Category: Cathey Family

I have been staring at this obituary for a bit now, and finally decided to pull up some information that my Cathey cousin, Tracey, had sent to me. I finally figured some stuff out, but it definitely left me with an important question.

The first problem I came across a few years ago is what I found in Reflections From Our Past: a Pictorial History of Houston County, Tennessee (2001), page 257:

William Glenn Cathey was born 1857 in Stewart County, died July 6, 1906, in Houston County, Tennessee, and is buried in the Nolan Cemetery, Hurricane Creek Mills, Tennessee.  He married Mary Elizabeth Summers in 1888 in Houston County.  William Glenn and Lizzie had five children:

Riley Leonard, Acra Archie, George Arlee, Katie, Ludie Mae, and Willie Richard. (that is obviously six children)

Written down in Lizzie’s book (that was hand-copied by her daughter Maggie) is that William Glenn was born June 12, 1851.  We know it wasn’t that early, so I’m wondering if she made a mistake. Or it may have been misread (I sure wish we could find the original!).  She also writes that William Glenn died on June 6, 1906 in Humphreys County. Which makes total sense due to the date of the obituary.

Now, before I go any further, I also want to point out that Lizzie’s records and the 1900 census state that she and William Glenn were married in August 1888 in Houston County.  As I have posted before, they were married August 26, 1889 in Houston County.  And what is more interesting is that her oldest son Riley Leonard was born October 19, 1889 – nearly two months after their wedding.  So keeping that in mind, from the June 8, 1906 edition of The Tennessean (Nashville), page 6:

WAVERLY, Tenn., June 7.-(Special.)- William Cathey, of Big Hurricane Creek, died last evening, aged 45 years. His wife and five children survive him.

So, this tells us that he did actually die on June 6, not July 6, and that he was 45 years old, placing him born in or around 1861.  This also helps to confirm that the overgrown and hidden Nolan Cemetery on Hurricane Creek is the burial place of William Glenn (click here).

The most oft posted picture of the family shows Acra, Arlee, Lizzie, William Glenn, Katie, Ludie, and baby Willie.  Willie was born in August of 1905. And Acra had said that his father died of pneumonia.  The fact that William Glenn is standing apart, and looking quite gaunt, from the family leads me to believe he was quite ill when it was taken, so very shortly before his death.  The photograph does not show Riley, however.  Which leads to this question now:

Did Riley Cathey die?  There are family stories that Riley a) ran away from home, never to be heard of again, and b) died during WWI. 

A Riley Cathey (Cathers?) is found living and working for a family in Gibson County in 1910.  He is the same age as Riley, but disappears after that census. And looking through (what is left of) WWI draft registration cards and records show no Riley and/or Leonard Cathey. 

Maybe Riley wasn’t really a Cathey?  Could he have been the child of another man?  Lizzie, a few years after William Glenn’s death had a daughter Maggie out of wedlock, but she did marry William Green Smith (Maggie’s father… I guess? Maggie was born February 28, 1910 and Bill Green married Lizzie on August 6, 1911).  Perhaps there is a possibility that Riley found out and ran away, disowning his family?

Or, and this is based on the obituary, is it possible that Riley died in Arkansas, on the way back to Tennessee from Arkansas, or when they return to Tennessee? 

One find always leads to more questions.

Several weeks ago I received an email from a DNA cousin who matches on my Cathey line.  She was asking if I knew much about the Catheys in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina since her ancestor is on the census in 1830 in said county, wedged between Sarah Cathey and George Cathey. 

1830 US Federal Census, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, p. 374

Peggy Cathey

Free colored males under 10: 1

Free colored females under 10: 2

Free colored females 10-23: 3

Free colored females 24-35: 2

Free colored females 36-54: 1

I know that the George Cathey who Peggy lives by is not my 5th great-grandfather George (son of Josiah Cathey and Rachel Clark), because by 1830 he was already living in Stewart County, Tennessee. 

According to the 1850 census, Peggy was born about 1795.  I have already gone through several Cathey wills, and I am going to check out several other surnames.  I have also searched the Race & Slavery Project maintained by The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  My next step is to contact Mecklenburg County to see if they are able to find any information.  Back in the 1830s in North Carolina there would have been a will granting freedom, or a court record of some sort. 

I would love to find the connection, for myself as well as for my distant DNA cousin!

These records were sent to me by a distant Cathey cousin, “Sis”. 

Mecklenburg County Court Records, 175-1785

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

1778. October Session.

Ordered that Letters of Administration issue to Rachel Cathey, Widow & Relict of Josiah Cathey decd., who produced for her Security Thomas Polk and George Cathey [who were] bound in the sum of £1400, Admrx. sworn.

