William Addison, the sixth child of Alvin and Elizabeth Gayle Bates was born in Tennessee on December 1, 1867. In 1871, he came to Texas by wagon train with his parents and four sisters; Lucinda Arminda, Mary E., Margaret A., and Julia.
The family settled first in Ellis County, where they lived only a few years. Their next move was to Johnson County and from there to Tarrant County where they established a permanent home on a farm east of the Mt. Gilead Church.
William Addison was married on December 20, 1891, to Ida J. Kelly, born on October 15, 1871, the daughter of George W. and Rhonda Ann Blevins Kelly. They became the parents of two sons, Byron Adolphus and Ewell. The mother of these children died on January 10, 1902 and was buried in Mt. Gilead Cemetery.
The father’s second marriage was on April 27, 1907 to Dora Laurence, a young teacher at the Mt. Gilead school. In addition to her responsibilities as a homemaker, she continued her long teaching career at Mt. Gilead, Florence and Keller Schools. She was also active in the Keller Baptist Church, where she served many years as teacher and secretary.
William Addison Bates owned and operated a grocery store where the Keller City Hall was built in 197_. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Roanoke. When a lodge was established in Keller in 1913, he became the first Master. He took an active part in community affairs and helped in the organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Keller, where he served as a devoted member until his death on January 29, 194_. He was buried in Bourland Cemetery.
Dora Laurence Bates continued to live in the family home at 301 Price Street as long as her health permitted. On January 28, 1971, she became a resident of the Masonic Home for aged Masons and their wives. She died at the age of ninety-seven years on October 8, 1979 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery.
Statistics and information on the descendents of William Addison Bates and his first wife Ida J. (Kelly):
1) Byron Adolphus Bates was born on August 3, 1893. He died on January 1, 1970 and was buried in Bourland Cemetery. He and his wife, Ruth (Maxey), resided in Dallas. Their children are Byron A. Jr., Elizabeth Maxine, Leta Ruth and Sara Jane.
2) Ewell Bates was born on November 15, 1901. He was married to Minnie Bernice Herring and established a home in San Antonio. Their daughter is Barbara Bernice. After the death of his first wife, Ewell was married to Christine Bancroft.
