Cemeteries: Bethlehem Cemetery Newsletter #13 - Jun 1997, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Peggy Chandler Beaubouef, 2656 Hwy 1232, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** [These articles are taken from the Bethlehem Cemetery Newsletter published by the Bethlehem Baptist Church cemetery committee. They are posted here with the full knowledge and consent of the cemetery committee. Bethlehem Cemetery is located in Ward 8 of Winn Parish on Hwy. 1232. These articles were written by Peggy Beaubouef based upon information supplied by others. As with all secondary sources, the data shown should be used as clues to further research and verification.] Issue No. 13 June, 1997 [Photo of George S. Bates, Sr. & wife, Mary Rosetta "Rosie" Megison Bates] HISTORICAL NOTES: Pictured above in front of their log home in the community of Wattsville are George S. Bates, Sr. b. 13 Jan 1876 in Bienville Parish, and his wife Mary Rosetta "Rosie" Megison Bates, b. 15 May 1877. George was the son of Mabrey Nathaniel and Elizabeth Matilda Pullin Bates. Rosie's parents were John M. and Susan Hallmark Megison. George and Rosie married 26 Dec 1895 and began what would become a very prominent family in Winn Parish. The road to Winn Parish for the Bates family began many years before in Scotland with George's great-great grandfather, Andrew Bates, who decided to take his wife, Elizabeth Green, and their seven children on the perilous journey to America. They arrived in Barnwell District, South Carolina around the year 1780. The youngest of their seven children was a son, Jacob. Jacob married Mary Odom in 1802 and they had 17 children. The eighth child of this union was Wilson Bates, b. 15 Mar 1816. Wilson married Emily Pharris. Sometime during the 1850s Wilson and Emily moved their family from South Carolina to Bienville Parish and later to Natchitoches Parish. Two of Wilson's brothers also came to Louisiana. Everett, who settled in Winn Parish, and Barney H., who settled near the Sparta community in Bienville Parish. The second child of Wilson and Emily was a son, Mabrey Nathaniel Bates, father of our subject. Mabrey Nathaniel Bates, b. 2 Jan 1840 in Barnwell Co., SC married Elizabeth Pullin in 1858. They had ten children, George being the youngest of these. Elizabeth died in 1878 and is buried in Carolina Cemetery in Saline, LA. Mabrey married again to Louisa Elizabeth Herrington and they had 9 more children. Mabrey Nathaniel Bates fought in the Civil War as a private in Co. A of the 28th LA Infantry. He died 17 Jun 1895 and is buried at Antioch Cemetery in Winn Parish. Not as much is known of Mary Rosetta Megison's family, although we do know that her grandparents were Levi Louis Megison, b. 1805 in Montgomery Co., NC and Mary "Polly" Day, b. 10 Mar 1824 in Perry Co., AL. Mary Day's parents were Mason and Elizabeth Wilton Day. Continuing the "big family" tradition of the Bates family, George and Rosie had the following 12 children: 1) Gilbert Clayton Bates - b. 1 mar 1897, d. 27 Dec 1944. Married Evie Carter 16 Jun 1918. They had one son, Gilbert Clayton Bates, Jr. who married Lesker Bass. 2) Clinton L. Bates - b. 23 Feb 1900, d. 10 Oct 1976. Married Ethel Belle Canerday and had 3 children: Loyd Merle (mar. Annie Aileen Free), Bernice (mar. Sadie Weeks), and Charles Lee "Buddy" (mar. Billie Ann Taylor). 3) Aura W. Bates - b. 13 Jan 1902, d. 11 Dec 1989. Married 5 Nov 1921 to Ethel Rowe. They had two sons, Norman Ray and Billy Ray. 4) Emma Eunice Bates - b. 19 Aug 1902, d. 24 Nov 1983. Married Marshall Joseph Canerday and had three sons, Hesley Dee (mar. Dorothy Norine Martin), John D. (mar. Gerthie ??), and Huey Pierce. 5) Earl Odell "Early" Bates, Sr. - b. 15 Feb 1905, d. 10 Mar 1991. Married Verdie Lee Griffin on Christmas Eve, 1922. They had two children, Earl Odell, Jr. (Mar. Rudell Maxine Jones) and James Roy (mar. Flora Bell Sanders). 6) George S. Bates, Jr. - b. 15 Jan 1907, d. 17 Nov 1976. Married 14 Nov 1926 to Julia Mahala Carter. They had one child, Dessie Lee, who married (1) A.G. McCarty, Jr. and (2) J.W. Long. 7) Joseph Henry Bates - b. 12 Jan 1909, d. 29 Jun 1989. Married Gladys Garrett 28 Jun 1933. They had two sons, Joe David (mar. (1) Elizabeth Ann Martin (2) Melva Hattaway) and Ricky Henry (mar. Kathleen Ruth Nowlin Sellers). 8) John Creel Bates - b. 31 Dec 1910, d. 29 Dec 1938. Married 4 Nov 1928 to Eddie Louise Jones. They had two children, John Creel, Jr. and Yvonne. 9) Ruth Bates - b. 28 Nov 1912, still living. Married 25 May 1934 to Curtis Key. They had three children: Glenn Edward (mar. Helen Spangler), Gloria Jean, and Shirley Royce (mar. Phil Cooper). 10) Ruby Gladys Bates - b. 3 Sep 1915, d. 6 Apr 1969. Married 19 Sep 1936 to James Murry Riffe. Murry and Ruby had two daughters, Betty Lou (mar. Loyd Cockerham) and Mary Ann (mar. Leslie Frederick). 11) Clarence Delle Bates - b. 9 May 1920, d. 6 Feb 1984. Married 8 Mar 1942 to Edith Parker. They had 5 children: Clarence Delle Jr., Rhonda Khea (mar. William Russell, III), George Parker, Tom Paul, and Garold Timothy. 12) Clara Bates - b. 9 May 1920, still living. Married Albert Foster and had three children, Malcolm, Lindell, and Bruce. George S. Bates, Sr. died 15 Oct 1957 and his wife, Mary Rosetta on 8 May 1959. Both are buried in our cemetery. Nine of their twelve children and their spouses are also buried at Bethlehem. This wonderful family has contributed much to the history and upbuilding of this community and Winn Parish. We honor their memory with this tribute. Special thanks to Mrs. Ruth Key for providing the picture, and to Gregg Davies and J.D. Canerday for providing the family data for this article. Further information on the early Bates family can be found in the History of Bienville Parish, Vol. 1, pgs. 145.146.