George Washington Kite (1831-1910) was born in Johnson County to Anderson (1805-1880) and Peggy Lansdown Kite (1805-1870).

George Washington Kite enlisted in the United States Army April 4, 1848, at the age of 18 at Jonesborough, Tennessee. He served during the Mexican War. George received $6.00 a month pension for his service.
In the 1850 Census George Washington Kite lived near Elizabethton and was an apprentice blacksmith.
In 1853 George Washinton Kite married Violet M. Matheson (1834-1901). Violet was born in Ashe County, North Carolina, to George William Matheson (1805-1880) and his wife Elizabeth Brown (1800-1881)
By 1860, George and Violet were living in the Cobb’s Creek area of Johnson County and George was farming. He was living next door to John Rainbolt.
In 1860 he was listed as a blacksmith and still living in Johnson County, District 6.
Together George and Violet had seven children:
Joseph Winfield Kite (1856-1937)
Eliza Olivene Kite (1858-1940)
Hiram Warner Kite (1859-1937)
Estella H. Kite (1863 -1960)
Laura Astella Kite (1868-1944)
Lemuel D. Kite (1873-1926)
Robert C. Kite (1876-1899)
George Washington Kite did not serve in the Civil War but did support the Union.
At the time of George and Violet’s deaths they were buried in the Rainbolt Cemetery. Due to the building of the Watauga Dam both George and Violet’s graves were moved to the new Butler Cemetery in 1947.

Lynn Farmer ~ contributor