New Book: Descendants of John Bates of York, SC

William G. Bates, or Texas Bill, has published a new book entitled, "The Descendants of John Bates of York, South Carolina.

It is finally an accomplished fact, the 288 page book, "The Descendants of John Bates Sr From York County, South Carolina" (the first four generations) has been printed and distributed to family members who have requested a copy. The book was intentionally bound in the loose leaf style using2" clear comb bindings that will allow additions, principally Addenda, to be added to each individual book as the holder sees fit. The Addenda, the family lines of John Bates Sr's children who have descendants past the fourth generation (John Jr, Zachariah, Alenna, Allen, and David), will require both time and effort due to necessity of contacting all living individuals as to their preference in printing their personal information. I will probably set a date whereby if the "Permissions" have notbeen received, the Addenda will be printed using only the full name of anyone without permission on file. While the "Basic Book", as I call it for brevity, has only been offered to very few non-relatives other than The Bates Association, BFOOV, and the York County Genealogical and Historical Society, there is the possibility that other non-relatives may request a copy for their familial library so as to preclude using research in their genealogical era that is related within its pages. I am presently
asking $35.00 donation that only covers production and shipping costs. The Addenda WILL NOT BE OFFERED to non-vetted family members because of the magnitude of living individuals they will contain.

As an aside to this, I am adding to this note part of the opening section of the book as pertains to John BATES Sr and some early history of family migrations.

Beginning, fact and conjecture

Facts, and some conjecture, as of 25 July 2010:

1. John Bates arrives in the Colonies, probably Baltimore, between 1770 and 1775, age 20-25. He married Rebecca BEAL about 1777 probably in Georgetown, Maryland with John Jr (1778), Mary (1780), and Zachariah (1781) being born in the vicinity before he, and others, head south mid spring 1783.
2. John Sr pays cash to purchase 300 acres of land "on the main fork of Fishing Creek on the Indian Line with William Hall" in Sep 1783.
3. John seems to have been reasonably well educated as attested by the 1800 census that was written in his own hand with his signature on the opening page and on the final page when he gave two copies to the Marshall who then passed it to his superior with acknowledgment that they came from John BATES.
4. Besides being the Assistant Marshall for the 1800 census, John was also a Constable (1790), Under Sheriff (1793), and appointed a Commissioner (one of three) to oversee finishing the York County Court House building in Yorkville.
5. Mary BATES, on the 1850 York County, SC census and widow of Robert ELLIS, states she was 70year old (born 1780) and born in Maryland.
6. Only one of John Sr's children, Allen BATES, lived long enough to indicate on the 1880 census that his father was born in England and his mother was born in Maryland. Allen named both of John's wives, his mother as Rebecca Beall by full name and "Miss Kennedy" as the second wife, in a document to the York County Probate Court contesting the previous execution of Isis Bates' intestate probate settlement.
7. Zachariah's son, John C. BATES, indicates on the 1880 Sebastian County, Arkansas census that his father was born in "D. Columbia".
8. There is a John Bates (baker age 21 from Norwich) who signed a five year indenture aboard the ship Elizabeth bound Virginia which sailed from London on the morning tide 27 November 1774.
9. There is a John Bates who marries a Rebekah Rolfe in London in October 1775.
10. There is a John BATES, escaped prisoner, deserted his 7 year indenture contract in the sixth year, in 1777. This is followed by a John BATES who enlisted in the Continental Army in Annapolis, Maryland shortly afterwards. This is being investigated at this time.
11. There is a John BATES, from South Carolina, who is an Indian Trader who has made at least two trips into the central Georgia area that included Fayette County because of its Indian gathering locations. Along with this is the known location of Wiley and William REEVES, cousins to RIchard Lawson REEVES, Alenna Bates' husband, in Jasper County, Georgia (two counties before Fayette County on a direct line from Savannah, Georgia) Given the above, it is a consensus that:

The John Bates on the ship Elizabeth could not be be John Sr of York County, SC primarily because of the date in conjunction with other known dates and facts. There are the conditions of indenturement when coupled to the marriage to Rebecca BEALL about 1777. None of the individuals/families who purchased an indenture in this time frame would allow the individual to marry until the contract was satisfied without substantial extension. There has been noted incidences, all well documented, where the owner was impressed with the contractee's performance and considered the contract satisfied as much as six months, and one case 10 months, ahead of the original contractual date. However, considering the expected arrival date between early January to late February 1775, would preclude this John marrying Rebecca BEALL in 1777 as the earliest this John BATES could have been eligible to marry, without contractual penalty, would be about July 1779. Additionally, the Revolutionary War was a controlling factor in this area from early 1777 to about 1782.

