Biography of James E. Bates, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn (naev@earthlink.net). USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or publication by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************************************************** Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. II, page 40, 1923. BATES, JAMES E., though born in South Carolina, has lived practically all his life in Florida and has had many interests to make him one of the prominent men of the state. His home for over thirty years has been in Tampa, where he was a building contractor and is now secretary, treasurer and manager of the Bates-Hudnall-Jetton Company, lumber and mill work manufacturers. Mr. BATES was born at Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina, December 31, 1863, a son of BAZZEL and LAURA (BROWN) BATES. His parents were also natives of South Carolina and of prominent old families of that state. BAZZEL BATES and wife have lived in Florida before the war, and three years after the birth of their son JAMES E., they returned to the state in 1866 and located at Hawthorne in Alachua County. Of their nine children seven reached mature years and all were born in Florida except JAMES E., who was the third child. JAMES E. BATES acquired a public school education and lived at home until he was twenty-two. In 1890 he removed to Tampa and engaged in business as a building contractor and did much of the construction work of the city during the next fifteen years. The Bates-Hudnall-Jetton Company was organized in 1916, and he was for a time its president, but subsequently took up his duties as secretary, treasurer and manager. This is one of the important industries of Tampa, manufacturing large quantities of lumber and building material. Besides the office force about forty persons are employed in the mills and shops. Mr. BATES married in 1888 ELLA J. JORDAN. She died March 1, 1921, the mother of five children, three of whom are living: MILDRED, wife of J. J. MILLER of Tampa; LILLY, wife of J. A. GOOGE of Tampa; and EDNA, wife of W. A. CALLAS of Tampa. On March 25, 1922, Mr. BATES married ALICE BELL of Louisville, Kentucky. Fraternally Mr. BATES is affiliated with Tamps Lodge No. 708, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.