William Franklin Cates Civil War File

Scott County Arkansas
Civil War Pension Application
WILLIAM FRANKLIN CATES, USA
Contributed by Delaine Edwards

DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL INVALID PENSION

State of Arkansas, County of Scott, ss:
On this 13th day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty 6, personally appeared before me, a clerk of the Circuit Court a court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid William F. Cates aged 57 years, a resident of the town of Boles, County of Scott State of Arkansa who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical William F. Cates who was enrolled on the 23rd day of August 1862 in Company "G" of the 8" Regiment of Mo. Cav. Vols. commanded by Capt. H. Garrison and was honorably discharged at Little Rock, Ark. on the 20" day of July 1865; that his personal description is as follows: Age, 57 years; height 6 feet 2 inches; complexion Light; hair brown; eyes blue. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of duty at Springfield, in the State of Missouri on or about the first day of October 1862 he cut three fingers from his hand while cutting a piece of timber. He claims pension for loss of 3 fingers from Left hand. That he was treated in hospitals as follows: Regimental Tent used for Hospital. That he has never been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than as stated above. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the State of Missouri, in the State of Arkansas, and his occupation has been that of a Farmer. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound physical health, being when enrolled a Farmer. That he is now much disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.
He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, A.B. Webb, of Washington, D.C., his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim. That he has never received nor applied for a Pension. That his Post-Office address is Boles, County of Scott, State of Arkansas.
Wm. F. Cates
Attest: John Hauthorn
A.E. Goolsby

Southern Div.
A.C.K. Ex'r.
No. 580,577
Wm. F. Cates
G. 8 Mo. Cav.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Pension Office,
Nov. 30th, 1886

Sir:
I have the honor to request that you will furnish from the records of the War Department a full Report as to the service, disability and hospital treatment of William F. Cates, who, it is claimed, enlisted Aug. 23, 1862, and served as a Private in Co. G, 8 Reg't. Mo. Cav; also in Co. [blank] and was discharged at Little Rock, Ark., July 20, 1865.

While serving in Co. G, 8 Reg't. Mo. Cav., he was disabled by loss of three fingers left hand at Springfield, Mo. Oct. 1, 1862 also [blank] and was treated in hospitals of which the names, location, and dates of treatment are as follows: Regimental Surgeon, and Regimental Hosp'l.
Very respectfully,
John C. Black, Commissioner
The Adjutant General, U.S. Army.

Proceedings of a General Court Marhsal which convened at the HdQrs. of the 8th Mo. Cav. Vols. by virtue of Special Order No. 7 and of which Maj. J. Teed of the 8th Mo. Cav. Vols. was President.
The accused, Private Wm. F. Cates, Co. "G", 8th Mo. Cav. Vols. was arraigned on the following Charge and Specification. Charge Desertion
Specification, In this that the said William F. Cates a Private in Co. "G" 8th Mo. Cav. Vols. having been left sick at Springfield, Mo. on or about the 4th day of December 1862 under charge of Dr. Ebert, did on or about the 28th day of January 1863, leave said sick camp [at] Springfield Mo. with no leave from Dr. Ebert the officer in charge thereof with the intention thereby of abandoning the service, and did remain absent from his command, untill he was apprehended by the authorities of Springfield, Mo., at his home in Greene County Mo., on the 7th day of February 1864, and was by them remanded under arrest to his command, then at Duvalls Bluff, Arkansas, which he rejoined on the 19th day of March 1864.
To which Charge and Specification, the accused pleaded as follows:
To the Specification "Not Guilty"
To the Charge "Not Guilty"
The Court having maturely considered the evidence adduced find the accused, Private William F. Cates, Co. "G" 8th Mo. Cav. Vols., as follows:
Of the Specification "Guilty"
Of the Charge "Guilty"

Special Orders,}
No. 131.}
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, March 17th, 1865.

