BillyC on Family Tree Circles

Looking to find information about J. Thomas Choate b 1861 KY and married to Minnie Bell Baker b 1884 KY. I would like to know what the J. is for (Jack, John, James, etc ??). I have been told that their son Nick Thomas Choate b 1903 KY, mentioned that the family may have pronounced their name as Shote or Shotes. This may or may not be correct. I would also like to know who the parents of J. Thomas Choate are. Thanks