The John Bates who married Rebekah Rolfe in London is considered by the research group to be improbable as much because of the date, 1775, and John of York County's marriage to Rebecca BEALL of Maryland in 1777. There is, however one of several sequence of events that could still allow this to be accurate, however, all of them require Rebekah to die between early 1776 to shortly after arrival, probably Baltimore, in late 1776 and John to immediately became acquainted with the BEALL family. The most probable cause of death would be childbirth with the child possibly surviving though there are conditions of ship crossings where death has been noted for numerous other reasons. There is no documentation found to confirm or deny this conjecture besides the marriage in London.

The John BATES, escaped prisoner, in 1777 seems to have much going for this possibility. Several items have been discovered that seem to point in his direction. First he has been in the proper area, present Alexandria and northward to about Great Falls to encounter the BEALL family of Georgetown, Maryland. and the owner did not pursue but only reported the incidence which seems to indicate the two events may be linked. Second is the historical records of the unit to which he enlisted includes service in the Carolina's as Coastal Defense which would probably put them in a position of being in the area of the Battle on Kings Mountain or afterwards highly possible. Kings Mountain is in the extreme northwest corner of York County but at the time of the battle was part of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Since John would have had to marry Rebecca BEFORE he enlisted in the Continental Army, it is necessary that we discover something that indicates this John knew her and/or something of their marriage. Research is ongoing at this time.


The discovery of the Isis Intestate Documents, both original Probate (1872) and the later contestation(1884) by John Jr's living children (William T., John W., Thomas Allen, and Nancy (Bates) Aiken) with John Jr's brother, Allen Bates, clearly shows several facts.

First, John Sr was married twice, first to Rebecca BEAL (Correct spelling BEALL) of Maryland and after her death to Miss KENNEDY in York County, South Carolina. Miss KENNEDY is believed to have died before John Sr (1833) as there are indications of her on the 1810 and 1820 censuses but not on the 1830 census plus there is no provision for her in John Sr's will with his entire estate going solely to his unmarried daughter, Isis.

Also contained in these documents is they did not know whether Zachariah was alive or not in 1872 but that he was last known to be in Arkansas with no specific location. There is also John Jr preceding Isis in death and gives his year of death as 1856 in Georgia.

It is speculation on my part, along with the birth declarations and the prevailing tradition that a woman would repair to her parents home, if they were close by, for childbirth. It is believed that all three, John Jr, Mary (confirmed), and Zach (confirmed), were born across the Potomac River in what is now the Georgetown district of the District of Columbia.

The area now known as Arlington District is an official part of District of Columbia on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. This area may have been the locality for John's residence from arrival to 1783 when he, and others, head south, either via the Old Indian Road (Shenandoah valley) southward or the Fall Line Road which began in Fredericksburg and ends at the South Carolina side of the Savannah River across from Augusta, Georgia. No one in their right mind, not so much as problems with the natives but primarily because of outlaws, would have attempted family travel individually for any distance during this time period but would have connected with others in their area who wanted to travel in the same direction with a leader who had been to the area of destination.

Anyone who wishes to contact me may do so using my email address, WGB97@elp.rr.com, and I would be happy to discuss this, or any of the multitudinous families of research I have been engaged in over the past thirteen years. I have numerous files of several other BATES lines that, while not complete and in most cases just plain outdated, I have information that may be of importance of some individuals particularly in the western Georgia and Alabama area. I have a huge file on the cemetery listings in the Cullman County, Alabama area that includes four different BATES family lines. I do not recall the exact connection points but there is a "Back Door" connection between this BATES family and BFOOV through the ALFORD family in Virginia (1700's) and somewhat later (mid 1800's) in Spalding County, Georgia.

I would urge all individuals with DNA test to please upgrade them to at least 67 markers to take advantage of the newest research possibility and connections.

William G. Bates

Those interested in obtaining a copy can contact Bill at: wgb97@elp.rr.com, or

William G. Bates
637 Castile Ave
El Paso, Tx 79912
ph. 915-307-7627

The Twins, Byron and Ralph

About two years prior to Thomas Jefferson Bates' death, his wife gave birth to twin sons, Bryon Raymond and Ralph Robert. Due to the difficulties of raising a young family by herself, Flora was forced to give up the twins.

