James Calvin Alexander TATE

Male 1862 - 1945  (82 years)


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  • Name James Calvin Alexander TATE 
    Born 28 Oct 1862  Sherrill, Texas Co. MO Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 03 May 1945  Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • CENSUS RECORDS

      1880 United States Federal Census
      Name: Granes C. A. Tate [James C. A. Tate]
      Age: 17
      Birth Year: abt 1863
      Birthplace: Missouri
      Home in 1880: District 4, Dickson, Tennessee
      Race: White
      Gender: Male
      Relation to Head of House: Son
      Marital Status: Single
      Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
      Mother's Name: Sarabell Gentry
      Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
      Occupation: Works On Farm
      Household Members:
      Sarabell Gentry 40 [Sarah A.]
      Mary E. Gentry 14
      Martha Jane Gentry 11
      Silas A. Gentry 10
      Phillipp W. Gentry 6
      Edward W. Gentry 3
      James C. A. Tate 17

      NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

      Excerpt from Labor News, Galesburg, IL, November 5, 1943

      A Fine Trade Unionist James C. Tate

      "I was born October 28, 1862, down in southwestern Missouri near the town of Licking. The town got its name from a famous 'salt lick,' you know, a natural salt spring, where the wild animals came to drink the water and lick up the salt crust along the edge of the swampy pool. The 'lick' was about an acre in extent, and the animals had licked it down about ten or twelve feet. That's how much they liked salt."

      "Wild ducks were so plentiful, when I was a boy, that I often went hunting with a club and seldom returned home without two or three. We had a neighbor who used a gun and he went to town, his wagon loaded with ducks," remarked James Calvin Tate, on the eve of his eighty-first birthday.

      "Hunters built platforms in trees around the 'lick' and sat there nights to shoot deer and other animals. The streams were full of fish and wild ducks and geese were to be found in every pool of water--they were so plentiful that, as I said before, a boy who wasn't old enough to trust with a gun--and that wasn't very old down in Missouri in those days--could and did kill 'em with a club or a rock thrown into a flock.

      "That was soon after the close of the Civil war and I remember the soldiers going home. They often stopped at my house for a meal, and to pass the night. We had an old colored man and his wife on our place and when my parents weren't around, the colored folk, if they got a chance, locked us in a closet under the stairs to keep us, my brother and I, 'from under foot.'"

      Acorns for Dinner

      "My grandfather lived with us and in the evenings he would sometimes tell us about the time he fought with 'Old Hickory" at New Orleans and how he and other soldiers rolled cotton bales in front of them when they advanced and took the city from the Britishers."

      Mr. Tate thought a moment and remarked: "Here's a story about General Andy Jackson that never has been printed to my knowledge. My grandfather and two other soldiers were foraging--they had no food at camp--and were tramping through the country looking for something to eat. They met the General, he was on horseback, and he stopped them for questioning. They told him, what he already knew, about the lack of supplies.

      "' Well, boys," said the General, 'I had luck. Just now I found a burr oak and had dinner. Thought I might as well stock up a bit, so I'll help you out.' He did, gave each of the soldiers one of the three burr oak acorns that he had put in his pocket." Mr. Tate smiled, "Ever try an acorn for dinner? Neither did I."

      Helped Build World's Fair

      "When did you join the Carpenters Union?" Mr. Tate, we asked.

      "In 1886, at Nashville, Tenn. Was a charter member, too. Worked in and around Nashville for a time and then went to Chicago to help build the First World's Fair. After I had that pretty well under way," Mr. Tate grinned, "a contractor I knew had a church to build in Galesburg. Came here on Oct. 22, 1892, and have liver here ever since. I like Galesburg."

      "How about carpenter work? Has it changed much in the last fifty years?" we asked.

      "Changed. Well I should say it has. Why, in those days we made everything on and in the building by hand. Look at the molding about your room, we had tools for every operation--guess I had a dozen or more rabbiting cutters alone. We had to do our own tennoning and mortising, even wood carving on occasions. Yes, times have changed."

      "Ever belong to the Knights of Labor?"

      "Yep. In 1877. Pretty nearly every union man did at one time or another in the early days. Of course, the Carpenters Union came first but we all gave the Knights a lift when we could. No, I never held office in their organization. Just tagged along with the rest."

      "You have held office in the Carpenters, haven't you?"

      Held Many Union Offices

      "Held office? Better say offices, because I've held every office in the Galesburg local.

      "Was president of the Galesburg Trades and Labor Assembly. Say, if there is any labor office in Galesburg that I did not fill at one time or another I just can't think what it might be."

      "Heard from Jim recently?" Jim, Mr. Tate's son, is in the army.

      "Yes, only a day or so ago. We expect to see him before Christmas. He's been in the army a year, now.

      "And Myrtle?" a daughter.

