Oates, William C. (William Calvin), 1835-1910

Oates was born 1835 Dec. 1 in Pike, now Bullock Co., Ala., to William and Sarah Sellers Oates. He left home at sixteen and led a roving life in the southwest. From 1851-1855 he taught school in Henry Co., Ala. In 1858 and 1859 he attended high school at Lawrenceville, Barbour Co., Ala., and studied law at the office of Pugh, Bullock, and Buford in Eufaula, Barbour Co., Ala. He was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Abbeville, Barbour Co., Ala., from 1859-1861. During the Civil War, he served as a captain in the 15th Ala. Infantry, and as a colonel with the 48th Ala. Infantry, from 1863 forward. In 1864 he lost his right arm near Petersburg, Va. In 1865 he resumed his law practice in Abbeville, but from 1870-1872 was an Ala. representative. He married Sallie Toney in 1882. He also served as a U.S. representative from 1881-1894 and Ala. Governor from 1894-1896, though in the latter case he appeared to benefit from sizable voter fraud against his Populist opponent Reuben F. Kolb. He served in the Spanish-American War as a brigadier-general, and was a delegate to the 1901 Ala. constitutional convention, where he dissented from suffrage qualifications, arguing blacks and whites should be treated alike. He wrote many articles for publication as well as a two volume book, "The Confederate War - Lost Opportunities - The Fifteenth Alabama Regiment in Forty-Seven Battles." He and his wife had one son. Oates died 1910 Sept. 9 in Montgomery, Montgomery Co., Ala.

From the description of Papers, 1880-1904. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122581419

U.S. representative and governor of Alabama, Confederate army officer, lawyer, and author.

From the description of Address of William C. Oates, 1946. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79454765