The Boy's Girl's Aid Society placed Ralph his twin brother, Byron, and their brother, Emery, in The Boy's Girl's Aid Society in Portland, Oregon. The Society placed the twins with a family who had a farm out in the Prosperity or Progress area out of Portland, Oregon. When the twins started to school, the Ross family gave them their last name but did not legally adopt them.

After high school, Byron became a member of the Inland Boatman's Union, CIO in Portland, Oregon. He worked on the boats that went between Oregon City and Astoria. One of the boats was The Bonneville, an old stern wheeler.

When Byron met Carmen, he was working as a dispatcher in the Inland Boatman's Union, CIO office. She worked in the CIO Newspaper office. The name of the newspaper was "The Labor Newsdealer". Their offices were located in the Govenor's Building in Portland, Oregon. Byron and Carmen started dating and later married.

Byron and his family lived in the Portland / Estacada area.

When the United States entered the 2nd World War, Byron left his dispatcher's job and joined the International Longshoreman's Union.

Byron and Carmen divorced on June 2, 1953 in Oregon City, Clackamas, Oregon.

Byron was a longshoreman in Portland, Oregon at the time of his death. He was treated at Bess Kaiser Hospital for cerebral hemorrhage and died at 9:50 p.m. on November 2, 1960. His funeral was handled by the Little Chapel of the Chimes, Portland, Oregon.

Source: Daughter, Mary Flora (Bates) Ross Dicintio.

**** After high school, Byron's twin brother, Ralph, became a member of the Columbia River Pilots Association and, later, was a member of the Riverboat Firefighters. They responded and were on-call for fires along the waterfront.

Ralph's second wife, Margaret, had a child (Carol Jean) from a previous marriage.

Ralph was a Fire Boat Pilot for the City of Portland at the time of his death. His death was accidental. He was working on an auto in the driveway of his home when the jack slipped pinning him underneath. He was treated at Physicians Surgeons Hospital in Portland, Oregon. He was 51 years old when he died. His funeral was handled by The Little Chapel of the Chimes in Portland, Oregon.

William McKinley Bates, son of James Ragan and Victoria Parrish Bates

William McKinley Bates was born September 25, 1900, to James Ragan Bates and Victoria Parrish, in Riddle, Oregon. He was their fourth and youngest child. When he was an infant, Willie contracted polio. One night, he was very near death. His father gave up and told his mother to just let him die. However, Victoria could not give up hope. She built a small fire in the wood stove, placed her baby in a small box, and set it in the oven with the door left ajar. After several days, young Willie’s health began to improve. He eventually recovered, but walked with a limp the rest of his life from the polio.

Bill’s dad died in 1926. Shorty thereafter, while in his twenties, Bill hopped a train in Oregon and rode to Carbon County, Utah. Why he decided to get off here is not known for sure, but he found work as a telegraph operator in Helper. Not long afterwards, he met Ida Lucille Richardson. They were married on November 16, 1927 in the Price City courthouse. Their first home was an apartment in Martin, Utah. On the day they were married, someone delivered a dirty stove to their apartment. Bill had to work the morning following their marriage, so Bill and Ida didn’t have a honeymoon. They just stayed home and cleaned the dirty old stove. Bill lovingly referred to Ida as "Sally."

On July 24, 1928, Ida gave birth to their first child, James William Bates in Martin, Utah. Bill was scared to death. As recorded in Jim’s own words “I’m especially thankful for my parents – that they desired and wanted me in their family. They gave me the greatest gift on this earth – the gift of LIFE.

Bill and Ida had two more living children, John Gordon “Jack”, and Alma Rae. Ida also gave birth to a stillborn son, Dennis.

Bill’s occupations mostly included working for the Utah Railway and also for the coal mines. The family moved around a lot, mostly living in mining housing. As Jim wrote in his own personal history “We didn’t have anything because dad would be out of work several months of the year, but dad and mother grew a small garden and raised a batch of white Leghorn roosters. When a hobo would come to the door, Dad would invite them in – give them a hair cut, a hot bath and share what little food we had on the table. Dad’s compassion for his fellow man stuck with me the remainder of my life.”

