* Name alternately listed as "Cater"
43rd United States Colored Troops-Civil War.
He worked as a teamster for the Sierra Lumber Company in 1885, located at the east side of Wall Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, Chico.
~~~
** Date of newspaper is not always the date of the incident - this was a weekly, and stories were written, set, and the printing was done after the facts were typeset, often days later.
Chico Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 26, 1884, pg 3 col 3: Cato Swepson and wife were surprised at their residence, on Wall street, last night, the occasion being their wooden wedding [5 years]. All had a jolly time.
~~~
"C.W. Swepson, – male, African, married, age 40 yr 1 mo. B. New York, d. 4 Sep 1890 in Chico & vicinity." Source: Earliest Death and Burial Records, Paradise Genealogical Society, published serially in the PGS Goldmine, 1992, pg 146.
~~~
Chico Weekly Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 5, 1890, pg 3 col 2: Death of Cater W. Swepson. Cater William Swepson, the colored driver of the Sierra Lumber Co.’s lumber wagon, died in this city this morning of pneumonia and heart disease.
Cater was a native of New York, aged about 41 years. His was a striking figure on our streets, for he was six feet six inches in height, and as strong as two ordinary men. He has resided in Chico for the past fourteen years, and followed his trade of lumberman. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his sudden taking off.
Cater Swepson was a man well like among his associates, and had many firm friends who will miss him. At the second year of the war he ran away from his home in New York, and followed one of the regiments of that State then going to the front. He served as camp servant until the spring of ’64, when he enlisted as a private in the 43d U.S. Colored Troops, and served in the Fourth Division of the 9th Army Crops, under General Edward Ferrero. Cater went with his regiment in the disastrous charge at Petersburg, on July 30th, 1864, and was wounded twice, once in the head and the other in the chest. Out of 350 men of the 43d who went into the fight 145 were killed and wounded.
Cater had never identified himself with any of the secret orders, though on Decoration Day he was often seen trudging his way to the cemetery, and watched with eager interest loving hands place the floral wreaths upon the graves of the departed heroes. He loved the old soldiers, and though his skin was black his heart was as white as any that beneath a tattered coat. He was loving, generous and patriotic, and freely shed his blood at a time when he and his people know no home, no country, no flag, but in the shadows of the great rebellion he discovered the dawning light of eternal liberty, and freely followed wherever the old flag led. His brave generous spirit has taken its flight to the great beyond, but the comrades who knew him will revere his memory, and the old soldiers will carry an added wreath to the cemetery next Decoration Day.
~~~
Chico Weekly Chronicle Record, Saturday, September 6, 1890, pg 2, col 7: Funeral of C.W. Swepson. The funeral of C.W. Swepson yesterday afternoon was one of the largest that has be in Chico for some time. All the colored people and a large number of whites were in attendance. Rev. C.A. Leaman assisted the pastor of the A.M.E. Church in the services.
Cato William Swepson was interred, per the Chico Cemetery Association Records, in the plot noted, on September 4, 1890.
See the completed biography on Cato Swepson, by Katherine Curless, entitled “Fighting for Freedom: The Story of Cato William Swepson” as part of a California State University, Chico Archival History project, fall semester, 2018, under the direction of Professor Mike Magliari. Electronic version and hard print copies are available at Meriam Library, CSU, Chico and Chico Cemetery Association.
43rd United States Colored Troops-Civil War.
He worked as a teamster for the Sierra Lumber Company in 1885, located at the east side of Wall Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, Chico.
~~~
** Date of newspaper is not always the date of the incident - this was a weekly, and stories were written, set, and the printing was done after the facts were typeset, often days later.
Chico Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 26, 1884, pg 3 col 3: Cato Swepson and wife were surprised at their residence, on Wall street, last night, the occasion being their wooden wedding [5 years]. All had a jolly time.
~~~
"C.W. Swepson, – male, African, married, age 40 yr 1 mo. B. New York, d. 4 Sep 1890 in Chico & vicinity." Source: Earliest Death and Burial Records, Paradise Genealogical Society, published serially in the PGS Goldmine, 1992, pg 146.
~~~
Chico Weekly Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 5, 1890, pg 3 col 2: Death of Cater W. Swepson. Cater William Swepson, the colored driver of the Sierra Lumber Co.’s lumber wagon, died in this city this morning of pneumonia and heart disease.
