Looking for any information on Wm M. Cates who was the first elected Sheriff of Stephens Co., OK in 1907. It appears that he served until about May 1920 when it appears that he died while in office. His wife, Florence Cates, apparently took over as Sheriff on May 8, 1920 and served until January 1921. She is noted as having been the first female Sheriff in the state of Oklahoma. Any information on either of these individuals would be greatly appreciated!

On the Trail
Diron Ahlquist
Secretary/Editor Oklahombres Journal

Diron, I just ran across your inquiry about Sheriff Wm. M. Cates of Stephens County, and his wife, who became sheriff after Wm's death. I was a kid in Stephens County (Duncan) in the '40s, and I recall a "Bobby" Cates running for sheriff about 1945 or a little later. I remember him as a dapper, small statured man, standing at the employee gate of Halliburton Plant I in Duncan, handing out campaign cards as the work-shift ended. He later won the election. Perhaps he was a descendant of the earlier Sheriff Cates who is the subject of your inquiry.

Diron:

Do you by chance have the article that was in the 1920 Daily Oklahoman about the "first lady sheriff" - pretty good article; has a photo of her and a photo inset of her husband. If I had a postal address, I could mail it to you.

Hi, I have a small amount of info on the CATES. Robert G. CATES played an important part in the settlement of Wise Co.TX. He acted as the county's Sheriff for eleven successive years, taking a place in the second administration and retaining it untill after the war. He was born in McMinn Co. TN. Jan. 8, 1836...
Robert G. CATES married Miss Elizabeth TAYLOR, daughter of Judge Frank TAYLOR, one of the early Chief Justices of Wise County.
Robert G. CATES and Elizabeth TAYLOR CATES childrens names are:
1. Frank CATES married Lucy EWING
2. Clabe CATES
3. " William CATES married Florence DAVIS, recently (1907) elected sheriff of Stephens Co. OK. "
4. Perry CATES married Edith EVANS
5. Joe CATES married Lillian GENTRY
6. Bobbie CATES
7. Ella CATES, wife of Charles DAVIS,Wise Co.
7. Dick CATES married Minnie EVANS
8. Ed CATES married Eva CAVER
9. Bob CATES married Anna DAVIS

This info was sent to me by Roberta Pierson a genealogist and she has studied the CATE/S extensively.
I am also a CATE/S descendant and I became interested in this CATE/S family history when I found I lived not far from a descendant of this family.

Hope this helps someone...
Nelda