(Extract)
3. The unexpired portion of the sentence of a General Court Martial, in the case of Private William F. Cates, Company "G," 8th Missouri Cavalry, is remitted. He will be released from confinement at the Military Prison, Little Rock, Arkansas, (where he is now supposed to be,) and returned to duty with his regiment.
The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the Necessary transportation.
By order of the President of the United States:
E.D. Townsend,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Official:
[Signed] E.D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General
C.O. 8th Missouri}
This Dept. of Arkansas}

Special Orders,}
No. 131}
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, March 17th, 1865.

(Extract)
3. The unexpired portion of the sentence of a General Court Martial, in the case of Private William F. Cates, Company "G," 8th Missouri Cavalry, is remitted. He will be released from confinement at the Military Prison, Little Rock, Arkansas, (where he is now supposed to be,)and returned to duty with his regiment.
The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary Transportation.
By order of the President of the United States.
E.D. Townsend,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Official:
[blank]
Assistant Adjutant General
Lieut. Col. Breck

USS OB No 40 DEA1865
War Department A.G. Officer
Washington, March 17, 1865
Lincoln, A., President
By E.D. Townsend
Asst. Adjt. General
Special Order No. 131.

Remits the unexpired portion of the sentence of a General Court Martial in case of Private Wm. F. Cates, Co. "G" 8th Mo. Cav. Orders his release from confinement, and that he be returned to duty with his Regiment.
[Stamped:] Received Mar 30 1865, Hdqrs. Dist. East Ark.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Adjutant General's Office,
Washington, Mch. 14, 1887

Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. William F. Cates, a Private of Company G, 8th Regiment Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, was enrolled on the 16 day of August, 1862, at Springfield, Mo. for 3 yrs., and is reported: Present on Muster in Roll of Co. dated Sept. 15/62, Roll to Oct. 31/62, present, Nov. & Dec/62 Absent sick at Springfield Mo. since Dec 14/62. Subsequent Rolls to April 30/64, Absent Without leave since Jan 28/63. May & June/63 Left camp Straggler Springfield Mo. without leave Jan 28/63. Reported Deserter since April 30/63; Dropped from subsequent Roll until May & June/64 Reports present. In arrest for desertion since March 19/64. July & Aug/64 absent with remark: Expatiating his crime for desertion in Little Rock Penitentiary. Subsequent Rolls to Feby 28/65 absent. Sent to Mil. Prison Little Rock Ark. July 28/64.
R.C. Drew,
Assistant Adjutant General

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

State of Ark; County of Scott, SS:
In the matter of Wm. F. Cates. On this 29 day of Oct. A.D. 1890, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County duly authorized to administer oaths, J.J. Overton, aged 72 years, a resident of Boles in the County of Scott and State of Ark. whose Post Office address is Boles, Ark. and W.D. Draper, aged 53 years, a resident of Boles in the County of Scott and state of Ark. whose Post Office address is Boles, Ark., well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows: have ben acquainted with him 18 years he has lost 3 fingers from one hand and the end off the other has the piles, bad lungs, badley affected.
We further declare that we have no interest in said case and are not concerned in its prosecution.
J.J. Overton
W.D. Draper

CLAIMANTS AFFIDAVIT

State of Arkansas, County of Scott, SS:
In the matter of pension claim of William F. Cates, late of Co. "G" 8th Reg't. Mo. Cav'y.
On this 21st day of October A.D. 1892, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, William F. Cates, aged 63 years, a resident of Boles in the County of Scott and State of Arkansas whose Post Office address is Boles, Scott County, Ark., well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn declared in relation to said case as follows: That he first contracted disease of heart as well as he can remember about the 15th day of September 1871, and that he first contracted disease of liver about the 1st day of February 1865 and that said disability [illegible] and that said disabilities are to the best of claimants knowledge and belief of a permanent character, and that both [illegible] diseases were contracted prior to Aug. 27, 1890.
Wm. F. Cates

