My CATHEY connection is fairly distant, but they arethe first 49ers in
my extended family.
In April of 1852, my relatives LEONARD VANDEGRIFT and GREEN BERRY NIXON
VANDEGRIFT and a few other family members named WILLS, left Fort Smith
Arkansas on the ANDREW CATHEY Wagon Train. The miner-49ers, 12
ox-driven wagons and 25 head of cattle made it back to the Mariposa
California Gold Fields in November of 1852. CATHEY Valley in Mariposa
County California is named for this family.
Apparently, along the way or around the mines, romance bloomed, as JAMES
M. WILLS married SARAH MELVINA CATHEY (b. 1/24/1842 in Collageville,
Saline County Arkansas) and BENJAMIN F. WILLS married JEMIMA AMANDA
CATHEY (b. August 30, 1829 in Haywood County, North Carolina). I dont
know the relationship of Jemima & Sarah to Andrew, and thats some of
the information Im looking for.
Theres some CATHEY information at these two sites
Even a photo or two,
if I recall
.Its been a while since I looked.
http://www.concentric.net/~Shahall/cathey.html
http://www.elite.net/~paulette/cathey.htm
Anyway, any info on any of my Catheys will be greatly appreciated.
Brad Campbell,
Bradcam(a)home.com