1834

  THOMAS CATOR born in Maryland to Maryland-born parents.

1843

  SARAH E.(last name unknown) born in Maryland 9 years later.

Early 1860s

  Sarah E. and Thomas became Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cator.

1862 Feb

  Son, JAMES WILLIAM CATOR born in Maryland.

1863

  Son, CHARLES CONRAD CATOR, SR., born in Washington DC.
                                  See Generation 2 below.

1870 Jul 10

Thomas, a farmer, and his family (Sarah, James W. Charles C. & Mary E.) were living in Forestville. The 1870 Census indicates that Sarah E. is unable to write, but can read.  Their oldest son, James W. Cator, is 9, so he was born in around 1861, and they likely were married in 1860s.

1876

Thomas and Sarah lived in Suitland (home shown in History of Suitland Maryland) near the present day Cedar Hill Cemetery.  Book mentions Thomas sold 5 1/2 acres to an unrelated family. 

1880 Jun 18

Note:  I did a duration calculation using July 10, 1870 Census and February 10, 1862 for birthdate for James W. Cator and got 8 years 5 months.  Then I did the calculation for 10 years later, June 18, 1880 and February 10, 1862 for birthdate of "William Cator" and got 18 years 4 months and 8 days.  Conclusion:  James W. and William Cator are in fact the same person, James William Cator! 

1891 Oct 5

 
Sarah E. died at age 48. 

1910 

Thomas is now "75" (born 1834-35) &  is widowed.  He is listed as a "boarder with his own income" with Charles and Lurania Cator, who are living at 713 G Street, DC. . Seems strange that he is not listed as "Father," but as mean as Lurania is supposed to have been, she may have only thought of Thomas as a "boarder."  It seems unlikely this would be a different Thomas.  Proper spelling is "Cator"...not "Cater." 

1912 Feb 13

Twenty-one years later at the age of  "75" (born 1837?), Thomas died.  He and Sarah are in neighboring graves located at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church,  Temple Hills, MD.   Below are photos of St. Barnabas Church with photo of grave of Sarah E. Cator

 Census ED 93, Washington, DC, T624, 151, Part 3, Page 175A

1915 Apr 23

James William Cator 
Washington Post article

The known children of Thomas and Sarah are:

1)  JAMES WILLIAM CATOR, age 9 in 1870, b. February 1862 in MD, is attending school.  For further information on "William" and his family, go to the
CATOR/LISTON webpage  

2)  CHARLES CONRAD CATOR, SR., b. 1863; d. 1943, Washington DC.   For further information on Charles, see Generation 2 on this webpage. 

NOTE:  Living next door to the Cators  in 1870 Census is Frederick Conradt, age 44, a farmer who was born in "Wurstenburg", with his wife Mary E. and 2 children.  Is Charles Conrad Cator's middle name is some honor to the Conradt family??   

3)  ELLA CATOR (Adopted), b. 1866. 

4)  MARY E. CATOR, b. about 1867. 

Possible that Mary E. and Ella are same person.

5)  FLORENCE CATOR (Niece), b. 1874. 

Generation No. 2 Charles C. Cator, Sr. is our paternal direct line. 

1863 May

CHARLES CONRAD CATOR, SR. born.

1876 April

Rachel Lurania ____ born.

____

Charles and Sarah F. marry.

1891 

Washington DC City Directory
Charles C. Cator (Sr. and Sarah) living at 911 11th Southeast, DC;
Occupation Driver 

Infant son of Charles and Sarah buried at St. Barnabas Church Cemetery; buried 4/25/1992 at age 5 months.  No marker.    Born 1891; died April 1892.  Source:  Find A Grave; St. Barnabas
 

1893

MABEL E. CATOR born.  
 

1895

1898

SARAH F. CATOR died. Tombstone says " Sarah F. Cator and children, 1871-1898."

Shortly within 1898

Charles Conrad Cator, Sr., and Rachel Lurania ______ marry. 
They are listed in the June 1900 Census as being married for 2 years.

1900 Jun 6

DC Wash. Dist. 10 Census shows Charles and Lurania as living at 330 Polk Street
(same street that brother William and his wife Charity Cator are living on). Series  T623 -223

1905 Dec 19

Washington Post Deed of Trust

1910: 

Census  713 G Street, Washington, DC, ED 93, T624, 151, Part 3, Page 175A;

Charles C. Cator, Jr. is our paternal direct line. 
Charles and Lurania Cator (not Cater) have moved since 1900 Census to 713 G Street.  Charlie Jr. is now 14 and his sister Mabel about two years older (16).  Both single.  Their Grandfather Thomas Cator (age 75) is now living in the house with the family.  Charles Sr. was listed as a "furnaceman" for the "Navy Yard".  Thomas listed as having "own income."   They are still living here when Charles, Jr. elopes in 1913.

Note:  While living at 713 G Street, Charles Conrad Cator, Sr., filed a Civil War Pension claim  per the Index on Ancestry.  This would be as a result of his father, Thomas Cator's service.  Thomas is believed to have been a fort builder for the union army.  