DECLARATION FOR WIDOW'S PENSION

State of Arkansas, County of Scott, SS:
On this 21 day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety six personally appeared before me E.L.E. Beauchamp, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Lydia Cates, aged 63 years, a resident of Scott, State of Arkansas, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is a widow of William F. Cates, who enlisted under the name of William F. Cates at Springfield, Greene County Missouri on the 16 day of Aug. A.D. 1862 in Co. "G" 8 Mo. Cav. and served at least ninety days in the late war of the rebellion, who was honorably discharged July 20, 1865 and died Sept. 30, 1896, that she was married under the name of Lydia Mankin to said William F. Cates on the 14 day of August A.D. 1850 by Rob Gaimeson at Sand Spring, Mo., there being no legal barrier to said marriage no former marriage, that she has not remarried since the death of said William F. Cates, that she is without other means of support than her daily labor; that names and dates of birth of all children now living under sixteen years of age of the soldier are as follows: No children under the age of 16 years. That she has not heretofore applied for pension, sold's. app'l. #580,577. That she makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under the provisions of the act of June 27, 1890.
She hereby appoints A.B. Webb of Washington, D.C. her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim; and she hereby promises and agrees to pay her said attorney the sum of ten ($10) dollars for his service herein, which sum she authorizes and requests the Commissioner of Pensions to pay out of the pension which may be granted her under this application. That her Post Office address is Boles, County of Scott, State of Arkansas.
Lydia Cates
Attest: G.M. Goodner
Wilburn Smith
State of Arkansas, County of Scott, ss:
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiant, and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant, including the words [blank] erased, and the words [blank] added, and acquainted them with its contents before they executed the same. I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiant are personally known to me and that they [are] credible person[s.]
Geo. M. Goodner
Justice of the Peace
I, Thos. M. Duncan, Clerk of the County Court in and for aforesaid County and State, do certify that Geo. M. Goodner Esq. who has signed his name to the foregoing declaration and affidavit was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this 6 day of Nov, 1896.
Thos. M. Duncan,
Clerk of the Circuit Court.

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

State of Arkansas, County of Scott ss:
In the matter of Mrs. Lydia Cates, widow of William F. Cates, deceased, Co. "G" 8th Reg't Mo Cav. Vols:
On this first day of June, A.D. 1897, personally appeared before me, a Clerk Circuit Court in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, William Mankin, aged 67 years, whose Post Office address is Boles, Scott County, Arkansas, who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to said case as follows: also personally appeared on same day P.F. Mankin, aged 63 years, whose post-office address is Boles, Scott County, Arkansas, who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to said case as follows: That they each of the above named affiants were each personally acquainted with the soldier William F. Cates, and the claimant Mrs. Lydia Cates for several years prior to their marriage, and that affiants know of their own personal knowledge that neither the said William F. Cates nor the said Lydia (Mankin) Cates had ever been previously married prior to their marriage; Affiant William Mankin states that he cannot remember now how many years he was acquainted with the soldier William F. Cates prior to his marriage to his sister the claimant Lydia Cates, but that it was a number of years, and that he, affiant, William Mankin lived near said soldier William F. Cates for a number of years prior to his marriage to the claimant Lydia Cates, and knew said soldier personally and saw him frequently, and knows that if said soldier had ever been previously married the fact would have been known to him affiant William Mankint. Affiant William Mankin further states that the claiment Lydia Cates is his sister, that he was present when she was married to the soldier William F. Cates, and therefore knows of his own personal knowledge that she had never been previously married before she was married to the soldier William F. Cates.
Affiant P.F. Mankin states that the claiment Lydia Cates was raised within about 20 or 25 miles of where she affiant P.F. Mankin lived in Missouri, and that affiant P.F. Mankin was personally acquainted with the claiment Lydia Cates about 3 years before her marriage to the soldier William F. Cates, during which period of three years said claiment lived only about one and a half miles from the residence of affiant P.F. Mankin, and that affiant PF. Mankin was also personally acquainted with the soldier William F. Cates for upwards of about two years before his marriage to the claiment Lydia Cates, and that affiant was present and an eye witness to the marriage of soldier William F. Cates and the claiment Lydia Cates, and that from what she knew and heard of them both prior to their said marriage she affiant knows that if either of them had ever been previously married the fact would have become known to her and that she never heard or knew of either of them having been previously married.
Affiants William Mankin and P.F. Mankin further state that the above and foregoing affidavit and testimony was written down by T.M. Duncan, Clerk of the Circuit Court, at Waldron, Arkansas, on the first day of June, 1887, and only from the oral statements of the affiants then and there made to the said T.M. Duncan, and that in making said affidavit affiants were not aided or prompted by any written or printed statement or recital prepared or dictated by some other person and not attached as an exhibit to their testimony.
William Mankin
H.D. Price
P.F. (her X mark) Mankin
S.T. Poe
State of Arkansas, County of Scott, ss:
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiants, and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiants, including all the words erased, and all the words added, and acquainted them with its contents before they executed the same. I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case, nor am I concerned in its prosecution; and that said affiants are personally known to me and that they [are] credible person[s.]
Thos. M. Duncan
Clerk Circuit Court
By S.K. Duncan, D.C.

