Faulkner County, Arkansas Census and History by Sondra Johnson Cates Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson - 2012 1
Copyright 2012 by Sondra Johnson. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system. Disclaimer While every effort has been made to produce as accurate and reliable information as possible, the certainty of errors is inherent in human nature. A number of resources have been used to construct the contents, some of which may also contain errors or misleading information. The author, therefore, advises that the information contained in this document should not be used to supplant or otherwise take the place of independently documenting and verifying any information contained herein. Dedication and Acknowledgements This census is dedicated to my sweet, dear mother, Veradean McCord, my wise and understanding sister, Charlotte Moudy, and Suzee Cia, my tried-and true, faithful friend, who have continually supported my efforts to complete this long and difficult project. It is also dedicated to the memory of so many loved ones that have gone before us, whose lives changed our history and our perspectives of life. To my Lord and Savior, whom I thank for guiding me and watching over me as I walked the hallowed grounds and for giving me courage, strength, and determination. Throughout the years that it took to complete the Faulkner County Cemetery Census, I was helped along the way by many people. To name them all, would be difficult due to the passage of time and I would run the risk of omitting some. However, I would like to especially thank the following: Veradean (Johnson) McCord, Charlotte (Johnson) Moudy, Stephanie (Moudy) Weatherington, Glenna (Blair) Shumate, Suzee (White) Cia, Joe Melton, Connie (Hall) Weir, Lynita Langley-Ware, Desmond (Walls) Allen, Euna and Steve Beavers, Charles Parsons, and Vivian Hogue. I'm also grateful for and indebted to Terri Buster and Charlie Ward, who have made it possible for me to accomplish my dream. Faulkner County, Arkansas, Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson For more information on the cemeteries of Faulkner County, Arkansas, contact Sondra Johnson at littlefishes@windstream.net or the Faulkner County Museum at fcm@conwaycorp.com Cates Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson - 2012 2
Cates Cemetery GPS Coordinates: 35 16.898 92 26.951 Township 7 North, Range 14 West Political Township: Union Location and Description Located on private property in the northern part of Faulkner County, this is a two-grave cemetery. According to Sherry Sutphin, Marillar Lafayette Cates and his wife, Louiza (Casharago) Cates were buried a short distance off Twin Creeks Drive in the Republican Community. History Marshall (or "Marillar") Lafayette Cates was born 1 October 1849 and died 5 June 1927. He married Louisa (or Louiza ) Casharago, who was born 25 March 1847 in Genoa, Italy, and died 19 December 1933. Mr. Cates is listed in the Pence Funeral Home records. He died of prostatitis and pneumonia at the age of 77. His burial place was listed as Republican Cemetery. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cates were enumerated in the 1998 Republican Community Cemetery census. William Cate was born on October 14, 1799, in Jefferson City, Tennessee, and died on October 7, 1839, in Athens, Tennessee. He married Elizabeth Mount, who was born in 1803 in Tennessee. They had a son named William Martin Cate, who was born in about 1822 in Tennessee, and died in Arkansas. He married Frances "Fanny" Flatford, daughter of Nathaniel Flatford (1800-1850) and Margaret Pearson (1801-1870). Fanny was born in about 1827 in Tennessee, and died in Arkansas in 1875. The burial place of William Martin and Fanny is unknown. Their children were William (1847 ), Margaret Elizabeth (1848-1909), Marshall Lafayette (1849-1927), Sarah Jane (1853-1914), Alford (1857 ), George (1861 ), Frances Theodocia (1864-1944), and Mary (1865 ). [Note: The surname "Cate" appears both with and without an "s" in different records and both spellings are used by researchers. ] Louisa Casharago was the daughter of Gilbert and Mary Magdalena (Tacchnini) Casharago. Casharago was originally spelled Casiraghi, but probably changed to reflect a more phonetically pronouncable name. Gilbert Casharago and his family moved to the northwest part of Faulkner County in about 1856. In addition to his wife, Mary Magdalena, he brought with him five children: Delila (1846-1937), who married Daniel Green McMillen; Josephine Christmas (1837-1905), who married Rueben Hawkins and Walter DeJarnatt; Henrietta Annette (1844-1935), who married George Mallett; Lewis Casharago (born about 1843), who married Jane Havens; and Louisa, who married Marshall L. Cates. Another daughter, Mary Jane, was born in White County, Arkansas, in 1851 and died in 1923. She married James Bradshaw and Samuel Smith. Cates Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson - 2012 3
