William Henderson Oates was the son of Robert Franklin Oates and Sarah Matthews Oates.
William Henderson Oates was eight years old when his parents moved the family from Henry County, Alabama, to Texas in December of 1872. The Oates Family lived in Newton, Texas, until the spring of 1873 when they moved to Polk County where they lived on a rented farm near Bear Creek. From there, the family moved to a farm near Sand Creek after Henderson's father, Robert Oates, filed a 160-acre homestead claim. Henderson Oates was 14 years of age when his father, Robert Oates, died in 1878.
Henderson Oates married Mary Elizabeth Wilson on Feb. 9, 1888, in Polk Co., Tx.
They were the parents of 10 children; three died as infants.
Wm. Henderson and Mary Wilson Oates moved from Polk County, Texas, in 1918, and settled in Weldon, in Houston County, Texas. Wm. Henderson Oates and his brother, Charles Spencer Oates, established the first mercantile store in Weldon.
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At his death in 1955, Uncle Henderson Oates was survived by three sons, Ernest C. Oates; Elmer M. Oates and Jesse H. "Jake" Oates; four daughters, Allie Oates McCarley, Addie P. Oates, Afolee Oates McDonald, and Ivy Belle Oates Ingram; 21 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mae Hettie Oates Adams.
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Uncle Henderson was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Oates and Sarah Matthews Oates; his wife, Mary E. Wilson Oates; an infant son, Charles William Oates; two infant daughters, Florence Oates and Mary E. Oates; four grandchildren; his five brothers, Stephen M. Oates, Charles S. Oates, Ephraim E. Oates, James Robert Oates, and John C. "Cab" Oates; and seven sisters, Mary Oates Davison, Elizabeth Oates Griner, Jane Oates Walding, Margaret Oates Gibson, Sarah Oates Gray, Sinia Oates Peavy, and Alabama Carl Oates Kirkland.
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FROM THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE, Thursday, May 5, 1955

IN MEMORIAL

Henderson Oates

Henderson Oates departed this life on the 27th day of April 1955. He was born in Alabama in the year 1864. When he was about 4 or 5 years of age his father moved with his family from Alabama to Texas and settled in Tyler County. When young Henderson was about 10 years of age his father settled in the Hortense in Polk County. In about 1913 Henderson moved to Houston County and resided there until about 1950 when he moved to Trinity County where he lived with his daughter Miss Addie Oates until the time of his death. He was a man of very alert mind and great strength of character. He had deep convictions on all matters of importance and never failed to express himself freely as to where he stood on any question. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church and was very exemplary in his life and habits. No greater compliment could be paid any man than to say that he was a high-class Christian citizen and always concerned himself in promoting the good of his community. The writer of this memorial had known him many years and held him in the highest esteem as a fine patriotic citizen and a Christian whose life was worthy of emulation. He raised a large and respectable family. He is survived by seven children, 16 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He was one of the oldest and most honored citizens of Southeast Texas and in his passing his relatives and great host of friends have suffered an irreparable loss.
This writer acknowledges the loss of a true friend.
Respectively,
V. A. Collins
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