1781. October Session.

Alexander Elliot in Rite of his wife as Admn. of the Estate of Josiah Cathey, Decd., Settled said Estate after deducting his wifes third and the Sum of £20 allowed by the Court to Sd. Admr. for their Service etc.  There remains in the the Hands of Said Admn.the Sum of £270.00.11 which he now paid to the Guardians Viz: Geo. Cathey, Henry Benson & Margaret Benson as Admst. of Jas. Benson, Decd.  Returned Inventory & account Sales Amounting to £2,401.19.6 and produced Vouchers against Sd. Estate Amounting to £800.3.6 [leaving a] Balance in their Hands [of] £1,601.16.0.

1781. October Session.

Ordered that Geo. Cathey be Guardian of the Children of Jos. Cathey [page broken away] gave bond & Robert Mitchell Security in the Sum of £800.

(Geo. Cathey mentioned in both October Sessions is not George, the some of Josiah, but George the father of Josiah)

1783. October Session.

On Motion, Ordered that Alexander Elliott have leave to remove out of this County the Orphan Children of Josiah Cathey, deceased, who offers for his Security Francis Moore & Isaac Milligan [who] were bound in the Sum of £200, Condition that the said Elliot furnish the said Orphans with the several necessaries Which they may from time to time have occasion for, and on Notice produce the Same into this Court that further proceedings, if required, thereon may be had.

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!

These newspaper articles prove that Acra Archie Cathey, my great-grandmother’s brother, was not hit by a car as his death certificate states.  In fact, it appears something sketchy was going on, especially when the death certificate and the facts of the case contradict each other.  I’m curious to see if I can find any police reports or court reports regarding the case.

I have transcribed the articles exactly how they were published, including the incorrect names of family members and misspellings.

Jackson-Sun, Front Page and Page 5

January 1, 1945

Sheriff Investigates Death Of Man Found Near Gibson Line

Sheriff Tom Lewis stated today that he is holding a man listed as James A. McKenzie in cnonection with an investigation into the death of Acra A. Cathey, 51-year-old World War I veteran, whose body was found near the Gibson county line Sunday morning.

Cathey’s head appeared to have been hit by a blunt instrument, Sheriff Lewis said, the blow causing death.  Officers believe that the body was then placed on the highway to make it appear that he was the victim of a hit-run driver.

Sheriff Lewis stated that a hammer was found in a car belonging to McKenzie, and that other items found there indicated there may be a close connection between the man’s death and occupants of the car.

Cathey’s body was found by an unidentified person and the find reported to Hunt Funeral Home in Humboldt.  Sheriff Doe Garrison of Gibson county, some of his deputies and police officers of Humboldt first took up the investigation in the belief that Cathey had been found in that couny.  Later investigations, however, disclose that the body was in Madison county and Sheriff Lewis was notified.

Officers found Cathey’s empty pocket book some feet from the body, leading to the theory that robbery may have been a cause of his death.

Tracing the movements of the car’s passengers, Sheriff Lewis reports that McKenzie and a woman giving her name as Mrs. Mary Depriest of Georgia spent the night in Humboldt.  Mr. and Mrs. “Red” Glover, who are said to have been with them for a time, returned to Jackson.

While investigating the Humboldt angle of the matter, Sheriff Lewis was notified that a man was trying to drive the car from its parking place on the highway.  Returning to the car, Sheriff Lewis found McKenzie and took him into custody.

Sheriff Lewis said at noon today that he is continuing the investigation with the assstance of Sheriff Garrison and other officers and hope to solve the case in the near future.

Cathey, who was born and reared in Hickman County, Tenn., served as a sergeant of  Company B, 11th Infantry, during World War I.  He moved to Humboldt soon after his discharge, and was married to Miss Annie Lou Prickard.  He had engaged in farming.

Surviving are his wife; three daughters, Dorothy E. Cathey, Annie R. Cathey and Ruby Frances Cathey, of Humboldt; a son, Arthur D. Cathey of Humboldt; his mother, Mrs. Lizzie Smith of Waverly; a sister, Mrs. C. A. Daniels of Martin; two half-sisters, Mrs. Granville Baker of Waverly and Mrs. J. W. Rushing of Martin; two brothers, G. A. Cathey of Memphis and W. R. Cathey of Detroit, Mich.; and a half-brother, Walton Smith of Waverly.

Funeral services were held in Humboldt this afternoon at the chapel of Hunt Funeral Home with the Dr. S. R. Woodson, pastor of the First Baptist church of Humboldt, officiating.  Interment followed in Mt. Zion cemetery.

Jackson-Sun, Front Page

January 5, 1945

Release M’Kenzie On Own Recognizance In Cathey Investigation

Sheriff Tom Lewis announced today that he has released James A. McKenzie of Jackson and Mrs. Mary Depriest of Georgia on their own recognizance pending outcome of an investigation into the death of Acra A. Cathey of Humboldt.

Mr. and Mrs. Bedford Glover had already been released in a similar manner as material witnesses to events preceeding the finding of Cathey’s body on the Humboldt Highway a short distance from the Gibson county line.

Sheriff Lewis stated that there is a necessary time lag at this point while certain tests needed in the inquiry can be made and their results known.