James Woodson Bates

August 25, 1788 (age 58)

Goochland County, Virginia, United States of America

He represented the Arkansas Territory as a delegate to the United States House of Representatives. He was the ninth child of Thomas and Caroline (Woodson) Bates. He read law and then went west. When the Arkansas Territory was created in 1819, Bates moved to its capital, Arkansas Post, to become one of the first lawyers in the new territory. That fall he was elected to be the non-voting delegate for the territory in the United States House of Representatives. He served two terms, from December 21, 1819, until March 3, 1823, and chose not to stand for re-election in 1822. While serving in Congress, he had moved to the small settlement called Poke Bayou. When the town plat was laid out in 1821, it was renamed Batesville in his honor. When his congressional term ended, he returned to Batesville and resumed practicing law. He became a local judge in 1824, riding the fourth circuit through the western part of the territory. In 1828 President John Quincy Adams appointed him to the superior court of the territory. Bates served until President Jackson named judge Charles South. Bibb to the post. In 1835 he was a delegate to the constitutional convention for the new state of Arkansas. While serving as a circuit judge, Bates met a wealthy widow, Elizabeth Moore. He later served as a probate court judge and a registrar in the land office. In 1835 Bates was a delegate to the state convention that drew up the first constitution of the new State of Arkansas. Bates died in Van Buren, Arkansas, on December 26, 1846. He is interred at a private family graveyard on the Moore farm near Van Buren.

James Woodson Bates

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United States representative lawyer

Background

Bates, James Woodson was born on August 25, 1788 in Goochland County, Virginia, United States.

Education

He started his advanced education at Yale but soon transferred to Princeton, where he graduated in 1807.

Career

He represented the Arkansas Territory as a delegate to the United States House of Representatives. He was the ninth child of Thomas and Caroline (Woodson) Bates. He read law and then went west.

When the Arkansas Territory was created in 1819, Bates moved to its capital, Arkansas Post, to become one of the first lawyers in the new territory.

That fall he was elected to be the non-voting delegate for the territory in the United States House of Representatives. He served two terms, from December 21, 1819, until March 3, 1823, and chose not to stand for re-election in 1822.

While serving in Congress, he had moved to the small settlement called Poke Bayou. When the town plat was laid out in 1821, it was renamed Batesville in his honor.

When his congressional term ended, he returned to Batesville and resumed practicing law.

He became a local judge in 1824, riding the fourth circuit through the western part of the territory. In 1828 President John Quincy Adams appointed him to the superior court of the territory. Bates served until President Jackson named judge Charles South. Bibb to the post.

In 1835 he was a delegate to the constitutional convention for the new state of Arkansas.

While serving as a circuit judge, Bates met a wealthy widow, Elizabeth Moore. He later served as a probate court judge and a registrar in the land office.

In 1835 Bates was a delegate to the state convention that drew up the first constitution of the new State of Arkansas. Bates died in Van Buren, Arkansas, on December 26, 1846.

He is interred at a private family graveyard on the Moore farm near Van Buren.

Achievements

James Woodson Bates has been listed as a noteworthy congressman by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member United States Congress from Arkansas

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