Rice Ross Bates was born in Gainesville, Georgia about 1821, the son of General John Bates. Rice married Jane Waters, born in Homer, Georgia, about 1825.

The 1850 Census listed the family as: Rice R. Bates, age 29; Jane Bates, age 25; John S. Bates, age 7; Napoleon B. Bates, age 5; Martha O. Bates, age 3, and Owen K. Bates, age 1. Every one in the family had been born in Georgia.

The family in 1860 included several additional children. R. R. Bates, age 39; Jane Bates, age 35; John S. Bates, age 17; Nataline B. Bates, age 15; Martha Bates, age 13; Emaly J. Bates, age 11; Ross Bates, age 9; George H. Bates, age 3; and Franklin S. Bates, 3 days old.

Family records reveal that John S. was John Schley, called Sly. Napoleon B. was called Bones. Martha O. was Martha Onieda, called Ned.

John Schley Bates (Sly) enlisted as a Private in Company A, 39th Georgia Infantry Volunteers, March 10, 1862. In July 1862 he became very sick and was sent home. He died of fever in Murray County, July 21, 1862, and was buried in the Bates Family Cemetery, Eton, Georgia.

Napoleon Bonaparte Bates (Bones) was serving in the 11th Georgia Cavalry when he took a furlough to visit family. While home, he died of measles and was buried in the Bates Family Cemetery, Eton, Georgia.

 

Murray County Families