      "She's in Chicago and writes that she's busy in an essential war industry as a personnel director. She completed her college training some time ago and writes her mother that she likes the work. Expect her for Thanksgiving."

      Feeling "Fine" at 81

      Getting up from his chair, he pays The Labor News a visit now and then, he grunted a bit. "Rheumatism," he said. 'Got a twitch of it in my back today."

      "Bother you much?"

      "Not so much. When you are 81 you can't feel too good all the time.

      "Rheumatism comes and goes, like everything else. When you are 81 and you feel fine part of the time, well, that's just dandy.

      "Good bye. Will see you again. Good health and good luck."

      A fine, genial and inspiring old gentleman--and a model trades unionist--just closed our office door and walked with remarkable vigor and cheeriness up Cherry toward Main Street. Our honored friend, James Calvin Tate.

      Reference: Aline Brown Tate notes

      James C. Tate was a baby when his father died according to him. He came with his mother, Sarah, and stepfather, William Tazewell Gentry from Missouri to (Dickson) Tennessee around 1876. He was in (Dickson) in 1880 [U.S. Census]. He went to Nashville, Tennessee and joined the Carpenter's Union there as a Charter Member in 1886. He went to Illinois in 1892 and remained there until his death.

      ----------

      OBITUARY

      Reference: obituary from Galesburg Labor News, May 11, 1945, copy in Aline Brown Tate notes

      James C. Tate, Veteran Carpenter, Dies of Heart Attack

      James C. Tate, a charter member of Carpenters and Joiners Local Union No. 360, died last Thursday evening at 10:55 following a heart attack. Mr. Tate had been in his usual health throughout the day and his death came as a great shock to his family and friends. Mr. and Mrs. Tate lived alone at 668 West north Street, the other members now living in other cities. Their daughter, Miss Myrtle Tate, who is employed in Chicago, came in Thursday evening to spend a few days with her parents and her father's death followed just a few hours after her arrival.

      James Calvin Tate was born October 28, 1862, at Licking, Mo., and when young his family moved to Nashville, Tenn., where he spent his youth. He was a charter member of the Nashville Carpenters Union, which he joined in 1886. He has been a member of the International Union since that date. He went to Chicago in 1892 where he helped build the Chicago World Fair buildings. A contractor whom he knew had a contract to build a church in Galesburg and he came here in October, 1892, and has resided here since that time.

      Jim Tate was active in union affairs throughout his life and held many offices of trust in the labor movement. He had served his union in all offices, including president, and was active on various committees. He had also served as president of the Galesburg Trades and Labor Assembly and had been a delegate to many State Federation of Labor conventions. Soon after coming to Galesburg he was greatly instrumental in organizing the Galesburg Labor News and had always taken keen interest in this publication. He was also active in soliciting funds for the purchase of the Labor Temple. In recent years his health would not permit the continuation of his activities but he never lost interest in the welfare of the working man. Labor has lost a truly great trade unionist in the death of Jim Tate.

      Soon after coming to Galesburg, Mr. Tate was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Worden. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary May 18, 1943. His wife and four children survive. They are Mrs. C. J. Mulvaney, Long Beach, Calif.; Miss Myrtle Tate, Chicago; Morris Tate, Springfield, and James M. Tate, Peoria. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Lee Brown, and a brother, Silas Gentry, of Nashville, Tenn. There are six grandchildren.

      Funeral services were held at the Kimber and West Mortuary Monday, May 7, with Rev. Raye L. Ragan in charge. Burial was in Memorial Park. The pallbearers were C.O. Nelson, Swen Wedan, Harry M. Starr and P. J. Davis.
    Person ID I15271  Master File
    Last Modified 10 Jul 2013 

    Father James Alexander TATE,   b. 1839, Alabama Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 03 Jul 1863, Vicksburg, MS Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 24 years) 
    Mother Sarah Ann Flowers,   b. 1838, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Cheatham Co. TN Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 13 Jan 1858  Sherrill Township, Texas Co. MO Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F8124  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Mattie Judson 
    Children 
     1. Eva M. TATE,   b. ca 1887, Nashville, Davidson Co. TN Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 25 Aug 2012 
    Family ID F8126  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Bertha Worden,   b. 04 May 1874, Fairfield, Jefferson Co. IA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Sep 1954, Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Married 18 May 1893  Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Myrtie Ruth TATE,   b. 29 Jul 1895, Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 03 Sep 1964, Berwyn, Cook Co, IL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
     2. Eugene Harold TATE,   b. Apr 1902, Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 09 Dec 1929, Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 27 years)
    +3. Joseph Manly TATE,   b. Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location
    +4. Morris George TATE,   b. 11 Nov 1897, Galesburg, Knox Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 02 Jun 1966, Springfield, Sangamon Co. IL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
    Last Modified 25 Aug 2012 
    Family ID F8127  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart