McDonough ILGenWeb

CATES, Richard, a prominent and successful stock dealer residing in Prairie City, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Wayne County, Md., February 27, 1836, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Cramer) Cates, who were natives, respectively, of Knoxville, Tenn., and the State of North Carolina. The father was born in 1818 and died in 1896, the mother dying in 1901. Daniel Cates moved from Tennessee to Wayne County, Ind., in 1825, still later to Howard County in the same State, and from there to Centerville, Iowa. He then went to Mercer County, Mo., and subsequently to Southwestern Kansas, where he owned considerable land. From that State he returned to Howard County, Ind., where he died. Richard Cates came to Illinois in 1862, locating first at Fairview, Fulton County, Ill., and at Prairie City in 1868 he soon afterward engaged in the stock business, which he has since followed continuously for thirty-five years, buying and shipping cattle. He has also dealt considerably in real estate.

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, April 5, 1857, with Amanda E. Smith, who was born in Ohio, March 9, 1841. Four children resulted from this union, namely: Alice, Josephine, Jesse and Charles Melville. The mother passed away in 1902. In political matters Mr. Cates gives his support to the Democratic party. In 1894 he was elected Township Assessor. Throughout his long residence in this vicinity, Mr. Cates has enjoyed the reputation of being a man of honorable character, and the many with whom he has had business relations are accustomed to speak of him with unvarying respect.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907.