Born 28 Oct 1851 in Crawford Co., IN

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ellen (Ott) Yates — married 1 Jan 1879 in Crawford Co., IN

Descendants

Died 16 Sep 1903 in Crawford Co., IN

Profile managers: Ronald Yates [send private message] and Jerri Lynn Baker [send private message]

Biography

James was born in 1851. James Yates ... He passed away in 1903. ^[1]

^[2] A Crawford County relative speculates that it was his job on the railroad where he contracted the dreaded disease of smallpox. Of course when he became sick he naturally went home. Then the whole family was exposed to the disease. My father had scars from the disease and so did Aunt Ruby, Betty's mom. Some of the others got it also. Then on September 16th of 1903 he died from the disease. A daughter Nellie also died from the disease.

^[3] Uncle Arthur, Wilbur and Imogene's dad, was the oldest of the family and so became sort of the head of the household after Grandpa died. He was about 22 yrs old by then and my dad, Harry, was about 15. Now another example of bravery of a different type; since the smallpox epidemic was so rampant and so many had died no one would come near the family, which included the undertaker. Uncle Arthur and Dad had to bury their own father. Dad said they loaded him into the back of the wagon, took him over to the cemetery west of Grantsburg, and buried him. I never knew if someone else dug the grave for them. I have tried to place myself in their position at that time.

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Sources

• Ronald Yates, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Ronald and others.
• Jim Yates, firsthand knowledge.
• See James Wilson Yates's Family of Crawford County, Indiana.

1. ↑ Entered by Ronald Yates, Apr 12, 2012
2. ↑ James Robert Yates; son of Harry Elmer, Grandson of Mary Ellen
3. ↑ James Robert Yates; son of Harry Elmer, Grandson of Mary Ellen

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