Jim wrote in his journal about his dad bragging about his ability to catch big browns (native Brown Trout). His father told him “The first thing you do is locate a nest of new born mice, nice pink ones without any hair. Position them on a wood shingle and float it out into the lake. Of course the mouse is rigged up with a hook and attached to a long line. When the shingle is in the right spot – jerk the mouse off. As the mouse struggles for shore those big brown hit with a vengeance.” Jim says he never did see his dad catch a fish that way!

Here is a story clip from Jim’s journal: “Dad had killed some chickens for a cook out. One evening while everyone was standing around the camp fire Dad slipped a chicken foot into Aunt Ruth’s apron pocket. When she stuck her hand into that pocket, felt the raw bone and sinew and whatever else the mind can conjure up – she went ballistic. When she finally collected her wits, and identified the culprit, she chased dad all over the camp ground with the dead chicken foot.”

Together, Bill and Jim raised chinchillas for fur. They kept them in a fold up wire pen in the living room of the house Bill and Ida lived in, in Helper. Bill and Jim had hoped to make a mint off of them. They planned to sell them for their fur. Right after they got them, the government put a ban on selling fur for coats. Bill and Jim tried to sell the animals as pets, but were unable to do so. They were left high and dry, with chinchillas in Ida's living room!

Ellen remembers Bill as always being a kind, gentleman. Bill always tipped his hat to the ladies. He was always kind to Ellen. He was clean, neat, and never unshaven. His yard never had a weed in it. He had a raspberry patch that took up the entire garden lot.

He loved little children. At the time his children were leaving home, a family in Kenilworth had great financial difficulty caring for their large family. Bill and Ida took their twins into their home until the twins were adopted by another family. A newborn sister of the twins, Mary Jo, came into their home when the twins left. They raised her for many years. It nearly broke Bill's heart when she was adopted into another home.

Bill knew the Bible frontwards and backwards. He read the Bible all of the time. Although he stated that he doubted it’s divine origin, he said that it was written to keep men on the straight and narrow.

While Jim’s family was living in Logan, Bill and Ida lived in the basement of their Spring Glen house. While living there, Bill and Jim built the living room, and the upstairs front room. Bill was living in the Spring Glen house when he died on May 17, 1960.

Jim titled a chapter in his autobiography “Dad’s Drinking Problem.” He talks about many of the problems that arose because of his father’s drinking problem. His closing paragraph on this chapter ends with these words: “Due to these conflicts of the heart our lives seemed to be uncertain and it weighed heavily on our emotions and our ability at times to progress. Repetitious behavior by dad threatened to tear our family and our very existence apart at times; however, we survived the storms, which were frequent. Our life was not rosy, free from pain, misery, sorrow and heart break, but amidst all the conflict there have been tender, heartfelt experiences, relationships, and insights that are treasured by each of us.”

Bill had a serious drinking problem his entire life. It began in his youth. His parents would give him a hot totty each morning when he was a child. This was a habit he was never able to overcome. It eventually took his life.

Ida loved her “Knight in Shining Armor.”

Note: The above picture is of William McKinley Bates with his first child, Grandpa James Bates.

Emery Ray Bates, son of Thomas and Flora Bates

by Ethel Mae Bates KinKade (daughter of Emery Ray Bates)

Life events:
Emery was born On October 17, 1907 in Riddle, Douglas, Oregon. However, his parents did not register his birth. That made problems for him later in life when a birth certificate was needed for verification. He eventually got a letter stating his birth from the State of Oregon.

Emery was removed from his mother's home at the age of nine, along with his twin brothers, Byron and Ralph (age seven, twins), by the Boys Girls Aid Society of Oregon in 1917. The boys were eventually placed with farmers in the Portland area; Emery to one farm near Hillsboro and the twins, together, to another. They were not allowed to write to one another or to see each other through all those years til' they were of age. Emery returned to the Riddle, OR area searching for his older brothers, Monte and Bon and located them. The twins stayed in the Portland area when they came of age. Emery looked for the twins, found them in Portland, Oregon and the family became re-acquainted after many years of traumatic separation.


Emery and his twin brothers received the pension money that had collected over the years while they were "farmed out" when they, consecutively, of age got released from Boys Girls Aid Society. Emery worked at the Prune Orchard Dryer in Riddle, Oregon after returning to the area.

