John Cates
Sept. 24, 1909; Oregonian, p 7  (photo)
"John Cates, Pioneer Dies"
Cascade Locks, Or., Sept. 23

   John Cates, 84 years old, died here early this morning at the home of his son, D. L. Cates, after an illness of many months.

   Mr. Cates was one of the oldest pioneers of Wasco County.  He was born in Kentucky in 1825, and in 1849 crossed the plains to California by oxteam.  After spending a year mining he returned by way of the isthmus of Panama, Havana, New Orleans and joined his family he had left in Missouri.  He again crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853 with ten oxteams, being captain and doctor of the train.

   He lived in Washington and Lane Counties until 1859, when he moved to Wasco County, where he was engaged mainly in stock raising.  He moved to The Dalles in 1873.

   Mr. Cates was a member of the Pioneer Association and well known throughout Central Oregon, having been Assessor of Wasco County when that district covered much more territory than at present.

   He leaves two daughters, Mrs. W. H. Wilson, of The Dalles, and Mrs. W. Frizzell, of Cascade Locks, and two sons, D. L. Cates, of Cascade Locks, and W. A. Cates, of Darby, Mont.