Cater was a native of New York, aged about 41 years. His was a striking figure on our streets, for he was six feet six inches in height, and as strong as two ordinary men. He has resided in Chico for the past fourteen years, and followed his trade of lumberman. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his sudden taking off.
Cater Swepson was a man well like among his associates, and had many firm friends who will miss him. At the second year of the war he ran away from his home in New York, and followed one of the regiments of that State then going to the front. He served as camp servant until the spring of ’64, when he enlisted as a private in the 43d U.S. Colored Troops, and served in the Fourth Division of the 9th Army Crops, under General Edward Ferrero. Cater went with his regiment in the disastrous charge at Petersburg, on July 30th, 1864, and was wounded twice, once in the head and the other in the chest. Out of 350 men of the 43d who went into the fight 145 were killed and wounded.
Cater had never identified himself with any of the secret orders, though on Decoration Day he was often seen trudging his way to the cemetery, and watched with eager interest loving hands place the floral wreaths upon the graves of the departed heroes. He loved the old soldiers, and though his skin was black his heart was as white as any that beneath a tattered coat. He was loving, generous and patriotic, and freely shed his blood at a time when he and his people know no home, no country, no flag, but in the shadows of the great rebellion he discovered the dawning light of eternal liberty, and freely followed wherever the old flag led. His brave generous spirit has taken its flight to the great beyond, but the comrades who knew him will revere his memory, and the old soldiers will carry an added wreath to the cemetery next Decoration Day.
~~~
Chico Weekly Chronicle Record, Saturday, September 6, 1890, pg 2, col 7: Funeral of C.W. Swepson. The funeral of C.W. Swepson yesterday afternoon was one of the largest that has be in Chico for some time. All the colored people and a large number of whites were in attendance. Rev. C.A. Leaman assisted the pastor of the A.M.E. Church in the services.
Cato William Swepson was interred, per the Chico Cemetery Association Records, in the plot noted, on September 4, 1890.
See the completed biography on Cato Swepson, by Katherine Curless, entitled “Fighting for Freedom: The Story of Cato William Swepson” as part of a California State University, Chico Archival History project, fall semester, 2018, under the direction of Professor Mike Magliari. Electronic version and hard print copies are available at Meriam Library, CSU, Chico and Chico Cemetery Association.
* Name alternately listed as "Cater"
43rd United States Colored Troops-Civil War.
He worked as a teamster for the Sierra Lumber Company in 1885, located at the east side of Wall Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, Chico.
~~~
** Date of newspaper is not always the date of the incident - this was a weekly, and stories were written, set, and the printing was done after the facts were typeset, often days later.
Chico Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 26, 1884, pg 3 col 3: Cato Swepson and wife were surprised at their residence, on Wall street, last night, the occasion being their wooden wedding [5 years]. All had a jolly time.
~~~
"C.W. Swepson, – male, African, married, age 40 yr 1 mo. B. New York, d. 4 Sep 1890 in Chico & vicinity." Source: Earliest Death and Burial Records, Paradise Genealogical Society, published serially in the PGS Goldmine, 1992, pg 146.
~~~
Chico Weekly Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 5, 1890, pg 3 col 2: Death of Cater W. Swepson. Cater William Swepson, the colored driver of the Sierra Lumber Co.’s lumber wagon, died in this city this morning of pneumonia and heart disease.
Cater was a native of New York, aged about 41 years. His was a striking figure on our streets, for he was six feet six inches in height, and as strong as two ordinary men. He has resided in Chico for the past fourteen years, and followed his trade of lumberman. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his sudden taking off.
Cater Swepson was a man well like among his associates, and had many firm friends who will miss him. At the second year of the war he ran away from his home in New York, and followed one of the regiments of that State then going to the front. He served as camp servant until the spring of ’64, when he enlisted as a private in the 43d U.S. Colored Troops, and served in the Fourth Division of the 9th Army Crops, under General Edward Ferrero. Cater went with his regiment in the disastrous charge at Petersburg, on July 30th, 1864, and was wounded twice, once in the head and the other in the chest. Out of 350 men of the 43d who went into the fight 145 were killed and wounded.
Cater had never identified himself with any of the secret orders, though on Decoration Day he was often seen trudging his way to the cemetery, and watched with eager interest loving hands place the floral wreaths upon the graves of the departed heroes. He loved the old soldiers, and though his skin was black his heart was as white as any that beneath a tattered coat. He was loving, generous and patriotic, and freely shed his blood at a time when he and his people know no home, no country, no flag, but in the shadows of the great rebellion he discovered the dawning light of eternal liberty, and freely followed wherever the old flag led. His brave generous spirit has taken its flight to the great beyond, but the comrades who knew him will revere his memory, and the old soldiers will carry an added wreath to the cemetery next Decoration Day.
