Stephen M. Oates was the son of Robert Oates and Sarah Matthews Oates.
Stephen first married Lucinda Evaline Cameron on Jan. 24, 1871, in Henry Co., Alabama; Evaline was the daughter of Angus Cameron and Lucinda Wright. Evaline Cameron Oates died Nov. 23, 1872, in Henry County, at the age of 21 years. A week after Evaline's death, Stephen moved to Texas with his parents. The Oates Family left Henry County, Alabama on Dec. 1, 1872, and they arrived at the home of Stephen's uncle, Spencer Matthews, in Newton, Texas, on Christmas Eve. Stephen Oates moved with his family to Polk County, Texas, in the spring of 1873 where the family lived on a rented farm near Bear Creek. Soon after the Oates family moved to Polk County, Stephen Oates met, and began courting, a young lady named Margaret Wilson.
Stephen Oates married Margaret Ann Wilson on August 21, 1873, in Ollie Community, Polk Co., Tx. Stephen and Margaret were married in the home of Margaret's parents, and they were married by J. J. Rice, Elder.
The Polk County Deed Records show that on February 28, 1884, Stephen and Margaret Oates purchased 99-acres of land from John I. and Nancy E. Canon, but Stephen and Margaret Oates sold these 99-acres to J. H. Handley on November 24, 1884. On January 5, 1886, Stephen Oates purchased 200-acres from his father-in-law, Rev. Frank Wilson, but on the same day, Stephen sold these 200-acres to J. H. Handley. On November 8, 1889, Stephen and Margaret Oates purchased 160-acres of land in the Midway Community of Polk County from Rev. P. J. Waldrep and W. H. Waldrep.
In 1890, Stephen Oates was elected a Justice of the Peace in Polk County, and he held this office until 1892. On March 21, 1891, Stephen Oates relinquished any rights he had to the 160-acre homestead filed by his late father, Robert Oates. Stephen, along with his four brothers and eight sisters, gave complete ownership of the Robert Oates homestead to their mother, Sarah Matthews Oates.
In 1894, Stephen Oates was again elected Justice of the Peace in Polk County, and he held this office until 1904. On August 25, 1898, Stephen Oates became postmaster of the Midway (then called Pinckney) Post Office in Polk County, and he served as postmaster until 1901.
On April 4, 1905, Stephen and Margaret Oates sold their 160-acre farm in the Midway Community to F. C. Bering, and on December 15, 1905, Stephen and Margaret Oates purchased 44.5-acres of land in Polk County from Stephen's brother, Charles Spencer Oates. They later sold these 44.5-acres to R. P. Leggett on January 21, 1913.
Stephen and Margaret were the parents of nine children; seven of which lived to maturity.
Stephen M. Oates died at the age of 80 years at the home of his daughter, Pearl Oates Sheppard. Stephen died three months to the day after his wife, Margaret.
Stephen Oates was survived by his three sons, Bob, Ed, and Bernard Oates; his two daughters, Pearl Oates Sheppard and Minnie Oates Alexander Davison; his 27 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also his four brothers and seven sisters: Charles Spencer Oates, William Henderson Oates, Ephraim E. Oates, John Calvin "Cab" Oates, Elizabeth Oates Griner, Susan Jane Oates Walding, Margaret Oates Gibson, Sarah Oates Gray, Sinia Oates Peavy, Alabama Carl Oates Kirkland, and Mae Hettie Oates Adams.
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Stephen Oates was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Sarah Matthews Oates; his first wife, Evaline Cameron Oates in 1872; his second wife, Margaret Wilson Oates in 1929; his sons, Jesse Wyatt Oates in 1880, Walter Hubbard Oates in 1885, and C. W. "Charlie" Oates in 1916; his daughter, Emmie Oates Shine in 1928; four grandchildren: Stephen, Margaret and Mittie Sheppard, and Stephen Howard Alexander; an infant great-granddaughter, Nelva Laverne Canon; his sister, Mary Oates Davison; and a brother, James Robert Oates.