George Williams and Susie Cates are my great-grandparents. The search for them has been tough, but I'm finally starting to get somewhere. I was loaned a picture of gr. grandma Susie in 1938, I made copy and that picture is my pride and joy! Now what I wouldn't give for a picture of George!

George Williams married Susie Cates Johnson on November 24, 1892, in Madison County, Kentucky.

George Williams died before 1910 Federal Census, and according to my father, is buried in Cates Cemetery, Owsley Fork, Madison County, Ky. Guy is also buried next to him, Guy died young, possibly from diptheria according to my aunt.

I have only concluded so far, that since gr. grandpa George was b. 1836 in Germany and married in 1892 to Susie, I believe he must have immigrated in mid to late 1800's. He could have had a wife and possibly children in Germany or the U.S. before marrying Susie, I wish I could find out.

Susie Cates, my gr. grandmother, was born April 17, 1865. She was daughter of William "Bill" Cates (went by Kates, children went by Cates) and Lucinda Kelley. She married 1st, B.S. Johnson, March 5, 1889 in Madison County, one child born, Eliza "Lizae Jane".

She married 2nd, my gr. grandfather, George Williams, November 24, 1892 in Madison County Kentucky, five children born, 4 living in 1900. The one who had died was named Mason, no other information on him.

She married 3rd, Bronce Powell, son of Larkin and Sarah Baker Powell of Kirby Knob, Jackson Co. Kentucky, no children. Susie's gravestone says she died on her birthday, April 17, 1943 and she is buried in the Cates Cemetery at Owsley Fork, Madison County, Kentucky.

Eliza Johnson, b. December 23, 1889 d. Feb. 17, 1978
Mason Williams birth/death between 1893 and 1895
Velma Williams, b. Feb. 6, 1895 d. April 8, 1931 married Thomas Embree in Madison Co. Ky. in 1910.
Guy Williams, b. 1896 d. bef. 1910
Ammon Williams, b. June 22, 1898 d. March 30, 1930, married "Thimba"? and had 4 children at time of his death at age 29/30.

On 1900 census above, Susie and George Williams are living in Jackson County, Kavanaugh area, Kentucky with the 5 living children. By 1910, US Census, she is back in Madison County with son Ammon and daughter Velma and is listed as "widow" on that census.

Dwelling 256-268
WILLIAMS, Susie, 44, head, widow, b. Ky.
Velmer, 15, dau. b. Ky.
Ammon, 12, son, b. Ky.

Next door to Susie in Dwelling 255-266 is:

KATES, Lindy/Cindy?? , head, widow, 9 born, 6 living, b. Kentucky

(This would probably be Susie's mother, Cindy Kelley Kates, since her father, William Kates had died May 4, 1896.)

When I was about 12, my dad and I were out sitting under the maple tree in our front yard. Because of a teacher at school having talked about our heritage in class the week before, I asked Daddy where our people came from. He studied it a minute, got a big grin on his face, leaned forward and in a voice to scare me, he said--We're Germans!!

It did scare me so I didn't go on with the subject. He had fought in WWII and I knew about it, so I thought he was pulling my leg about being German. I was amazed and happy when I found out a few years ago that I am really of German descent. They are hard working, clean, faith filled, decent people. America wouldn't be half what it is today if it hadn't been for the German immigrants who came to America, read up on what they did for this country. Anyway, I am very proud of my gr. grandpa, George Williams and my German line.

My Aunt Geneva, my dad's sister, told me this story, I will never forget her laughing through it, remembering her Grandma Susie. Aunt Geneva was the only girl left in household when her mother died, if dates are right on Velma Embree's headstone, Geneva was 9 or 10.(She thought she was about 5, my dad also thought he was only 12 when his mother died, but stone proves 17.)

Aunt Geneva said they looked out one day and here came Grandma Susie, walking like she had a reason to. When she got to the house, she told my Grandpa Tom that she was taking this little girl to keep, that Geneva didn't need to be there no more, with her mama gone. She said Grandpa Tom didn't say a word, just said "take good care of her". Susie had remarried her 3rd husband by then, Bronce Powell, of Jackson County, Ky. She took Geneva home with her, but sometime later, Bronce got aggravated with her being around. Finally, before he headed out one day, he told Susie that he didn't need no aggravating little children there, and it was either him or Geneva, make her choice. Aunt Geneva said she hid and cried, because she didn't know what would happen to her. A little later, Grandma Susie hollered at her and told her to come out and find her a good stick. She cut 2 good branches off a tree with a pocketknife and went back in the house. She spread out tablecoths and put stuff in them that they would need, tied Geneva's to top of her stick, then her own and they headed out down the road with thier "totes"over thier shoulders. They walked a long way, and then came to an old cabin no one was in, Susie knew of it the whole time. They went in and started up housekeeping. She said they stayed there, "hid-out" but eventually others knew where they were. Then Bronce came over 2 times trying to talk Susie into coming back, but she said no. The 3rd time, he told her he'd never say another word to her about Geneva living with them, that she could stay forever if she wanted to. So Grandma Susie packed up their stuff again and they went home with Bronce.