GEORGE L. CATHEY, a well-known B citizen and prosperous farmer of E Kent county since 1854, is a native of Simcoe county, Ontario, born February 23, 1844, the ninth of ten children born to George and Eustacia (Brown) Cathey. Six of the family are survivors, of whom Eliza is the wife of J. H. Milor, a merchant of Petoskey, Mich.; James D. is a fruit grower in California; the remaining children are residing in Canada. The father of George L. Cathey was born in Canada in 1798 and died there in November, I885. In 1854 he came to Kent county, Mich., and bought eighty acres of land in Cannon township, where he erected a rude log cabin which served as his first habitation. He soon afterward sold this and bought 11 acres in section No. 9, Oakfield township, which he sold twenty years later and returned to Canada, where he passed his later years. Religiously he and his wife, who was also a native of Canada and who died when the subject was an infant, were members of 'the Methodist church. George L. Cathey was a lad of ten summers when brought to the state of Michigan, where he was educated in the common schools. He remained on his father's farm until the call for troops, and he decided to be one of the brave Michigan lads who arrayed themselves in the blue blouse and shouldered a musket for the defense of their country and government. He enlisted November 11, 1861, in company C, Thirteenth Michigan volunteer infantry, at Cannonsburg, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, and first ordered to Nashville, Tenn., there to be placed under command of Gen. Buell. The first battle he participated in was Shiloh and the next Corinth, where the first man of his company was wounded. The regiment was next engaged at Stevenson, Ala.; here the Thirteenth Michigan and the Tenth Wisconsin were placed as guard and Gen. Buell asserted that these would be sacrificed in order to cover his retreat. There was no expectation to them of ever leaving this place alive, but with many hardships they made their way, on scanty rations, across the mountains to Tallahassee, Fla., at the rate of thirty-five miles per day. After Chickamauga, he was placed in the engineers' corps, which laid the pontoon bridge across the Tennessee from Sherman's army to the rear of Gen. Bragg's lines. He spent the summer of 1864 at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, where the corps was engaged in erecting hospitals. He afterward joined in Sherman's march, fought at the battle of Bentonville, and continued on to Washington, where he witnessed the grand review, He was honorably discharged at Jackson, Mich., July 25, I865. His record as a soldier is an excellent one. Having entered as a private he was promoted after the battle of Stone river to the position of color-bearer, and on May 12, 1865, for his valor, patriotism, ability and fidelity, he was appointed second lieutenant. He faithfully served his country three years and eight months, being constantly on duty with his company. He embarked in farming, but for two years, 1870 and 187, was engaged in cotton raising in Mississippi. However, this had some features that were not to his liking and he resumed farm life in Michigan. On September 4, I890, he wedded Miss Kate Soufrouw, who has borne him one son, George A. Mr. Cathey, in his political predilection, is a republican, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, while in the service. He has served as a delegate in county conventions from Courtland and Oakfield townships. In I895 he was elected township treasurer of Courtland and re-elected in I896. In I899 he was made justice of the peace. Socially he is a member of the Peter II. Webster post, G. A. R., at Rockford, Mich., and as a donor to benevolences is worthy of consideration. As a reward for his industry and economy, having begun life with nothing, he has made himself the possessor of 120 acres of the finest land in Oakfield township, nearly all in cultivation and improved with a high grade of buildings and farm accessories. Being a man of a generous nature and especially considerate of those near and dear to him, he has gained many friends who respect him for his genuine worth and will be glad to see his history in the record of his adopted county.