Arwine Yates (1815 - 1886)

Born 15 Sep 1815 in At the Caney Fork River near Hickory Valley, White, Tennessee.

Ancestors

Son of Benjamin W. Yates and Unknown (Unknown) Yates

Husband of Malinda (Page) Yates — married 1 Jan 1837 in Smith, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1886 at age 70 in Pelsor, Pope, Arkansas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Alan Wyatt [send private message] and John Yates [send private message]

Biography

Birth and youth. Arwine was born in 1815 in White Co, Tennessee on the Caney Fork River, south of Sparta today. Just a few years earlier, Arwine's parents, Benjamin and Mrs. (Arwine/Cabbage) Yates, had moved away from Mrs. Yates's extended family and former home in Grainger Tennessee, and they gave Arwine her family name. It was a German name, perhaps Ahrwein or Ehrwein. Her family was of "Shenandoah Germans," ^[1] who had come through Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley before moving to Grainger toward the end of the 1700s. (See Research Notes 1, 2.)

When Arwine was very young, his family appears to have lived on the south side of the Caney Fork River, within walking distance of his Yates grandparents, his aunt Sarah (Yates) Dodson, his uncle George Yeates, and his uncle John Yates, who would become a well-known Reverend of the area (see Research Note 4.) Before Arwine turned 5, his family was farming on the north bank of the Caney Fork, literally on the bank overlooking the large river. Then in 1824, Benjamin sold this land and moved about 20 miles to the west and south of the Caney Fork, in Warren Co.

A work record at age 11. Why Benjamin Yates moved so often on the frontier may be speculated, but his moves created land records, a few of which survived. Two records documented Arwine as a boy, at age 11 and age 13, working for his father. A land sale required a survey, and the surveyor needed helpers to carry and stretch taut a measuring chain, while the surveyor set sight and compass lines and made notes. Typically a surveyor would come to a job alone, and family or neighbors would help as chain carriers, who were named as C.C. on the survey record. Often they were underaged, but if of a legal age they could be sworn chain carriers, denoted S.C.C. When Benjamin Yates bought 50 acres of land in Warren Co in 1826, Arwine, at age 11, was a C.C. for the survey. Arwine was probably Benjamin's eldest son in the home by 1826. In 1829 Benjamin had land surveyed again, and Arwine was again a C.C. (see report, with images). To view a surveyor's measuring chain from the 1830s and to get a sense of the survey method, see Gunter's chain at Wikipedia.)

Marriage. By 1840 Benjamin Yates had moved his family again, this time to a distant frontier in Gasconade Co., Missouri. All of Arwine's older brothers, some Shockley cousins, and old neighbors from White Co. had moved there, too. Arwine went in another direction, north and west by less than 30 miles, and this probably had to do with finding a wife. On January 1, 1837, Arwine married Malinda Page in what was then Smith Co., probably west of Smithville (see affidavit, pension declaration, and Res. Note 3.) Their 1840 census record hasn't been found, but in 1850 they were in Dekalb Co., which was formed in 1838 from Smith and Warren Counties. By then they had 6 children, and with them was a child Samuel Page, age 3. Next door was a Huston family; Jonathan Huston had officiated their marriage.

Arwine and Malinda, circa 1880.

Arkansas. Before 1850, land had opened for settlement in northern Arkansas, and Arwine's younger brother English Lafayette Yates had settled in Johnson Co. in the northwest of the state. Arwine moved his family to Arkansas sometime between the births of his daughter Paralee in 1851 and his son George in 1854. For the 1860 census they were in Mountain Township, Post Office in Witt Springs, Searcy Co. For the rest of Arwine's life, they lived within a few miles of here, near Witt Springs in Searcy, then west just across the Newton Co line, then south just across the Pope Co. line.

In 1860 Arwine purchased two parcels of land in Searcy Co, one of 40 acres in February and then another of 80 acres in June. The parcels were over 4 miles apart as the crow flies, significantly farther by road in this mountainous area (see map, details in land reference, below.) We might suppose that he wanted the 80-acre lot for the timber.