Emery married Ethel Marie Tomerlin on August 1, 1935 in Myrtle Creek, Douglas, Oregon. They had four children. He worked on the Southern Pacific Railroad approximately 34 years. In the early 1930's, Emery started out as a night track walker advancing up to Section Foreman through the years. He and his crews rode the velocipede motor car. He preferred to stay in the Section Foreman position rather than advance up to higher ranks. He worked in southern Oregon at Reuben, West Fork, Glendale, and eventually moving his family to Suver, Oregon in 1943. Before the move to Suver, he worked on the railroad with his brother, Monte, and his father-in-law, Thomas Jackson Tomerlin. In 1952, he bid on and got the Section Foreman position at Monroe, Oregon and moved his family to Monroe, Oregon. In the late 1950's, after Emery's children were grown and married - Emery & his wife, Ethel, moved to Philomath, Oregon where he was section foreman, then to Richardson, Oregon, and then to Philomath, Oregon where they bought a home and Emery drove back and forth to his job as Section Foreman in Toledo, OR.

He was 54 years old when he died, January 28, 1962.
Funeral program: In Memory of Emery Ray Bates
Born October 17, 1907 - Passed Away January 28, 1962
Services:
Chapel of The McHenry Funeral Home, Corvallis, Oregon - 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 1, 1962
Officiating: Reverend Walter W. Appleyard
Soloist: Nancy Crocker Organist: John O'Connor
Casket Bearers: Ed Turner, Pat Brown, Ralph Cobb, Bud Trotter, Larry Turner and Andy Rhodaback.
Internment: Riddle Cemetery, Douglas County, Riddle, Oregon

Bonnie Ben Bates, son of TJ and Flora Snow Bates

By Ethel Mae KinKade

Bonnie Ben Bates was the fourth son of Thomas Jefferson and Flora Bates

Life - growing up - military service - marriage ethelkinkadeadded this on 1 Jun 2010Bonnie Ben was inducted into the Army of the United States on October 22, 1942 at Portland, Oregon. He was 41 years and 9/12 months old. His occupation before his induction was rigger. He was 5 feet 9 inches in height. His AS# was: 39320209. He completed 6 months and 24 days of service (Oct. 22, 1942 to May 15, 1943) for which he received longevity pay. He was then discharged by Order of Secretary of War, par. 22a AR 150-5 & WD AGO Radio. He was transferred to ERC (Interactive Service) May 15, 1943 to accept employment in essential industry. Notice lost under AW107. It was noted that he was of excellent character. His Enlistment record was signed by John A. Bell, 1st Lieut. A.G.D., Assignment & Separation Branch, Military Personnel Division. Source: Enlistment record 83 4 2681. Bonnie received a Certificate of Service given at Walla Walla Army Division field, Walla Walla, WA signed by Harvey E. Gilmore, Major Air Corps dated May 15, 1943. On that date, he received his Muster-Out pay (in full) $51.95 which included travel pay to Grants Pass, Oregon. Source: Certificate of Service. Another item of interest: Honorable Discharge from the Army of the United States certifying Bonnie Ben Bates #39320209 - Private Enlisted, Roseburg, OR given by ASF, HQ Ninth Service Command, Fort Douglas, Utah dated 26 Oct. 1944 - signed by Roy W. Asbury, Major, ACD, Assignment & Separation Branch Military Personnel Division. Source: Honorable Discharge dated 26 Oct. 1944 No children in his marriage with Tillie. Tillie had a son when they married, Lawrence. Some places that Bon and Tillie lived: Springfield, Oregon and Coos Bay, Oregon. At Coos Bay, they could see the ocean from where they lived. During Bon's working years, he was a pipe fitter with Local 585060, Building Construction. Bon Bates reminisced to his niece, Flora Ann Bates, on July 12, 1984 the following: "My great-grandfather Bates had land in Tennessee, probably too much land because his sons (Thomas, John & Bill) helped him. The government said they could have as much land as they could take care of. In those days, with horses and guns, they could hold/command a lot of ground. The government decided they had too much land and offered money or a smaller amount of land. So - they took the money and moved to Arkansas. After that, they rented the land to farm." Bon related that his ancestors were from England (English, Scotch and Irish). About the year 1904 - Thomas, his second wife, Flora and three sons (Mont, Oady and Bon) moved out to Oregon on the train, bringing some of their furniture and trunks filled with their belongings. Thomas, along with a son from his first marriage (James Ragen Bates), bought land (45.17 acres) in Riddle, Oregon. James and his family were already residents in the town of Riddle, Oregon. James and his wife, Victoria Parrish, and children had moved to Oregon about 1897. Bon related that his mother, Flora Ethel, was a real southerner. She always used the word "whop", for example "I'm gonna whop you!" Bon said his mother got right out there, swinging those picks and axes, working along with the men to build the road up the hill where their house was located. The hill was named Bates Hill. The property had many Madrone trees on it. The burls under the trees were used to make furniture. They had horses and cows up on the farm, but the water was bad, so they sold their livestock. They always had to boil their drinking water. According to Bon, "His dad died on the home place at Riddle. He had kidney trouble." Bon related that when he was about 10 or 12 years old (he thought he was in the 5th grade) his mother moved them all to downtown Riddle. They rented a house there. Bon said he later planted apple, pear, and cherry trees on the Bates Hill property. He also gathered pine cones and later put the seeds around the place. Then logging happened near the place and some logging on the property also. He wasn't happy about that. Bon said he later sold the old house to a prospector. It was torn down and moved somewhere else.

