Thomas A. Yates
Biography
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
Thomas A. Yates, who for almost a third of a century has been the popular and
efficient state agent at Pleasant Prairie, claims Wisconsin as his native state,
his birth occurring June 27, 1853, in Barton, Washington County. His parents
were Thomas and Isabel (McGuire) Yates, the former born in 1813 and the latter
in 1814. The parents resided in Washington county for thirty-five years and then
removed to Iowa, making their home in Osceola County until they passed away.
During his boyhood and youth Thomas A. Yates attended the common schools near
his home and on laying aside his textbooks engaged in farming, continuing to
follow that occupation until twenty-eight years of age. He then turned his
attention to railroading and was employed as a section hand for two years. He
next learned telegraphy and was given a position as operator and station agent.
He has now served in the latter capacity for thirty-two years and his services
have been such as win the confidence and trust of his employers.
At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Yates was married at Port Washington to Miss
Clara Eberhardt, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Eberhardt. To Mr. and Mrs.
Yates have been born six children, as follows: Maude, deseased; Edna, who is now
the wife of Donald Spooner, living in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Verona, deceased;
Earl, who was for four years connected with the marine corps in the Philippines,
but is now in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad; Guy, who is
also in the service of that road; and Irma, who is the wife of Harold C. Cone
and has one child, Donald.
The republican party finds in Mr. Yates a stanch supporter of its principles,
and he was called upon to serve as town treasurer for twelve years. He has also
been a member of the school board, has served as postmaster of Pleasant Prairie
for ?? years and at one time was elected justice of the peace but refused to
serve in that cpacity. His public duties have always been most faithfully and
conscientiously performed and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed.
Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church and they have a
host of warm friends in the community where they have so long resided.
Typed by: Michelle Laycock