John P. Yates was born Abt. 1779 in Virginia, and died 1862. According to a comment by John’s grandson, Jeremiah Hudson published in the Pope County, Arkansas History, John was “of old colonial stock”. He married Sarah Martin in Tennessee about 1814 and they immediately moved to Wayne County, Tennessee where they lived until in the 1840’s when they removed to Pope County, Arkansas. Sarah was born in 1800, the daughter of Samuel Martin.
The 1850 US Census shows John and Sarah living in Pope County, Arkansas. John was 71 years old; Sarah was age 50. Children were: John P. age 19; Absalom age 17; Sarah age 4; and a John P. Tarkington age 6.
John P. and Sarah’s children:
Betsy Yates, b 1817 Tn
Elsie/Alsy Yates, b 1817 TN
Nancy Yates, b 1819 TN
Gabriel S. Yates, b. December 31, 1820, Tennessee; d. Abt. 1881; md 1 Rebecca (?); m. Sarah Holmes
Lucinda Yates, b 1824 TN
Elijah M. Yates, b. 1826
Mary Magadaline Yates, b September 15, 1828 TN
Abraham Yates, b 1829 TN
John Pryor Yates, b. Abt. 1832, Russellville, Arkansas; d. April 08, 1862 M. Sarah Holmes
(George) Absolem Yates, b. 1834 TN. (Peggy Teague Logan believes he was with John Pryor Yates in the Civil War and was killed about the same time in the same area.