Son of slaves Robert and Rachel Yates, John was taught to read by the child of Rachel's mistress, although it was then illegal to do so. Making a small amount of money through fishing, he met and married Harriet Willis and with her had eleven children. When Harriet's master moved to Texas in 1863, John followed the family there, and upon emancipation on June 1865, the Yates family moved to Houston to seek work. While working as a drayman, he was ordained as a Baptist minister, afterwards becoming the first pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in 1866. Emancipation Park was purchased under his watch in 1872, but a dispute led to him leaving Antioch and organizing Bethel Baptist Church in 1891. His leadership led to a boom in the burgeoning black community, financing home ownership for former slaves, and organizing Houston Academy, a school for black children, in 1885. After Harriet died. Yates married Annie Freeman on Oct 13, 1888 and they had one child. Continuing his efforts to improve the lot of Houston's freemen community, he died in 1897. Jack Yates High School was named in his honor, and his home has become a Texas State Landmark.
Son of slaves Robert and Rachel Yates, John was taught to read by the child of Rachel's mistress, although it was then illegal to do so. Making a small amount of money through fishing, he met and married Harriet Willis and with her had eleven children. When Harriet's master moved to Texas in 1863, John followed the family there, and upon emancipation on June 1865, the Yates family moved to Houston to seek work. While working as a drayman, he was ordained as a Baptist minister, afterwards becoming the first pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in 1866. Emancipation Park was purchased under his watch in 1872, but a dispute led to him leaving Antioch and organizing Bethel Baptist Church in 1891. His leadership led to a boom in the burgeoning black community, financing home ownership for former slaves, and organizing Houston Academy, a school for black children, in 1885. After Harriet died. Yates married Annie Freeman on Oct 13, 1888 and they had one child. Continuing his efforts to improve the lot of Houston's freemen community, he died in 1897. Jack Yates High School was named in his honor, and his home has become a Texas State Landmark.
Bio by: Screwtape
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