On July 19, 1930, three daughters of Gilbert and Mary Magdalena Casharago were still living in Faulkner County and were interviewed about their family s immigration to America from Italy. The sisters were Mrs. Hetty Mallett (86), Mrs. Louisa ( Lou ) Cate (83), and Mrs. Lila McMillen (80). The account of their journey to America was given as follows: In 1850, when Vitorio Emanuele was king of Italy and Pius IX was the pope, many families became discouraged and weary of religious oppression and government anarchy. The Casharago family was among those who decided to leave their country and make their homes in America, where liberty and freedom reigned. The sisters told of the seven-month crossing of the Atlantic and their final landing in the port of New Orleans. At Little Rock, Gilbert purchased a wagon, ox team, household items, guns, and ammunition, and traveled to Prairie County. After two years there, the family moved to what is now Faulkner County. Stories about the plentiful game supply and bountiful grain fields were described. With an abundant amount of excitement, they described their early home conditions. One of the sisters pointed out the dress she was wearing, which had been made of homespun cloth fifty years before. When asked to give a description of Conway in 1850, they smiled and said there was no Conway only trees and grass were growing where the city now stands. Before the railroad was built in 1873, the Casharago sisters made from one to five trips to Little Rock to sell produce and buy supplies. These trips would take about a week for each trip. They camped any place they happened to be when night came. At Little Rock, they had to cross a pontoon bridge to get into town. (Source: Log Cabin Democrat) In 1926, The Log Cabin Democrat printed an article in their "Yesterday" column about M. L. Cate and his wife, Louisa. Two mattresses stuffed with wool, which grew on sheep raised in Milan, Italy, more than a century ago were still in use in the home of M. L. Cate, a farmer living near Republican. The mattresses were handed down from one generation to the next for nearly a century in Italy. The mattresses were brought to this country in 1855 by Gilbert Casharag. Mr. Casharago settled in a little village in what is now Republican. In the center of his village was one of the finest springs in the county. The springs were on land owned by Mr. Cascara and were named Cash Spring, an abbreviation of his name. Mr. Cate's wife was a daughter of Mr. Casharago. She said when the family made the voyage from Italy to America it took them 13 months. Mr. Cate is a lifelong and respected resident of Faulkner County. At 90 years of age he is still actively engaged in farming. Mrs. Cate is Louisa (Lou) Casharago and the M. L. Cate is Marshall LaFayette Cate, RESOURCES Faulkner County Census of Cemeteries as of December 31, 1987. Faulkner County Historical Society Faulkner County: Its Land and People. Faulkner County Historical Society, 1986. Republican Community Cemetery History and Census. Republican Community City Board, Inc. September 1998. Cates Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson - 2012 4
Beginning with the 1850 federal census, Martial Cates was one year old and living with his parents and siblings in Bradley County, Tennessee. The household consisted of William (28), Fanny (23), William (4), Margaret (2), Martial (1), and William Flatford (14). In the 1860 census, Marshal Cate was 10 and living with his parents and siblings in Camp Point, Adams County, Illinois. The family at that time consisted of William W. Cate (35), Fannie (30), William (13), Elizabeth (12), Marshal (10), Sarah (6), and Alfred (3). In the 1870 federal census, Marshal Cates (20) was enumerated in Hardin Township in Faulkner County, Arkansas. He was living with his family: William (50), Frances (37), Margaret (22), Alford (13), George (9), and Theodocia (5). In the 1880 census, Lafayette Cate was 31 years old and his occupation was listed as a farmer. Living in the household with him were his wife, Louisa Cate, age 31. They were still living in Hardin Township. The 1900 census of Union Township in Faulkner County listed M. L. Cates (50) and his wife, Louiza (33), and a daughter, Jeanetta Cates (12). In 1920, the census-taker enumerated Lafayette M. Cate (60) and his wife, Louisa (63) and a daughter, Beatrice G. Cate (22). In 1920, the census showed that Marshall L. Cates and his wife, Louisa, were living in Union Township in Faulkner County. The age of Marshall was incorrectly listed as 69, since he would have been 71 in 1920 (born in 1849) Photograph by Sherry Sutphin (2004) Cates Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson - 2012 5
Cates Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson - 2012 6
Driving Directions: From Greenbrier, drive north on Highway 65. Turn left (west) on Republican Road. Drive west until you see Twin Creeks Drive on your right. Turn right and drive to the end of Twin Creeks Drive. The cemetery is behind the house located at No. 7 Twin Creeks Drive. In 2010, there was a locked gate on Twin Creeks Drive, blocking access to the cemetery. Cates Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson - 2012 7