Arwine's places in Arkansas, with approximate land purchased in 1860.

By 1880 Arwine and Malinda had moved just a few miles west to Richland, Newton Co. and lived alone. Near neighbors were families of Standridge, Greenhaw, Young, and Overturf, which merged with Arwine’s and Malinda’s descending tree in the next generation or two. Two doors away lived Francis Marion Overturf (1846-1900), who happened to be Arwine’s nephew. He was from Illinois and by 1870 had moved to Duncan, Monroe, Arkansas — about 100 miles from Arwine near Witt Springs. His mother was Arwine’s eldest sister, Rachel (1802-1882), who had married and moved to Illinois when Arwine was small. If it was a coincidence that Francis had become Arwine's neighbor 50-60 years later, they would have figured it out when they shook hands and Francis said, “I had an older brother named Arwine, and my mother’s maiden name was Yates.” In 1885 Arwine might have attended the wedding of his grandson, William H. Taylor, to a daughter of this nephew, Rachel.

Civil War. Arwine Yates volunteered with the Union Army on 19 Jul 1863 in Jasper, Arkansas, as a private in Company D of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of Arkansas. Upon enlistment, he reported Warren Co, Tennessee as his place of birth. He was discharged on 20 Aug, 1865. (See Malinda's pension declaration.)

Death. Arwine passed away on 9 Jun 1886, near Pelsor, Pope, Co, just a few miles west and south of Richland. He was buried at Richland Cemetery, Ben Hur, Newton County, Arkansas.

Children. Arwine and Malinda had 10 children, 8 living into adulthood:

• Mary Ann Yates Young, b. 5 Apr 1838 near Smithville, DeKalb, Tn. d. 5 Jul 1923 in Salem, Victoria, Tx. m. James Harvey Young (1832-1903), 7 children.
• Lorenzo Dow Yates, b. ~1841 near Smithville, DeKalb, Tn. d. before 1860, Tn or Ar. N.B. Don’t confuse with Lorenzo Dow Yates (1839-1932), son of Woodson Yates, grandson of Rev. John Yates.
• Sarah Jane (Yates) Taylor, b. Jan 1842 near Smithville, Dekalb, Tn. d. 8 Mar 1927, Hartman, Johnson, Ar. m. h1 William Hezikiah Allen Taylor (1837-1863), 1 child; m. h2 Harrison Cavin (1840-1877), 4 children; m. h3 Alexander E Standridge (1826-1902), 1 child.
• Elvira Yates, b. 20 Feb 1844 in DeKalb, Tn, d. 1877-80, Tx. m. Shearly Boyd (1839- ), 5 children.
• Alexander Yates, b. 8 Apr 1845 near Smithville, DeKalb, Tn; d. 25 Oct 1904 in Bass, Newton, Ar. m. Sarah Catherine Brooks (1850-1917), 10 children.
• Meicell Yates, b. ~1847 near Smithville, Dekalb, Tn. d. before 1860.
• Artemissa Melyssia “Ardie” Yates, b. 1849 near Smithville, DeKalb, Tn. d. 1874-80, Bass, Newton, Ar. m. Nathaniel John Thomas Powers (1846-1919), 4 children.
• Parilee Yates, b. 19 May 1851, near Smithville, Dekalb, Ar. d. 24 May 1934, Tahlequah, Cherokee, Ok. m. Will R. Maxville (1849-1924), 5 children.
• George Washington Yates, b. 20 Feb 1854, near Witt Springs, Searcy, Ar. d. 22 Jun 1931, Wagoner, Wagoner, Ok. m. Rhoda Jane Ross (1859-1941), 5 children.
• Amanda (Yates) Martin, b. 19 Jul 1858, near Witt Springs, Searcy, Ar. d. 11 Apr 1936, Newton, Ar. m. h1 Daniel Hugh Martin (1838-1880), 1 child. m. h2 William J “Willie” Jones (1855-1886), 2 children. m. George Washington Greenhaw (1839-1907), 3 children.

Sources

1. ↑ Shenandoah Germans at Wikipedia.

