HISTORICAL SKETCHES

CANE CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH

Number 10: August 2005 www.canecreek.org 6901 Orange Grove Road., Hillsborough, NC 27278

ANDERSON P. CATES

In an earlier sketch, I presented the life story of Nash Cheek, one of Margaret Miller’s ancestors, and suggested that it would be neat if we old fogies would write a brief life sketch and pass it on to our heirs.

The other day, I came across a life sketch written by one of our forbearers. It lay in my files for over a year before I realized it was there. I got the material from Scott Hudson who, in turn, received it from Banks Cates of Charlotte. Mr. Cates has spent many years investigating Cates family roots. Buried deep within his notes was the fascinating life story, which I reproduce below. The story was written by Anderson P. Cates in 1911 and sent to his son Walter in Burlington.

“I was born on December the 11^th, 1834 in Orange County one and one half miles northwest of Cane Creek Church on the public road leading from Hillsboro to Saxapahaw.

“My father’s name was Richard Cates, and my mother’s name was Kesia Cates, daughter of Solomon Cates. From this union sprang forth 12 children, I being the youngest one. My father died in May 1837, and my mother died in 1844 in Randolph County and was buried at Prospect Church. I was living with my mother when she died, after which I came back to Orange County.

“My mother was married the second time to David Cates. I lived a while with my brother, Thomas. I was then bound to David Williams and lived with him until he died. I was then rebound to my eldest brother, James F. Cates, and lived with him until I was 18 years old. At that time I bought my time for 30 dollars but he was to send me to school six months or at least board me while I went to school; all of which he did according to the contract, and from the time I was 18 up until now I have been my own man.

“From 18 to 23 I worked at various places on the Cape Fear navigation, the railroad, and finally at the Blacksmith Shop with David McBane for one year. After this, I worked on the farm until 1857 at which time I decided to go to school and prepare myself for teaching.

“In the fall of 1857 I went five months to your uncle William Cheek at Poplar Springs. I studied English grammar, arithmetic, geography, etc. In the spring of 1858, I went three months to M. B. Jones at Cane Creek. I then went before the Board of Education and it granted me a license to teach in the public schools in Orange County. I began teaching in the fall of 1858. My first school was taught in the Chestnut District about two miles south of Efland. From 1858 to 1896, my main occupation was that of teaching although I did run a little farm, teaching in the fall and tending crops in the spring and summer.

“I completed my education by attending Rock Spring Academy for ten months, which school was taught by William Oldham. My additional studies while attending this school were Latin and algebra. I had made arrangements to prepare for college but the war coming on broke up the school.

“My profession of teaching kept me from going to the war at first, and after the conscript law was passed, taking all persons up to 35 years of age, I was exempt from going by being a militia officer which kept me out until the fall of 1864. And at that time, the militia officers were organized into the Home Guard. I belonged to Company K of the North Carolina fourth Regiment and was second Sergeant. I was in the service for about 90 days but was never in any battle.

“In 1868 I was elected Clerk of the Township Board of Trustees for Bingham Township which office I held for four years. I was appointed a magistrate in the year 1882 and held said office for eight years in succession. Since then, I have been a private citizen.

“Since 1896 I have been running a little farm. I have never lived at but three places besides the one I now live at since I was married on May the 30^th, 1861.

“I have been a member of the Baptist church for at least 40 years. I have been a Deacon in Cane Creek Church for at least twenty years. I have read through the Bible five times during my life.

“My wife, Mary E. Lloyd, was born on March the 6^th, 1835 two miles East of Cane Creek Church. She was the daughter of Frederick and Mary Lloyd. Her mother was Thrift. She was raised by her father and her mother until she was married in 1861. All those who attended our marriage have long since been called to their reward above and yet we are the spared monuments of His amazing goodness and mercy. Our union has been pleasant, agreeable, and fruitful.

“Mary was a member of the Baptist Church for 60 years. She joined the church at or near 16 years of age and was baptized by Brother John Wilson in Hopson’s old millpond. We raised a family of eight children till all were grown and married except one who is not, but has gone to his reward. We have thirty living grandchildren.”

NOTES

1. The Rock Spring Academy which Anderson attended was not the one started by our preacher J. F. McDuffie and named, for a while, Rock Spring Academy before changing to Orange Grove Academy. McDuffie’s school began in 1898. The school that Anderson went to was much smaller, much earlier, and was probably a one-man operation, that man being William Oldham (the son of T. D. Oldham, a member of our church). My best guess to its location is upstream of the old Apple Mill on Toms Creek. An advertisement for the fall term of the school appeared in the Hillsboro Recorder for July 14,1858 and reads as follows:

The Academy is situated in a moral and healthy community. We propose to prepare student for college or for the ordinary business of life. The terms are as follows: Classical or scientific course: $20; English, higher branches: $15; elementary: $10. Board can be had for $7 per month. T. D. Oldham and J. Moore are living convenient and take boarders.

2. Mary Lloyd, Anderson’s wife, was baptized in Hopson’s millpond. This is the old mill that stood on the waters of Cane Creek just down the hill from Cecil and Mae Crawford’s house. In those days the Greensboro Stage Road lay where Dairyland now is, but continued across Orange Grove Road (you can still see the old roadbed just south of our cemetery), went by the north side of the Crawford house, and continued across Cane Creek and up the other side of what is now Thunder Mountain but which was originally called Thompson’s Mountain

3. Anderson’s oldest brother was Thomas S. Cates, born in 1823 and, like Anderson, a grand-nephew of our first preacher. He and his wife Adeline appear in A Cane Creek Tapestry on page 104.There is a direct line of descent from Thomas S. Cate to daughter Luda Cate who married A. A. Perry, to their son Hight Perry, to his son, H. M. Perry, Jr. to his daughter, Denise, who married Scott Hudson, and on to their children, Curtis and Clayton. Thus there are seven generations from our first preacher to our current youth.

4. Anderson was elected a Trustee of Bingham Township. During reconstruction, occupying forces imposed a Pennsylvania-type of local government. They created townships and gave township Trustees considerable authority. After reconstruction ended, the system was abolished. They also instituted commissioners at the county level. This did work. Anderson was appointed a Magistrate by the Legislature and they, together with the Commissioners, ran the county until 1892 when the Commissioners were first elected by popular vote.

5. Note that Anderson Cates mother had been born a Cates. Furthermore, when his father died, his mother married still another Cates. Sounds almost incestuous! F. M. Jordan, our preacher from 1865 to 1869, wrote "This church was noted for having a great many members by the same name. Cates was the largest. They would call the roll on Saturdays and it was Cates, Cates, Cates. It was said in that country, if you met a man and called him Sykes and happened to miss it, just say 'I am mistaken, this is Mr. Cates' and you would be certain to hit it." Ed Johnson