I have borrowed a copy of the McMinn Co, TN Heritage committee's bk pub 1997. Here
are some excerts from that bk:
pg 152 Item # 450 CATE
One of the earlies families to still remain in McMinn CO Tn is the Cate family. They came
there in the early 1800s. CHARLES CATE settled in McMinn CO from North Carolina, on a
section of land south of Niota. He and his wife, Lucy Lawrence, had 10 children; the
oldest being ELIJAH, born January 23, 1801. He built a house on the property known as Big
Springs Farm in the early 1820s which is still standing(picture in bk). The house is on
the National register of Historic Places.
ELIJAH CATEm. Nellie Davis and they had 10 children, the 9th child was John Columbus.
JOHN COLUMBUS CATE m. Julia Browder in 1868, and they had 6 children. Two of the children
never married and lived in the home until their deaths (Nellie and Browder Cate). Nellie
and Browder turned the house into a historical museum, bringing together family documents,
artifacts, and antiques. During their lifetimes the house became a DAR and Dghts of the
Confederacy meeting place for chapters from Knoxville and Chattanooga.
JOHN COLUMBUS CATE, 2nd m. Bessie Fisher and had 2 sons, John 3rd and Wm. Sunday.
JOHN COLUMBUS CATE, 3rd m. Ann Stickley and had 2 sons, John 4th and Richard.
WILLIAM SUNDAY CATE m. Emmagene Mayfield and had 3 children: Wm, Jr./ Emily/ &
Michael.
The Elijah Cate home was sold in 1983 (buyer not named).
Today, Wm Cate, Jr, a businessman and Emily Cate Guinn, a social worker, live in McMinn
CO.
WILLIAM CATE,Jr. m. Nancy Reed and have 5 children.
Submitted by: Emily Cate Guinn, 135 Hwy 307, Athens, TN 37303
There is an article on the Cate family on Mouse Creek and one on Robert Cate, son of Wm
and Elizabeth Mount Cate.
Regards, Bettye