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

State of Ark}
County of Scott} SS.
In the matter of the claim for W.F. Cates, personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Dr. L.K. Robertson & Dr. W.L. Tolleson, person[s] of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows: I, L.K. Robertson have known W.F. Cates for 18 years as his family physician and during that time I know he was minus 3 fingers off of one hand. He had lost his hearing when I first knew him to some extent and from a spell of sickness he lost his hearing completely. He was a sufferer from Rheumatism what time I knew [him.] I was with him during his last sickness and of the opinion that Tuberculosis of the bowels caused his death. My Post Office is Parks, Ark.

Boles, Scott Co., Ark., Oct. 13, 99.
I, Dr. W.L. Tolleson do certify that I have known W.F. Cates for over 20 years and have been one of his Family Physicians for that length of time and was [illegible] of 3 fingers off of his left hand and he had lost his hearing to a considerable degree, was hard to converse with. I attended him in his last illness. It was my opinion the cause of his death was Tuberculousis of the lower bowels connected with Rheumatism. I am not interested in the prosecution of this claim. My Post office is Boles, Ark.
Dr. W.L. Tolleson

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

State of Arkansas}
County of Scott} SS.
In the matter of the claim for Lydia Cates, widow of Wm. F. Cates Co. G - 8 Mo. Cav.
Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid William Mankin & John W. Hawthorn, persons of lawful age, who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to the aforesaid claim, as follows and that said witnesses state that it is true that said injury was not caused by vicious habits because he never had any such habits. And further, that the said witnesses were personally acquainted and intimately acquainted with soldier before the occurance of the loss of his fingers of left hand. He had always been regarded as a truthful and reliable person, and was of good habits. And hence they have no reason to believe that his injury was caused by vicious habits.
I, J.F. Pinnick, being a near neighbor to said widow Mrs. Lydia Cates and also not being an interested party entirely will state that I had been intimately acquainted with said soldier W.F. Cates for many years previous to his death. And I can freely state that he was a man of good moral character and not addicted to any vicious or immoral habits, and was a regular attendant at our Sat. & Sunday Church Meetings (Free Will Baptist.) This I know from being a brother in said church with him. And also, as being Church Clerk for four years. Now I will say to you, if you please try to push this work along as speedily as you can, as I know Mrs. Lydia Cates is quite needy, being thrown on her own resources for so long a time. And am well satisfied that she has a merited and deserving claim.
J.F. Pinnick
Age 67 years, P.O. Boles, Ark.

Pictured above is the tombstone of William F. Cates in Buffalo Cemetery in Scott County, Arkansas