Comments (2)
Burial notice: ethelkinkadeadded this on 8 Jun 2010Services for Bonnie B. Bates, 83, of Coos Bay, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Sunset Memorial Park with the Rev. Everett Curry of the First Baptist Church in Coos Bay officiating. Coos Bay Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Bates was born April 8, 1902, at Fort Smith, Ark., and died Dec.10, 1985 at Roseburg. He was a resident of Coos Bay since 1978, and retired as a pipe fitter for heavy construction work. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II, and was preceeded in death by his wife, Tillie Bates in Dec.1982. Survivors include a stepson, Larry Flanders of Bandon; and one nephew. Edit Delete

Subject

Services for Bonnie B. Bates, 83, of Coos Bay, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Sunset Memorial Park with the Rev. Everett Curry of the First Baptist Church in Coos Bay officiating. Coos Bay Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Bates was born April 8, 1902, at Fort Smith, Ark., and died Dec.10, 1985 at Roseburg. He was a resident of Coos Bay since 1978, and retired as a pipe fitter for heavy construction work. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II, and was preceeded in death by his wife, Tillie Bates in Dec.1982. Survivors include a stepson, Larry Flanders of Bandon; and one nephew.

Monte Allen Bates, Sr.

by Ethel Mae KinKade

Monte Allen Bates was the oldest son of Thomas Jefferson and Flora Bates. Monte was born in Arkansas on 23 Apr 1895 in Huntington, Arkansas. In 1904, with his parents, he moved from Arkansas to Oregon, traveling by train. Before the family moved to Oregon, one of the houses where they lived caught on fire and burned. Monte remembered that as he was upstairs he had to jump out the second story window to safety. His daughter, Helen related this info and said that her father was very afraid all through his life when he smelled smoke.

He was a veteran of World War I. Monte was enlisted on June 24, 1918 into the United States Army at Roseburg, Oregon. He was 23 1/2 years old; single and of excellent character. He had blue eyes, brown hair, medium complexion and stood 6 feet 1 1/2 inches tall. His occupation at the time was Block Signalman. The source for this information was from the Honorable Discharge from US Army, signed by H. G. Upton, Major Infantry, Commanding.

Monte's Army Serial Number was 3133981. He was appointed Sergeant of Company, 70th Engineers of the Army as of November 1, 1918 - Fort Douglas, Utah. Source: Form # 152 - A.G.O. signed by Jas. O. Hunt, Captain Engineer USA, Commanding 70th Engineers.

On February 3, 1919, Monte was honorably discharged by reason of Muster Out telegram AGO dated November 16, 1918. Certification stamped on Discharge paper "This instrument was filed February 24, 1945 and recorded in Vol. 1 @ page 70. Record of Military Discharge of Douglas Co., OR - County Clerk: Roy Ages by Flossie S. Virden, Deputy. Source: Discharge papers.

Monte worked for many years as a signalman on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Monte, Sr., bought a grocery store in 1948 from Ira C. Lewis in Glendale (source: Newspaper clipping on death of Ira C. Lewis, dated June 1963).

Due to his health problem (enlarged heart - possibly born with it), they moved to Portland, Oregon where he could see specialists in this field. Later, they returned to Glendale and Monte continued to work on the railroad while his wife, Bess, and oldest son, Monte, Jr., were working partners in the day-to-day operation of the grocery store in Glendale, Oregon.