1915 Aug 8

Washington Post, Charles Conrad Cator, Sr. buys a "Baby Grand" Chevrolet:

Charlie Jr. would go drinking with his father, Charles Sr. and would drive them home with Charles Sr. saying "Watch it!" at every  intersection.  At one such intersection, someone hit their vehicle and Charles Sr. said
 to his son, "G__ D___ It!  I told you to watch it!!

1918 Jan. 23

Washington Post info indicates that C. C. Cator (Sr?) got a license for a 1915 Chevrolet on this date.  It is assumed by me to be Sr. due to the address and I am not aware that Charles and Ruth lived with his father and Lurania (stepmother) after marrying. 
 

1920

DC Wash. County 229 Dist Census  Series T625 T625, Roll 208 Page 71
Charles Cator (Sr.) Age 56,  Male,  Race: White,  Born: DC 
 

It's been 10 years since the last Census and Charles is on the move again.  They are now living at 624 Sixth Street in DC, although he is still working on heaters at the Navy Yard.  Ralph, his son-in-law (Mabel's husband) works as a baker, and James, his nephew, as a dairy salesman. Charles and James were both born in DC to parents who were born in MD.  Lurania was born in Maryland to a Kentuckian father and a Maryland mother.  Lorraine Swann, a Ward, was born in Maryland to Maryland parents.  See Generation 3 below for 1920 census listing Ruth and Charlie, Jr. as married.   Was Lorraine his daughter?     He had a lady friend named Nellie Swann (girlfriend).

1928

RACHEL LURANIA CATOR dies.  At that time she was living at 624 Sixth Street, NE in DC.  She is buried in at St. Barnabas Cemetery, but not in the area where Sarah F., Charles Sr's first wife is buried. 

1943

CHARLES CONRAD CATOR, SR. died at old Providence Hospital in DC.  Charles Sr. chose to be buried by his first wife, Sarah F. at  St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Temple Hills, Maryland. Lurania Cator is buried in a different section of the same cemetery. 

Generation No. 3 Charles C. Cator, Sr. is our paternal direct line. 

1894 (possibly 1896) March

RUTH RIDGEWAY born in MD. She is the daughter of Henry Ridgeway and Ida Willett (Martin).  She will become Charlie's first wife.

1895 Feb 10

CHARLES CONRAD CATOR, JR. born in Silver Hill, MD.  He becomes known as "Buck" or "Charlie" Cator.

1899 May 27

FLORENCE BEATRICE O'TOOLE is born daughter of Patrick O'Toole and Cora Robinson. She will become Charlie's second wife.  Her father, Patrick was a big man - very tall.  He owned stables where George Washington Hospital now sits and had a farm in McLean, VA.  Patrick would take his granddaughter Dorothy Cator for a treat but would not give her the money to buy it herself.  He always did this.  He liked to eat black bananas!

About 1912

Around age 17, Buck was working as a dispatcher for the railroad and was accidentally coupled between two train cars.  The injuries were brutal and he spent a year in the hospital (Providence).  Physical Therapy was unlike today - for example, to strengthen his arm a rock was placed in a bucket on his arm and as he progressed more rocks were placed in the bucket!  He left the hospital with a plate in his head, his left arm shorter than his right arm, his left leg shorter than his right leg and he lived with pain all the rest of his life but rarely complained of it.  Over his lifetime he would return to the dispatcher job (had it when married Ruth);  lit old gas street lights for the gas company; worked at Pepsi Cola (Pepsico) in DC as a bottle machine repairman and at one time was there only repairman for the city despite being color blind; he worked as appliance repairman for Naylor gardens apartment complex during WW II (his injuries from the train accident prevented him from enlisting or being drafted); and he worked for the Potomac Electric Power Co. as a troubleshooter (he retired from this job in 1956) 
 

1914 March

Charlie and Ruth marry. The following three Post articles seem to tell the story of their elopement!  Charles Cator loved Ruth Ridgeway very much throughout their marriage. She was remembered as being a fun person - lots of vitality and sparkle.  Washington Post March 7, 1914:

Same day and same paper: Washington Post March 8, 1914:

Next day: Washington Post March 10, 1914:

1915 June 12

Ruth and Buck have their first child, BERNICE LUCILLE CATOR, born in DC.

1917 Jan 5

Ruth and Buck have their second child, EVELYN ESTELLE CATOR, born in DC.  Washington Post, Under Births Reported on January 10th, 1917 newspaper :   
 

Evelyn Cator (Right) with her stepmother Florence Cator and step grandfather, Patrick O'Toole.
 

24 Jan 1918

Ruth and Buck have their third child, MARY ALICE CATOR, born in DC.  Alice Ruth's middle name also.
 

1920

DC Wash. County 113 Dist Census Series T625, Roll 207 Page 232: 
Charles C. Cator, age 23, born in DC.  He and his wife Ruth A. Ridgeway Cator (23) lived at 905 Ninth Street in DC with their daughters Bernice L., Evelyn E., and Mary A. Cator.  Boarding with them were Russell DeYankin(?) and George D. Fowler, a rigger.  Ruth worked as a cashier at the movie theater and Charlie worked as a dispatcher for the railroad. 

