James Calvin Alexander TATE

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.

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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.

James married Mattie Judson. [Group Sheet]

James married Bertha Worden 18 May 1893, Galesburg, Knox Co. IL. Bertha was born 04 May 1874, Fairfield, Jefferson Co. IA; died 13 Sep 1954, Galesburg, Knox Co. IL. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Aline Brown Tate notes:

Myrtle was Valedictorian of her high school class. She attended business college after graduation. She worked at various jobs in Galesburg before going to work with the State of Illinois in the State Department of Labor during the Democratic administration of Governor Henry Horner. Even though she was supposedly under Civil Service, she was let out from the job along with several other people when the administration changed.

In 1942 she went to Chicago and worked while going to college at night for college credits. After she had completed her night classes she went to work at Danly Machine Specialties Inc. as Assistant Personnel Director, and worked there till she retired.

Myrtle was recovering from knee surgery and was in a wheel chair while talking to the doctor about going home the following day when she suddenly died from a ruptured aneurysm.

Notes:

Source: Aline Brown Tate

He was an electrician's mate in the Navy and later worked at the Burlington Railroad. He died of tuberculosis.

Military marker on Tombstone

Eugene Harold Tate

Illinois

Electrician's Mate

3 Cl. U.S. Navy

Dec. 9, 1929

Joseph married Mary Aline Brown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Source: Aline Brown Tate notes

Morris must have been a very good student. His teacher once told his mother that she wished the other students had as much time to work as Morris wasted. She said she even gave him extra work and he still had time to play. He attended Knox College in Galesburg. Morris worked as a salesman with Old Ben Coald Company and also for American Chicken Company. He worked for many years before he retired from the Internal Revenue Service.

Thanksgiving, 1951. There was a newspaper article and picture of the family at dinner. The article told of all the family's contribution to the armed services. The father and all four children served as noted:

Morris G. Tate, Sr.: veteran of WWI

Elizabeth (Beth) Tate: served with the WAVES in WWII

Donald Tate: fought in the 13th Armored Division with General George Patton's army in Germany in WWII

Morris George Tate, Jr.: fought with the 2nd Infantry Division, 38th Regiment in the Battle of Old Baldy and other engagements of the Korean Chorwon Sector

Cpl. James Edward Tate: served with the 24th Infantry in Korea.

Morris married Helen Evelyn Browne 29 Jun 1922, Springfield, Sangamon Co. IL. Helen was born 11 Jun 1903, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co. OH; died 13 Oct 1968, Springfield, Sangamon Co. IL. [Group Sheet]

Robert married Kay Arlene HANSBOROUGH. [Group Sheet]

Helen married Peter M Sharpe. [Group Sheet]