Pearl TATE

Notes:

Homer was an artisan of fabricating oddities for carnivals and sideshows. The following website showcases his works.

http://grindshow.com/GrindShow/Shrine_Of_Homer_Tate.html

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Excerpt from the Tate Families of Southern States, Volume II, Laura Metzel and Ethel Speer Updike, 1984

He was a Sherriff of Graham County, AZ 1924 - 1929, a farmer. Many may remember Homer as the practical joker of the town. He moved to Central in the late summer of 1898 with his father, Martin Van Buren Tate from Spanish Fork, UT at the age of thirteen.

It seems Homer attended school in Central only a very short time. He worked at odd jobs on the farms until he was seventeen years old, when he began working in the mines. He found work at such places as Pierce, Bisbee, Glove, AZ and in Cananea, Mexico.

Emma Pearl Coombs was born in Central, AZ, the eighth child of George and Pauline Gulbransen Coombs, Jr. All Emma's formal education was received in the Central schools.

Homer was working at Globe, AZ in 1906-07. At this time, Emma left Central and went to work for the Tate's Boarding House in Globe. During this time a courtship blossomed into marriage, which took place in October of 1907. Homer and Emma began their married life at the new town site of Copper Hill, which consisted of a few 10 x 12 foot tents, boarded up on three sides. Here they lived for about three years while both Homer and Emma continued working, until very early in 1911. Emma returned to Central early in 1911 as the first born of the family was expected.

The Tates' first child, Martin Coombs Tate was born March 5, 1911. Since Central was a farming community, jobs were very scarce and about the only work available was helping on individual farms on a day or two, basis. So, in the early part of 1915, Homer felt he should procure work that would provide a better means of support for the family which now had an additional member, daughter Pearl. Homer went alone to Bisbee where he secured employment in the mines. Emma and their two chldren followed later after housing was secured.

In 1916, the Tates were back in Central, a mining town was not the best place to rear a family. Homer felt he should try farming as a means of providing for his family, now consisting of three children, as a second son, Goerge Vining, was born in July of 1916.

The Tates secured a house and small acreage immediately west of the railroad tracks on the old highway, known as the Thomas place. Homer farmed in Central and Pima until 1921. At this time, Homer was appointed by the Governor, G. W. P. Hunt, to the position of Detail Officer at the Boys Reformatory at Fort Grant. Emma served as Matron of the girls dormitory, located on the same site with separate facilities.

After spending a year at Ft. Grant, the Tates moved back to Central and purchased what was called the Thurman Place in the Northwest part of town. There were only about eight acres under cultivation. Alfalfa, vegetables and melons were the main crops raised. Homer was Constable of Central until December 7, 1924. During the elections of the fall of 1924, Homer was elected Sheriff of Graham County.

During the summer of 1922-1923, Homer, accompanied by a dozen Boy Scouts, climbed Mt. Graham for a week of encampment. Homer spent a good portion of the time testing the bravery of the boys, mainly by concocting ways to scare them. On one occasion after visiting the old sawmill and on their return hike to camp on Soldier Creek, Homer slipped ahead and concealed himself in a rather dense thicket. Previously he had told the boys that one of the men at the mill had wounded a bear, and that a wounded bear could be pretty mean. From a thicket, Homer made sounds of a wounded bear just as the boys came by in a single file. Some track stars were born, all except for Morgan Taylor. Fear set in, along with exhaustion, and after a short sprint, Morgan yelled, "For Hell's sake Homer, wait!!", thinking that Homer was farther up the trail. About this time the "wounded" bear came out of the thicket.

The Tates moved to Safford, AZ in December, 1925 where Homer assumed the duties of Sheriff.

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=tate&GSiman=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=5&GScnty=172&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=75689780&df=all&

Homer married Emma Pearl Coombs 10 Oct 1907, Arizona. Emma was born 23 Feb 1888, Central, Graham Co. AZ; died 09 Sep 1983, Phoenix, Maricopa Co. AZ; was buried , Central Cemetery Central, Graham, Co AZ. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=tate&GSiman=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=5&GScnty=172&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=27259363&df=all&

Notes:

Excerpt from the Tate Families of Southern States, Volume II, Laura Metzel and Ethel Speer Updike, 1984

Martin Van Buren and his family lived in TX before moving to OK. The Tate family joined the Mormon Church in Oklahoma Indian Territory at the time Andrew Kimball, Father of Spencer Kimball, was Mission President of the area.

Martin V. and his wife, Margaret moved from Spanish Fork, Utah to Arizona during the summer of 1898. With them were seven of their then, nine children. The two older girls, Maggie and Myrtle, then 16 and 17 years old, remained in Spanish Fork, working for individual families. The seven children who came to Arizona were Homer, Nellie, Bessie, Gracie, Mable, Alma and Ruth.