Note:  In a couple of years from this Census, Charlie and Ruth will divorce and Ruth will later  marry George D. Fowler.   Charlie remarried later to Florence B. O'Toole
 

1922

Divorce of Ruth and Charles C. Cator, Circuit Court/Fairfax County, VA, 9/25/1922

1922:  Divorce of Ruth and Charles C. Cator:
In the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, 
Virginia, September 25, 1922
Charles C. Cator.........Complainant
vs.
Ruth Cator...................Defendant
In Chancery

An Affidavit having been made and filed showing that the Defendant in the above entitled suit is not a resident of the State of Virginia, and written application, showing the grounds for said suit, having been made to the Clerk of this Court for an order of publication against said defendant, the object of said suit is to obtain a divorce a vinculo matrimonia from the Defendant for the Complainant, on the ground of adultery, and for general relief.

It is therefore ordered, that the said defendant do appear here within ten days after the due publication of this order and do what is necessary to protect her in erest in this suit.

It is also ordered that a copy of this order be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Fairfax Herald, a newspaper published in Fairfax County, Virginia, and that the Clerk of this Court do post at the front door of the Court House of said County, a duly certified copy of this order, on or before the next succeeding Rule day after this order is entered and send by registered mail a like certified copy, therefore to the said defendant at her last known post office address, to-wit: 732 10th Street, S.E. Washington DC, as set out in the affidavit for this order of publication.  

A copy Teste
F. W. Richardson, Clerk
By E. R. Holbrook, Deputy Clerk
John C. Foster, solicitor for complain-
ant - September 29. 

Buck marries Florence O'Toole.  At one point, they lived at 916 "G" Street in Washington, DC, but also owned the lots at 914 and 918 G Street.
 

Buck's ex-wife Ruth Ridgeway (Cator) Fowler dies of pneumonia, following an auto accident.  Ruth was brought home on a stretcher and "Aunt Elvie (Ruth's sister)" told the family about the accident.  George and Ruth had been going around the circle in Washington DC and revenuers, chasing bootleggers, hit their car which caused Ruth to hit her head very hard. Ruth refused to stay in the hospital, but the accident took a lot out of her. One of her friends cared for her at home.  While recovering, Ruth got the flu and worsened.  She was taken to a hospital (Providence) and died.   Ruth Ridgeway (Cator) Fowler is buried at the Epiphany Episcopal Church Cemetery in Forestville MD.

DC Census 916 G St , Series T626, 295 ED 129

04 Aug 1978

FLORENCE O'TOOLE CATOR dies in Westmoreland County, VA.  She had been a member of the Eastern Star. Twice past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire Department.  Florence O'Toole, through her mother, Cora Robinson, was descendant of Robert E. Lee. 
 

1984

MABEL E. CATOR dies at Whitestone, VA

1987 Jan 17

CHARLES CONRAD CATOR, JR, dies at Westmoreland County, VA at approximately 4;10 pm.  He is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, MD (Sec 30C, Lot 421, Site 1).  He died at age 91, less than a month before his 92nd birthday. He had been a member of Masonic Hope Lodge Chapter 20, Washington, DC.  Believed to have been a 32nd degree Mason.
 

1915 Jun 12

BERNICE LUCILLE CATOR born to Charles Conrad Cator Jr. 
and his first wife, Ruth Ridgeway Cator. 

Before 1936

BERNICE LUCILLE CATOR marries CHARLES THOMAS HILL, SR., son of Thomas Domick Hill and Anna Greenfield.
 

After 1938

BERNICE LUCILLE CATOR marries JOHN JOSEPH GATELY, JR., son of John Gately and Florence Harvey.
 

1943

JOHN JOSEPH GATELY, JR., dies at sea near Kwajalein Island, a beautiful and isolated island which is part of Kwajalein Atoll  in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
 

BERNICE LUCILLE CATOR  dies in Winter Springs, FL.  She is interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Washington DC.

Cora Lee was the daughter of Charles Conrad Cator, Jr., and his second wife, Florence O'Toole Cator.  Her maternal grandmother was Cora Lee Robinson O'Toole, for whom she was named.

CORA LEE CATOR was born in March of  1925 in Washington, D.C.  Cora married VERNON ROSS LONG, who was born April 23, 1919 in Fairfax, VA.

Cora Cator Long died several years after her husband passed away.  She died in July  2000 whereas he had died in November 1994 in VA.  They were married a total of 49 years. 

During her life, she and Vernon had one daughter.  While giving birth Cora suffered a stroke, but was ultimately able to recover, other than some partial facial paralysis.   Cora evidently was a timid girl with pretty light brown hair and green eyes.  Cora was a member of the Eastern Star; and prior to her marriage worked for a short time at the telephone company.  Vernon was a member of the Masons - sponsored by Charles Conrad Cator, Jr.  He retired from the army.

During WWII Vernon, who was in the United States Army, was captured as a prisoner of war in the Philippines by the Japanese.  He spent three years in captivity.   

Her husband Vernon was stationed in Japan in the mid 1950s and she and her daughter were able to be in that country with him.

See Also