~~~
Chico Weekly Chronicle Record, Saturday, September 6, 1890, pg 2, col 7: Funeral of C.W. Swepson. The funeral of C.W. Swepson yesterday afternoon was one of the largest that has be in Chico for some time. All the colored people and a large number of whites were in attendance. Rev. C.A. Leaman assisted the pastor of the A.M.E. Church in the services.
Cato William Swepson was interred, per the Chico Cemetery Association Records, in the plot noted, on September 4, 1890.
See the completed biography on Cato Swepson, by Katherine Curless, entitled “Fighting for Freedom: The Story of Cato William Swepson” as part of a California State University, Chico Archival History project, fall semester, 2018, under the direction of Professor Mike Magliari. Electronic version and hard print copies are available at Meriam Library, CSU, Chico and Chico Cemetery Association.
43rd United States Colored Troops-Civil War.
He worked as a teamster for the Sierra Lumber Company in 1885, located at the east side of Wall Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, Chico.
~~~
** Date of newspaper is not always the date of the incident - this was a weekly, and stories were written, set, and the printing was done after the facts were typeset, often days later.
Chico Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 26, 1884, pg 3 col 3: Cato Swepson and wife were surprised at their residence, on Wall street, last night, the occasion being their wooden wedding [5 years]. All had a jolly time.
~~~
"C.W. Swepson, – male, African, married, age 40 yr 1 mo. B. New York, d. 4 Sep 1890 in Chico & vicinity." Source: Earliest Death and Burial Records, Paradise Genealogical Society, published serially in the PGS Goldmine, 1992, pg 146.
~~~
Chico Weekly Enterprise, Friday Evening, September 5, 1890, pg 3 col 2: Death of Cater W. Swepson. Cater William Swepson, the colored driver of the Sierra Lumber Co.’s lumber wagon, died in this city this morning of pneumonia and heart disease.
Cater was a native of New York, aged about 41 years. His was a striking figure on our streets, for he was six feet six inches in height, and as strong as two ordinary men. He has resided in Chico for the past fourteen years, and followed his trade of lumberman. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his sudden taking off.
Cater Swepson was a man well like among his associates, and had many firm friends who will miss him. At the second year of the war he ran away from his home in New York, and followed one of the regiments of that State then going to the front. He served as camp servant until the spring of ’64, when he enlisted as a private in the 43d U.S. Colored Troops, and served in the Fourth Division of the 9th Army Crops, under General Edward Ferrero. Cater went with his regiment in the disastrous charge at Petersburg, on July 30th, 1864, and was wounded twice, once in the head and the other in the chest. Out of 350 men of the 43d who went into the fight 145 were killed and wounded.
Cater had never identified himself with any of the secret orders, though on Decoration Day he was often seen trudging his way to the cemetery, and watched with eager interest loving hands place the floral wreaths upon the graves of the departed heroes. He loved the old soldiers, and though his skin was black his heart was as white as any that beneath a tattered coat. He was loving, generous and patriotic, and freely shed his blood at a time when he and his people know no home, no country, no flag, but in the shadows of the great rebellion he discovered the dawning light of eternal liberty, and freely followed wherever the old flag led. His brave generous spirit has taken its flight to the great beyond, but the comrades who knew him will revere his memory, and the old soldiers will carry an added wreath to the cemetery next Decoration Day.
~~~
Chico Weekly Chronicle Record, Saturday, September 6, 1890, pg 2, col 7: Funeral of C.W. Swepson. The funeral of C.W. Swepson yesterday afternoon was one of the largest that has be in Chico for some time. All the colored people and a large number of whites were in attendance. Rev. C.A. Leaman assisted the pastor of the A.M.E. Church in the services.
Cato William Swepson was interred, per the Chico Cemetery Association Records, in the plot noted, on September 4, 1890.
See the completed biography on Cato Swepson, by Katherine Curless, entitled “Fighting for Freedom: The Story of Cato William Swepson” as part of a California State University, Chico Archival History project, fall semester, 2018, under the direction of Professor Mike Magliari. Electronic version and hard print copies are available at Meriam Library, CSU, Chico and Chico Cemetery Association.
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