I've posted an abstract from this pension application before, but perhaps more
complete information might help identify which Nathaniel Cato this is.... Who was
Nathaniel's father, "who was killed in the Civil War" ?(note: the 1880
census says his father was born in KY) Was Nathaniel buried in Springfield, and does he
have a tombstone? And I can't figure out which Nathaniel this might be on the 1860
Missouri census. He would be about age 22. I'm assuming he was in MO because
Elizabeth says he enlisted in the war there. She may be correct, but it may be that he
enlisted in the Confederate Army rather than the Union side. Perhaps he was discharged
from service in VA?
From: Civil War Pension Application #1156666 (denied): Elizabeth Cato, widow of Nathaniel
Cato. In April of 1920, Elizabeth Cato of 704 South Water Street, Sapulpa, Creek County,
Oklahoma, applied for a pension based on Nathaniel Cato's service in the Civil War.
Elizabeth declares she is 90 years of age, born December of 1830 at Rockingham County VA.
She further states:
Nathaniel died April 2, 1898 at Springfield MO.
She is not able to provide the details of Nathaniel's service, and states that the
reason she cannot give more information is that all the papers belonging to her deceased
husband pertaining to his service were burned when their house burned in Rockingham
County, Virginia, in the Fall of 1866.
All her relatives and relations are long since dead and that all her deceased
husband's relatives are dead as far as she knows.
Her husband's Father was killed in the Civil War.
Nathaniel enlisted at Wayne County, Missouri, as a private in the Cavalry, when the war
first started, and served through the entire war.
She married Nathaniel Cato in June of 1865 under the name of Mrs. Elizabeth Gentry near
Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, VA, by Reverend Jennings.
Nathaniel had NOT been previously married. She was previously married.
Elizabeth's first marriage was to Franklin Black August, 1846, at Rockingham County
VA. She was next married to Frank Gentry in Rockingham County VA in about 1853.
Interesting note: Elizabeth is unable to write, and signs her declaration by making an ink
thumbprint as her mark.
I have tracked this family as:
1870 Rockingham County VA Post Office Harrisonburg hh 413 (indexed as "Cats")
CATO, Nathaniel 32 shoemaker MO (1838)
CATO, Mary C? 37 VA
BLACK, Alginon 18 VA
BLACK, Samuel 13 VA
1880 MO-Pettis-Cedar Twp-Dist 118
CATO, Nathaniel 40 MO-KY-MO
CATO, Mary E. 45 VA
CATO, Ida?L? daughter age 7 OH-MO-VA
Nathaniel died 1898. Elizabeth is living with her daughter and family by 1900.
1900 MO-Greene-Springfield-Ward 1-Dist 38. hh 809
ROSE, Joseph E. 36 md 7 years 3 children IL-IL-TN
ROSE, Luella? I?J? 28 OH-MO-VA
ROSE, Viola D. age 6 MO-IL-OH
ROSE, Eva L. age 4 MO-IL-OH
CATO, Elizabeth mother-in-law age 63. born Dec 1836. 2 living children. VA-VA-VA
1910 MO-Greene-Springfield-Dist 22. hh 620
ROSE, Joseph. 46 widow md 11 years IL-IL-TN proprieter of a saloon
ROSE, Viola 16 dau MO-IL-OH
ROSE, Olive 16 dau MO-IL-OH
ROSE, Evaline 14 dau MO-IL-OH
CATO, Elizabeth age 7-? (hard to read) 0 living children. VA-VA-VA
1920 OKlahoma? I cannot find Elizabeth or Joseph Rose, though we know she was there
because of the pension app.
Anyone have any ideas about which Nathaniel this is?
Thanks,
Cynthia