Family Histories of Coleman County, Texas

The J. D. Bates Family
By Carolyn Bates Pricer

From A History of Coleman County and Its People, 1985 
edited by Judia and Ralph Terry, and Vena Bob Gates - used by permission

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     J. D. Bates, born 1864, married Ella Doggette, born 1869, in Cornersville, Tennessee, in 1887.  Their first three children were born there.  In the summer of 1892, they moved to Robinson County, Texas, traveling in an immigration train.  The rest of their children were born there.  The family made their living farming.  On October 15, 1919, they moved to Santa Anna, and during this time, they farmed, worked in the old Fry Oilfield and had a cafe in 1925.  J. D. died in 1930, Ella in 1947, both buried in Santa Anna.  Their children:

     (1) Taylor, August 2, 1887, buried in Calvert.

     (2) Myrtle, October 26, 1890, buried in Calvert.

     (3) Mattie, May 28, 1892, married Ross Martin in Coleman, where they lived several years.  They moved to Bangs, where both are buried.  No children.

     (4) Jack, September 5, 1894 - December 28, 1979, buried in Santa Anna.  He and his wife, Ada, had one son, Raymond, who now lives in Andrews with his wife, Lula. One son, Don, lives in Odessa.

     (5) Edgar, February 6, 1889, is deceased.

     (6) Mae, February 7, 1898- June 3, 1983, buried Santa Anna, married Samuel E. Fletcher.  Two sons: (6a) Darrell (Buddy) and wife, Katie, live in Leesville, Louisiana, no children; (6b) Elgene (died in 1973) and wife, Margie, had two children: Elgene, Jr. (drowned at Hords Creek Lake in 1968) and Darrell.  Margie had three children by a previous marriage, Cindy (died in 1982), Allen and Stevie.

     (7) Earl, October 15, 1905, worked for Ozro Eubanks and the Sand Company. He has been a resident of Rotunda Retirement Home in Gatesville since 1980.

     (8) Hubert, October 2, 1907, is deceased.

     (9) Lone, February 5, 1908, is deceased.

     (10) Fred, May 4, 1909-November 28, 1973, married Ester Maroney (died in February, 1979), both buried in Santa Anna, on December 17, 1931 (see Wyley M. McCary).  They made their home in a small shotgun house in the middle of a pasture, now belonging to Donnie Neff, close to the Eureka Church where their first child was born.  Shortly after, they bought their first home in Santa Anna (where the Northside Church of Christ stands).  Fred had welding shops in Santa Anna and Coleman.  He built the cross which stands on the east mountain at Santa Anna.  It is used at Easter and during the Christmas holidays.  He also worked several years at the Ross Prota Plant in Brownwood.  Ester worked at Brownwood Mig. Co., and moved to Coleman after Fred's death.  She worked at Coleman Mfg. Co. from 1975 until 1978.  Their children all attended Santa Anna schools.  They are:

       (10a) Alton, September 18, 1932, drafted into the army in 1950, served in the Korean War.  He married Rosa Lou Banta, daughter of Jack and Ruth Banta, March 1955.  Two children: Kimberly Ann and Ronnie. Alton welder.  They now live in Andrews;

       (10b) Carolyn Lois, April, 1942, graduated from Santa Anna in 1960, worked at Phillips Drug Store.  On September 22, 1961, she married John Marshall Pricer.  He farmed and worked for Birdwell Drilling Company in Coleman (see Josiah Juan Smith and Bobby Gene Clawson).  In 1962, he started working for Jim Williams Ag Service (became Riverside Chemical Co.) and transferred to Waco in 1977, where he is still employed.  Carolyn worked for Coleman Mfg. Co., 1965-67, then had a licensed day nursery from November, 1968 to June, 1977, when she began working for Warren Motor Company.  She now works for the National Cash Register Company (since 1978).  She attended McLennan Community College. They live in Crawford. Two children: (a) Johna Christian, July 1, 1968, in Coleman- December 7, 1981, buried in Coleman. Johna graduated from Crawford High School in 1981, and was attending McLennan Community College when she and her mother were in a car wreck, resulting in Johna's death, (a scholarship fund in her memory was started by her teachers and friends); (b) John Marshall, Jr. (Johnny), April 3, 1968 (Note: conflicting date) in Brownwood, a student at Crawford High School.

       (10c) Ronald Fred, December, 1945, married Betty Lou Trammell, daughter of Voncil and Ruth Trammell of Coleman.  Ronald is a mechanic, working for Steakly Brothers Chevrolet in Waco and Taylor Motor Company in Coleman.  Four children, Ronald Fred Ir., Kayla, Dennis and Sherrie.

       (10d) Phillip Earl, May, 1947, graduated from Santa Anna in 1965, was drafted into the army, serving two years.  He married Linda Mason, daughter of Tom and Jean Mason of Coleman.  They are now divorced; three children; Teressa, Bryan and Stephanie of Novice. Phillip is parts clerk at Steakly Chevrolet in Waco.

       (10e) Johnny Ross, December 13, 1949, married Wanda Mason in 1968, daughter of Tom and Jean Mason.  He has worked in Odessa, Abilene and Coleman. In 1977, he bought a Texaco Station, at the corner of Treadway and Hwy 36, they live in Abilene.

     (11) Linnie (Tea), January 26, 1910, is deceased.

     The Bates children attended Bee Branch and Buffalo Schools.
 


 
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