• Widow’s Pension Declaration by Malinda (Page) Yates. Arwine Yates enlisted, Union Army, 19 Jul 1863, in Springfield Mo, private in Company D, 2nd Regiment of Ark. Discharged 20 Aug, 1865. Died 9 Jun 1886 Pelsor, Pope Ar. Marriage to Malinda Page, 1 Jan 1837, by Jonathan Huston, in Smith Co Tn.
• Affidavit, filed 29 May 1895 in Newton Co, Ar, documenting the marriage between Arwine & Malinda Yates. The record states: Arwine Yates, b. 15 Sep, White Co, Tn; d. 9 Jun 1886. Malinda Yates, b. 12 Sep 1819, Smith Co Tn. Married 1 Jan 1837.
• Report, Records Place Arwine Yates (1815-1886) at Age 11, 13 with Benjamin Yates, by John L Yates, June 2021, with images from survey records.
• Two land purchases in Searcy Co, Ar, 1860. U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907. Document No. 11316, to Arewine Yates, 1 Feb 1860, in Searcy, Ar, 5th PM, 13-N, 18-W, Section 35, NW qtr of NW qtr, 40 acres. And Document No. 11768, to Arewine Yates, 1 Jun 1860, Searcy, Ar, 5th PM, T13N, R18W, Section 30, NE qtr of SE qtr and SE qtr of NE qtr, a combined parcel of 80 acres. The locations are marked on this map, as determined by the GEOLocate Web Ap, but note that a possible error of ~0.5 mile was indicated.
• 1850 U.S. Census, Dekalb, Tennessee. Records and image at FamilySearch, Arwine Yates and household. 9 Sept. Names and ages (all born in Ten.): Arwine 34, Malinda 30, Mary A 11, Lorenso 9, Jane 8, Elviry 6, Alexander 5, Meicell (F) 3, Artamesa 1, Samuel Page 3.
• 1860 U.S. Census, Mountain Twp, Searcy, Arkansas. Record and image at Ancestry.com Arwine Yates and household. P.O. Witt Springs. August. Name birthplace age: Arwine 44 Tn, Malinda 40 Tn, Elvira 16 Tn, Alexander 15 Tn, Artemissa 11 Tn, Parilee 9 Tn, George W 6 Ar, Amanda 2 Ar, Samuel Page 13 Tn. Next door is Allen Page 33 Tn, with Sarah Page and child.
• 1870 U.S. Census, Mount Pleasant, Searcy, Ar. Record and image at FamilySearch. Arwine Yeats and household. 20 June. Name birthplace age: Arwine Yeats 55 Tn, Malinda 51 Tn, Parlea 18 Tn, George W 16 Ar, Manda 11 Ar.
• 1880 U.S. Census, Richland Twp, Newton, Ar. 24 June. Arwine Yates 65, Malinda 60. Arwine’s parents born in Va, Malinda’s in S.C.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #7394839 for Arewine Yates.

Research Notes

1. Arwine, the name. He didn't read or write. His descendants came to spell his name, Arwine, though on his records it was Arewine as often as Arwine. The original German name might have been or Ehrwein or Erenwein. When Ms. Arwine Yates's likely uncle John was married in a German community church in Berks, Pa in 1797, his name was recorded as Johannes Ehrwein. American record takers wrote his name as they thought they heard it, as Arwine, Arnwine, or Aronwine (a record that might have been his father's). Descendants of this uncle John eventually came to use Arwine exclusively. On the other hand, descendants of Mrs Arwine Yates's likely brothers, that is, sons of James Arnwine, aka Arwine, came to use Arnwine exclusively. Uniformity only came with literacy in the latter part of the 1800s.

2. DNA evidence. A large genetic study will be published toward the end of 2021. A preliminary summary is under Research Note 1 of the profile of E.L. Yates. A small fraction of the evidence for Arwine’s parents is as follows. (ggdau = great granddaughter, etc.)