In 1894, the Tate family moved to Utah. and settled in Spanish Fork. The winters in Utah affected Margaret's arthritis so severely, they felt a warmer climate would give her more relief. When Martin heard that Andrew Kimball was being called to preside as Stake President over the St. Joseph Stake, he sought his advice concerning moving the Tate family to Arizona. On the recommendation of President Andrew Kimball, the Tates started for Arizona with all their possessions in two wagons. One wagon was pulled by mules, the other by horses. Martin V. drove one wagon and Homer, age 13, drove the other. They arrived in Central in the late summer of 1898. The only available housing at the time was an empty granery located near the church and school. The tenth child of the Tate family, Zina Myrtle, was born in Central. Martin V. and his family stayed in Central a little more than six years. In order to provide better for the large family, they moved to Globe, AZ where they started a boarding house for the miners. This gave an opportunity to put the girls of the family to work. The Tate family eventually moved back to the Gila Valley locating permanently in Thatcher, AZ.

In the Gila Valley, daughter Nellie Bly married her Central school teacher, Spencer C. Heywood. Homer M. married his neighbor, Emma Pearl Coombs of Central.

Reference: Family records by Pearl Tate Sanders; Federal Census 1880, Kaufman County, TX, Page 20--37; Will Book 28, Kaufman County, TX, Page 181.

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=tate&GSiman=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=5&GScnty=172&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=51262657&df=all&

Martin married Margaret Vining 13 May 1880, Kaufman Co. TX. Margaret was born 03 Feb 1860, Carterville, Cass Co. GA; died 18 Dec 1914, Thatcher, Graham Co. AZ; was buried , Thatcher Cemetery, Thatcher, Graham Co. AZ. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83854602

Notes:

Excerpts from "Tate Families of Southern States", Metzel and Updike, 1984

Jahaziel married four times; (1) to a bride of whom we know little, except she died early leaving three sons, Andrew J., John S., and James Tate who were living with the Samuel Dykes' family in the 1850 Census of Grundy County, TN. Possibly the Dykes family were the grandparents of them since rural people always find room for their own kin. He was married to (2) Sarah A. Tate, on October 18, 1839, by Justice of the Peace, W. F. Mooney (M. P. 1836 - 7, 8 and 9.) She was born 1821, age 29 on the 1850 Census of Warren County, TN and died on January 28, 1852, in Pulaski County, AR. Her family was opposed to the marriage. They, however, eloped and settled near Little Rock, Pulaski County, AR. He married (3) Lavinia "Vina" who was born in 1810 in MS. He married (4) Nancy who was born April 5, 1824 in Hinds County, TX; she died on December 7, 1893 in Poetry, TX. Her parents were born in AL and VA respectively.

It is said that he suffered from epileptic seizures and never traveled alone. He lived to be an elderly man and died on August 4, 1888 testate, buried with wife Nancy, eight miles from Terrill, Poetry, Kaufman, County, TX in the Dry Creek Cemetery. Issue born in Warren County, TN or Little Rock, Pulaski County, AR.

His will: J. H. Tate, June 22, 1880, Kaufman County, TX, wife Nancy: To sons, Jackson, John S. and M. V. Tate, to the Methodist Church So, witnessed by H. W. Rogers, James McDonald, and J. T. Daniel. Signed September 29, 1880.

References: Pearl Tate Sanders, Warren County, TN, 1850 Federal Census pg 701 - 205: Pulaski County, AR 1850 Federal Census page 4, pt 4-28. November 1850: Kaufman County, TX 1870 lists Lavinia, age 60 as housekeeper. Federal Census 1880 page 330-340: Will Book 28, page 181: Dry Creek Cemetery: Married Dekalb County, AL 976.166 V25M

Warren County, TN Platt Book, 1835 - 1839 Page 193

Surveyed June 1, 1837 for Jahaziel Tate, 5000 acres by entry dated May 15, 1837, No. 4444 on waters of Colline River, SE corner of a tract of 5000 acres in name of Elan Tate, crossing long fork of Dunaways Creek, SE corner of Peter Yates' 5000 acre survey, platting 62 1/2 acres of older title. Robert Tate and John Tate, CC. The above transferred to J. B. McComack. Isaac Hill, Ds. July 3, 1837. Sent on July 4, 1837 by mail.



Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=tate&GSiman=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=46&GScnty=2648&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=52701297&df=all&

Jahaziel married Sarah A. TATE 18 Oct 1839, Tennessee. Sarah (daughter of Aaron TATE and Elizabeth (Becky) Connelly) was born 1821, Warren Co. TN; died 28 Jan 1852, Pulaski Co. KY. [Group Sheet]