Helen reported the following: "When we moved to Portland, it was because of dad's health, but the signal maintaining job in Oswego allowed him to use an automobile, rather than the motor car, which made it much easier not lifting the old motor car on and off the track. I don't remember his going to doctors in Portland, however, his condition continued to deteriorate, and he bid on a job on the signal gang around Glendale. It was around this time that we bought the grocery store, (1949) as his condition continued to worsen. I did not know all this until after his death, he and mother sheltered me from a lot of things I should have known. When his condition got so bad he just couldn't do anything, he went to the S.P. hospital in San Francisco, by that time the EKG was being used for diagnosis. This was when the enlarged heart was discovered. He had been treated for everything else, but the heart, because they didn't know what his real problem was. The S.P. retired him before he even got back to Glendale."

Monte retired from the railroad and continued living in Glendale, OR the rest of his remaining years with his wife, Bess. He had been a resident of Glendale, Oregon for 41 years. He was a 40 year member of the Glendale Odd Fellows Lodge 172.

Monte's funeral services were held Wednesday, March 25, 1964 in the Presbyterian Church with Rev. Norman Naugler officiating and burial was under the direction of the Hull and Hull Funeral Home. Pall Bearers were Ben Whaley, Piney Winkelman, Bernie Halverson, Ardle McDiarmid, William Grahame and Life Edson.

Source: Funeral program saved by his niece, Ethel Mae Bates KinKade.

Thomas Jefferson Bates and Flora Snow

After Susan passed away, Thomas was married to Flora Snow. They were married on 12 Oct 1893 in Witcherville, Sebastian County, Arkansas. The couple remained in Arkansas for over 10 years near his brother Robert, even though Thomas' son James had moved on to Oregon. While in Arkansas, they had 4 boys: Monte, born in 1895; Todey, born in 1897; Oady, born in 1901; and Bonny, who was born in 1902. Meanwhile, Robert passed away in 1898 and his older brother John C., died in 1899.

Family folklore suggests that the family moved from Arkansas to Oregon in 1904, traveling by train. They were on the 1900 census in Arkansas, but we know that Bon was born in 1902 in Arkansas, and Emery in 1907 in Oregon. Before the family moved to Oregon, one of the houses where they lived caught on fire and burned. Monte remembered that as he was upstairs he had to jump out the second story window to safety. Helen said that her father was very afraid all through his life when he smelled smoke. Thomas, Flora, and the boys moved to Douglas County, Oregon to be near James and his family. Thomas purchased 70 acres near Riddle. There was a big hill on the property, covered in rosewood. Later, the hill was called 'Bates Hill'.

While living in Oregon, Thomas and Flora had 4 more children, all boys. Theador was born in 1905, Emery in 1907, and the twins, Byron and Ralph, were born in 1909. Obviously, with 8 boys, life was very busy for Thomas and Flora. Unfortunately, for Thomas and his young family, things took a turn for the worse in 1910. In January, Thomas was cutting down a tree near the farmhouse. The tree fell on top of Thomas. He suffered serious injuries, causing his death on the 12th of January, 1910.

Ethel Mae provided the following about the hardships that Flora faced after Thomas passed away. Flora was a very young bride to an older man in October of 1893. She worked hard trying to raise her family and when her husband, Thomas, died in 1910 - it was quite a struggle for Flora to provide for her family of six boys. Flora moved her family down off Bates Hill into town & rented a house, according to son, Bon. Bon thought he was about 10 or 12 at that time and in the 6th grade. Flora was employed as a waitress in a downtown restaurant and also cleaned homes for some residents of Riddle.

Flora is said to have had a broken heart due to her three youngest sons (Emery and the twins, Ralph & Byron) being taken from her & placed at the Boy's & Girl's Aid Society in Portland, OR in 1917. They would not let her communicate with the boys and would not tell her where they were placed with other families. She wrote, sent a picture of herself with the boy's dog, Ring, and a picture of Mont in uniform plus sent a dime for each son when she could afford to but these were not shared with the boys. Being broken hearted over the loss of the three younger boys (1917), the death of Oady in a knife fight (1920) and Mont being away in the service probably caused her chronic health problems to deteriorate which led to her death in 1922.

Cause of death:
Primary - Bronchio-pneumonia.

Secondary cause:
Chronic myocarditis and Dementia praecox.