William "Bill" Kates, b. 1/23/1838 d. 2/22/1896, lived on Owlsley Fork road, Big Hill, Madison Co. Ky. It was about a mile and a half from Jackson Co. line.
He married Lucinda Kelley, b. 2/26/1833 d. 8/7/1914, a daughter of Emannuel Kelley and Nancy Kindred Kelley of Estill Co. Ky. Bill and Lucinda were married 1/27/1859 in Estill Co. Both, along with many descendants are buried in the Cates Cemetery, located on a hill across from the Bill Cates farm, overlooking the Red Lick Creek valley.

Bill Kates used the K in his last name instead of the C, don't know why he did this. He was son of Alexander Cates, b. abt. 1808 in Orange Co. North Carolina. Bill's mother was Mary "Malinda" Park Cates, daughter of Richard Park and Nancy Kindred. She was born 1815 in Boonesborough, Kentucky.

Bill was a licensed still house operator. He was authorized to collect whiskey from other still operators and , with his own, ship it on to be aged. He would occasionally pull a load of barrells by mules to Berea and ship by rail to Louisville or Cincinatti for aging. He also raised breeding stock horses. There is still a trail leading up to "Stillhouse Hollow" on Owsley Fork Road, where Bill Kates made his whiskey. I've been told the "locals"didn't like Bill sometimes, because he wouldn't sell his whiskey on the side.

William Kates, of this place, while getting wood near his house, got his head crushed by a tree falling on him, instantly killing him. he will be buried today. He leaves a wife, one daughter, and three grandchildren. He was about 65 years old, and a hard worker, and since many wicked years, he had promised to live a better life.

ISABELLE "BELLE" CATES & JEREMIAH "JERRY" PARKER

Isabelle b. 1859, m. November 24, 1876 to Jerry Parker b. Aug. 1856 in Laurel Co. Ky. He died Sept. 29, 1944 in Laurel Co. Ky. Jerry was son of Daniel "Ben" Parker, b. abt. 1827 in Laurel Co. Ky. d. 1860 Laurel Co. Ky. Ben Parker married Olive Jones b. 1825 on Jan. 18, 1845.

Isabelle died in 1913 and is buried in a country cemetery just west of London, Ky. Jerry remarried in 1914 and died 1944. He is buried in the Dyche Cemetery in London, Ky. beside his second wife, Melvina "Vina" Wilburn Parker.

CORDELIA "DELIA" CATES

Cordelia was born in 1864, died in 1894 at her parents house in Big Hill, Ky. She was only 30 years old. Delia is buried in Cates Cemetery, Owsley Fork, Madison Co. Ky.

SUSAN CATES

Susie was born April 17, 1865, died April 17, 1943. She first married Bill Johnson, had daughter Eliza "Lizae". Second marriage to George Williams, had children Mason, Velma, Guy and Ammon. Third marriage was to Bronce Powell, no children from that marriage.

GEORGE CATES

George was born 1886 and died abt. 1947. He married 1st, Alice Moody. 2nd marriage: Annie Hendricks and 3rd marriage to Nannie Williams.

LUCINDA "SINDA"CATES

Lucinda was born 1872 and died 1939. She married John Baker.

NANCY "NAN"CATES

Nancy was born 1875 and died 1943. She married William "Billy"Hunter.

JEFFERSON CATES

Jefferson "Jeff" was born 1877 and died 1928. He married Lizzie ______. He was a rough and tumble horse trader according to Doug Fletcher, who visited Ky. to trace down his Cates and Hunter roots.