Joseph Washburn Yates was born in Bristol, Maine. When he was 10 he lost his mother and 4 years later his father. He came under the care of an aunt, the wife of Dr Joseph Washburn (FAG# 64290136), a prominent physician and after whom he had been named. The doctor planned that he would follow in the profession but Joseph decided to go to sea. he worked his way up to command of a vessel which he held until 1854. He then settled in New York City and formed a partnership with Capt Robert Porterfield in the shipping business as Yates & Porterfield. They retired in 1884 and their successors continued the firm under the same name. In 1865 he moved to Plainfield, NJ

Obit from The New York Times Jul 31, 1904 - Joseph W. Yates - Plainfield, July 30. Joseph Washburn Yates of Plainfield, died this morning at Lake Minnewaska, NY where he had gone for his health. He was one of the oldest members of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, and from 1854 to 1884 he was in partnership with Robert Porterfield, a firm which carried on an exporting and importing business with Africa. For many years he was a trustee of the New York State Colonization Society, and was Minister for Liberia in this country. In 1870 Gov George B. McCellan appointed him a trustee of the State Agricultural College of New Jersey. He was a Director of the Plainfield Public Library and other local institutions. Mr Yates was a Democrat. Surviving him are a widow and four children.

Joseph Washburn Yates was born in Bristol, Maine. When he was 10 he lost his mother and 4 years later his father. He came under the care of an aunt, the wife of Dr Joseph Washburn (FAG# 64290136), a prominent physician and after whom he had been named. The doctor planned that he would follow in the profession but Joseph decided to go to sea. he worked his way up to command of a vessel which he held until 1854. He then settled in New York City and formed a partnership with Capt Robert Porterfield in the shipping business as Yates & Porterfield. They retired in 1884 and their successors continued the firm under the same name. In 1865 he moved to Plainfield, NJ

Obit from The New York Times Jul 31, 1904 - Joseph W. Yates - Plainfield, July 30. Joseph Washburn Yates of Plainfield, died this morning at Lake Minnewaska, NY where he had gone for his health. He was one of the oldest members of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, and from 1854 to 1884 he was in partnership with Robert Porterfield, a firm which carried on an exporting and importing business with Africa. For many years he was a trustee of the New York State Colonization Society, and was Minister for Liberia in this country. In 1870 Gov George B. McCellan appointed him a trustee of the State Agricultural College of New Jersey. He was a Director of the Plainfield Public Library and other local institutions. Mr Yates was a Democrat. Surviving him are a widow and four children.