James Oates

James Oates, proprietor of the Oates' Wagon Factory, was born in Halifax,
Yorkshire, England, January 5, 1836, the son of John and Rachel (Armatage)
Oates, both also natives of Halifax, Yorkshire, England, where nine generations
are buried in one grave-yard. The father was a blacksmith and edge-tool maker.
He was the first mechanic in his father's family, though three of his four sons
were tradesmen. Both parents died in England. Their family consisted of fourteen
children, seven sons and seven daughters. James Oates received very little
education, owing to the fact that at the age of about eleven he left England, was
on the sea for three or four years. and reached this country in 1852. For one
year he followed his trade at Key West, Fla., being in the Government's employ,
and he here moun_ted the first guns in that fort. In 1860 he went to Honduras,
Central America, with Gen. William Walker, and was with him until the close
of his campaign. He assisted in- storming Truxillo, and was in every engagement
during that campaign, and was captured when Gen. Walker surrendered,
an:d held a prisoner for several weeks. When Louisiana seceded he was offered
a commission in the Confederate service, but refused, and because of bis Union
sentiments was obliged to leave. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Seventh
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served three months, and then enlisted in
Company K, Ninth Illinois Infantry, for three years. In December, 1861, he was
commissioned second lieutenant, and in June, 1862, be was promoted to the rank
of first lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca,
Peach Tree Creek, Fort Donelson, Nashville and others. During his service be
was in sixty-seven engagements, and at Fort Donelson was wounded by four
balls, three taking effect in his left shoulder and breast. He was discharged at
Springfield, Ill., in 1864, and afterward went to Nashville, Tenn., entered the
railroad service of the Government, and although a civilian took part in the
battle of Nashville. He receives a pension as a partial compensation. In his
wanderings hi". learned the ~lacksmith a~d wagon-maker's trade, and '?pened a
shop at Sedaha, Mo., workmg about thirty hands. In 1866 be married Miss
Ellen Severs, a native of Washington County, Ark., and the daughter of an old
settler, Charles J. Severs. One child was the result of this union, Ruth. In
1868 Mr. Oates moved to Cincinnati, Ark., where he built a large factory, with a
capacity of about 400 wagons yearly, and besides this he deals in agricultural
implements. The year previous to this his wife died, and five years later Mr.
Oates married Mrs. Martha J. Maurice, nee Spence, a native of Rochester, N. Y.
The first Mrs. Oates was reared by Methodist parents, but was not a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the present wife is a member of the Catholic
Church. In 1886 Mr. Oates was the Republican nominee for representative of
Washington County to the State Legislature, and in 1888 he was chairman of the
Republican Mass Convention. He is a member of the G. A. R., and although a
Democrat before the war, since that time he has been a Republican. He has
one of the largest wagon factories in this section of the State.

OATES, James - {from The Westville (Okla.) Democrat} Wednesday,
March 17th at about 2 o’clock p.m. James Oates, one of the best known of
the citizens of Cincinnati, passed away as a result of a stroke of paralysis.
He had lived in that town for over 40 years and had been one of its best
business men. He came to Cincinnati soon after the war between the states
and opened a wagon shop which gradually developed into a large wagon
factory and machine shop, employing sometimes as high as 20 helpers. He
was a man of strong convictions and firm purpose. He was at all times a
strong Republican and never failed to support his party’s principles when
the time and occasion arose. This gave him prominence as a politician and
he was among the leaders of his party in Washington County. He was one
of the party that accompanied Walker in his famous filibuster to Nicaragua
and narrowly escaped death in that futile raid. When the war between
the states opened he became a federal soldier and was twice wounded in
the course of his service. At the close of war he had advanced to the rank of
Captain. A few years ago he retired from business and concluded to take a
much needed rest. He was known as a manufacturer of the best wagons in
the country. He was a machinist without a peer in the county but age and
hardships of the years bore upon him, necessitating his retirement. [The
Springdale News 3/23/1909]