (which I don’t know since there doesn’t appear to be much information about him on Ancestry public trees, and what is there doesn’t match up to the newspaper article).  So, in the Cathey book is the following about him (Chapter 8: The Civil War Period, Page 271):

George Leonidas Cathey (RN=10314)

George Leonidas Cathey (RN=10314) was born in Danville, Virginia, on 27 Nov. 1822, the son of William A. Cathey and Jennie Lessly.  At an early age they moved to Iredell County, North Carolina, where George began teaching before the state had a public school system.  He later moved to Georgia, teaching there until he entered the CSA Army.  He was captain of Company C, Georgia Legion, Lisk’s Brigade.

FATHER: William A. Cathey (RN=3005)

MOTHER: Jennie Lessly (RN=5063)

BORN: 27 Nov 1822

  AT: Danville, VA

MARITAL STATUS: Single

DIED ON: 18 Jan 1923

  AT: Raleigh, NC

NUMBER OF CHILDREN: 0

Following the war George resumed his teaching career in Georgia.  Later, he moved back to NC, teaching in Swain, Graham and Macon Counties.  George retired at the age of 96 and a few years later took up residence in the Confederate Soldiers’ Home in Raleigh, NC.  On 29 November 1922, two days after his 100th birthday, the North Carolina Teachers Assembly awarded him a certificate of honor and merit in recognition of his record of more than 75 years as a school teacher.  He is buried in the Confederate Cemetery in Raleigh.(sources listed in back of book)

Now, for the article:

Atlanta Constitution, November 27, 1921

Raleigh, N.C. November 26-

Captain George Cathey, who taught in Georgia and North Carolina for almost 80 years, is celebrating his 100th birthday at the North Carolina home for Confederate Soldiers here today.  He is enjoying remarkable good health, having use of all his faculties.  Captain Cathey was born near Danville, Va., on November 26, 1821, and began teaching when he was 18 years of age.  With the exception of the time he served as a captain in a Georgia regiment during the war between the states, he continued to teach until two years ago, his last school being in Macon county, in the mountains of North Carolina.

Various chapters of the Daughters of the Confederacy today showered Captain Cathey with gifts, including handsome furniture for his room at the home.  Captain Cathey has three daughters living in Atlanta and one son in Charlotte.

No information (relative?) to Captain George Cathey (can be?) secured in Atlanta.

Oddly enough his death certificate lists his birthdate as November 27, 1822.  His death certificate also lists his place of birth as Macon County, North Carolina, but it was a member of the hospital staff that was the informant.  He is listed as a widower on the death certificate, also.  I can see on Ancestry trees that people have him marrying a Miranda Parazada Crisp on July 27,  1893 in Graham County, North Carolina, but I can’t find the marriage record, or any other for him.  And those same trees show him only having one to four sons.

Captain Georgia Leonidas Cathey died on January 18, 1923 in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.  The cause of death contributed to by broncho pneumonia, but I can’t read the immediate cause.  It looks like “died suddenly while (something) folding”.

The one thing that can’t be denied is that on November 27, 1921 the Atlanta Constitution reported his 100th birthday celebration the day before, along with having at least three daughters and one son (though the question arises over whether or not those were actually all of his children, or if some may have been daughters- and/or son-in laws).  All in all it’s an interesting story.

Sure wish I knew if this guy is related to my Cathey family!