MJP (GEDmatch A818947), a 2nd-great granddaughter of Amanda Yates Hayes, a sister of Arwine, happened to inherit most of her paternal Chr 17 from Ms. Arwine Yates, from position 14 to 74.7 million, intact. It is matched by SCU (23&me), a 5th ggdau of James Arnwine at 14-41.8 and 55.6-63.7 (million); by MC (T853520), a 4th ggdau of Mary Howeth, an apparent dau of James Arnwine, at 52.7-71.4; by DT (23&me), a 3rd ggson of John Arwine, uncle of Ms Arwine Yates, at 55.7-71.5; by JGG (M079807), 3rd ggdau of Washington Yates, a brother of Arwine, at 45.7-65.8; by BH (A065270), 3rd ggdau of Alexander P Yates, through his son James, at 14.4-53.1; by JJ (A770995), a 4th ggdau of Alexander P Yates, through his son Andrew, at 50.4-68.6; by EP (A452572), a 3rd ggdau of Arwine, through his dau Mary Ann, at 45.7-73.2; by NIM (A431708), a sister of Jim (Martin) Nash, 2nd ggdau of Arwine, through his dau Amanda, at 47-75.6. This supports Ms. Arwine Yates as the mother of Arwine and also is evidence for Washington, Alexander P, and Amanda as siblings of Arwine.

SH (A885132), a 2nd ggdau of Benjamin Yates, through English Lafayette Yates, happened to inherit most of her maternal Chr 15 from Sarah Shockley, Benjamin’s mother and Arwine’s grandmother, from 39 to 96 million. (Evidence for Shockley will be presented later.) Her first cousin’s son, John Yates (A193993, and 23&me) inherited a similar segment, 36-91 (million), as did a 2nd cousin 3x removed, SS (23&me), at 36.2-93. This segment is matched by RY (23&me), 2nd ggson of Arwine’s uncle, Rev. John Yates, at 56.2-91.8; by HY (23&me), 4th ggson of Arwine’s uncle George Yeates, at 38.2-70.2; by JD (T325689), 3rd ggson of Arwine’s aunt, Sarah Yates Dodson, at 36.1-44.6 and 77.6-90.6; by JF (T770154), 3rd ggson of Sarah Yates Dodson, at 36-53.1; by GH (A085509), 3rd ggson of Arwine, through his dau Mary Ann, at 36-46 and 68-77; and by LES (A628229), 4th ggdau of Arwine, through his dau Sarah Jane, at 57-89. This supports Benjamin Yates as the father of Arwine and is also evidence that English L Yates was a brother of Arwine.

3. Where Arwine and Malinda married and lived in Smith, later Dekalb Co., probably wasn't far from the farm of Malinda's parents, Jacob and Jane Page. Page Cemetery, where they are buried, is at Latitude: 36.03190, Longitude: -85.83810, a few miles west and a bit north of Smithville.

4. The error of placing Arwine with Rev. John Yates. (Note by John Yates, Jul 2021.) Although John Yates turned out to be Arwine's uncle, he was never a good fit as Arwine's father. No records link Arwine to John Yates. For Arwine's military enlistment in 1863, he reported having been born in Warren Co, Tennessee, which wasn't quite accurate, but Arwine did come of age in Warren Co, and John Yates never lived there. The origin of the popular belief that John Yates was Arwine's father was an article published online, originally at a site no longer active, www.sparkman.org, authored by a Sparkman descendant of White Co. who had become fascinated with the locally famous Rev. John Yates. The author's name was lost through copying and re-posting. The article is now here in full, and has been re-posted many times at Ancestry.com. It's worth reading for a delightful tale, The Trade, which repeats lore of Rev. John and how he came to have a third wife, Roseann McBride, with good research supporting the latter. The author also may have wanted to find as many of the Reverend's rumored "33 children" as possible (he didn't have this many) and unfortunately included Arwine. The list of children appears accurate except for Arwine. From census records alone, Benjamin Yates would have been a better guess for Arwine's father, because he lived in Warren Co for much of Arwine's youth, as would have the third brother, George, had land records been examined. Land records weren't examined though; two survey records clearly place the underaged Arwine with Benjamin Yates.