My Genealogy Hound

John N. Bates, farmer, Franklin, Ark. Notwithstanding the rapid growth of the agricultural affairs of the county in the last few years, and the progressive ideas advanced, Mr. Bates has kept thoroughly apace with the times, and is considered one of the leading farmers of the county. His birth occurred in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1829, and he is the son of J. A. and Elizabeth (Davis) Bates, the former a native of the Old Dominion, and the latter of South Carolina. J. A. Bates came to Tennessee about 1820, but previous to that had been a resident of Georgia and Alabama. He was principally reared in Georgia, and served in the War of 1812 up to 1815. He was also with Gen. Noonan’s command, was in the Florida swamps in 1836, and was present when the chief, Osceola, was captured. During the War of 1812 he was a lieutenant, and served in that capacity until 1814 when, for his bravery and daring, he was promoted to the rank of captain, having piloted a boat-load of ammunition and provisions from Black Creek Station to Fort Scott, Fla. This boat-load of supplies had been ordered to Black Creek Station while Gen. Jackson was there, but the commander at Fort Scott was hard-pressed, and had requested Gen. Jackson to come to his assistance. Lieut. Bates was off after deserters at this time, but when he returned to Black Creek Station he found Gen. Jackson gone, and the boat load of ammunition and provisions had arrived from the head of supplies. There were not enough troops left to guard the boat, so Lieut. Bates built breastworks on the boat and pushed off, reaching Gen. Jackson in safety. For this daring and almost impossible feat he was promoted to the rank of captain. He died in Coffee County, Tenn., in September, 1868, at the age of seventy-four years. He had been twice married, first to Elizabeth Aulford, by whom he had three children, all daughters, Martha, Mary and Elizabeth, wife of a Mr. Carroll. Mrs. Bates died about 1819, and Mr. Bates was the second time married, to Miss Elizabeth Davis, in 1824. To this union were born seven children, six of whom lived to be grown. The youngest one died when quite small; Jasper M. resides in this county; Alethia (deceased), was the wife of J. S. Jones; John N., the subject of this sketch; Frances A., widow of J. Hickerson, now resides in Tennessee; Rebecca A. (deceased), wife of L. W. Angell, of Tennessee, and Louisa J. (deceased), was the wife of Alex. Oldfield. Mrs. Bates died in July, 1869. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bates were members of the Baptist Church, and he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he was a Whig. At the age of twenty-one years J. N. Bates started out for himself, after receiving a fair education in the common schools. He was a schoolmate of Judge Powell, of this county, in Bedford County, Tenn. He first began as a hired hand to learn the tanning business, boarded with his father, and worked for $5 per month for one year. In 1854 he commenced tanning on his own account, and ran a yard for himself until 1864, when he lost all of his property. He then engaged in farming, and has followed this pursuit up to the present. In March, 1869, he came to this county, and settled on Strawberry, where he remained until 1876, when he sold out and bought his present property, consisting of 220 acres, 100 under cultivation, all the result of hard labor since the war. He was married, on the 4th of December, 1849, to Miss Harriet L. Oldfield, a native of Tennessee, born on the 11th of November, 1827, and they are the parents of ten children, eight now living: Nancy E., widow of Dr. J. M. Beaver, and afterward married to John C. Billingsley; Rhoda J., wife of James Billingsley; Eliza F., wife of F. M. Wolf; Charles L. lives in Texas; John L. resides in Lee County, Ark.; Mary F. (deceased); Laura A., wife of J. T. Robertson; Susan L., wife of Walter Hardaway; Lillie M., wife of James M. Godwin, and Carrie L. (deceased). Mr. Bates was not in the army, but was detailed to make shoes for the soldiers, and to continue the tanning business. Previous to the war he was a Whig, but since then he has voted with the Democratic party until 1880, when he supported the Greenback and Wheeler ticket. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The paternal grandfather of John N. Bates, Samuel Bates, was a soldier in the War for Independence, and served first, until the battle of Lexington, when he was captured by the English, and kept prisoner for three months. He then made his escape. He was a silversmith by trade, and the English kept him at work at his trade while a prisoner. He then joined the army again, was at Yorktown, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. After the war he located in Virginia, where he reared his family. He worked at his trade and became wealthy, owning many negroes. In 1807 he moved to North Carolina.