My Genealogy Hound

JOHN W. CATHER was born July 30, 1854, on the home farm in Mineral township, ten miles northwest of Carthage. He was married Jan. 1, 1873, to Martha McAshland, a native of Illinois. The names of the children are Cora, Ophelia, and Frank. Mr. Cather is still a young man, and carries on the farm of his father, William Cather, lately deceased, who was so widely and favorably known. William Cather, who came to an untimely and seemingly tragic death, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1825. His father’s family consisted of nine children, and he being among the oldest was sent out west to look up and purchase a home for the family. Coming to Jasper county in the spring of 1848, he bought the farm whither he soon piloted the family from Ohio, and where his children now live, and upon which his father died in the fall of 1850. With the exception of a trip across the plains soon after coming to Missouri he remained upon the farm as his father’s right-hand man. He was married Jan. 20, 1852, to Cordelia A. Stephens, of Jasper county, Mo. The names of the children are John W., Oliver S., Eliza, Samuel, Katie, Lula B., and Walter. William Cather died Sept. 25, 1882, at his home, after a lingering and protracted illness. Of what disease? There is no positive evidence thus far that has been found to justify one in saying this one or that one did shorten his life and bring it to a sudden and very untimely close; but the circumstantial evidence is so strong and unmistakable that many friends and close relations are morally certain that someone clandestinely administered some deadly poison unknown to himself or anyone else. The story is brief, and painfully sad and inhuman. It is said an Englishman who had found a home and friend with Mr. Cather was suspected by the mother of Mrs. Cather of alienating the affections of William Cather’s wife, although implicit confidence was placed in both. The friends say that in order to conceal crimes of broken vows and blackest treachery, a plot was laid to terminate both further interference and the life of Mr. Cather. They say, further, sugar of lead was administered in the hope of escaping detection of any means of destruction. The day of his death was one of continual spasms, and, together with many circumstances beyond the shadow of a doubt, as that of her voluntarily leaving family and home and almost giving away her rights and property, look awfully suspicious. This statement is made at the request of relatives and friends in behalf of the greatly respected and honorable deceased so favorably known, as well as posterity. These are the opinions and sentiments authorized by a greatly wronged brother of the deceased, John Cather.