His WW I draft registration card, filed 2 July 1918, records Thomas Garit Bates, age 21, residence Plummers Landing, Fleming Co., Ky, born 29 June 1896 in Moorehead, Ky, father’s birthplace Knott Co., Ky, employer and nearest relative Emery Bates, Plummers Landing, Ky.

The SSDI lists Thomas Bates, born 29 June 1896, died Jan 1978, last residence Flemingsburg, Fleming Co., Kentucky.

The Kentucky death index lists Thomas G. Bates, age 81, died 18 Jan 1978 in Fleming Co., residence same.

The 2005 obituary of her son Garrett Clifton refered to him as the son of “the late Ada Planck and Garret Bates Sr.” The obituary of her son Bobby, who died the same year, reported his parents as “the late Garrett and Ada Pettit Bates.” This presumably indicates that some time between 1982 and 2005 she married a third time to a Planck. I can’t find a death record for her under that name, though.

Rowan Co. marriage book 11, p. 18, records the marriage on 17 Aug 1918 of Garit Bates, 22, born & residing in Rowan Co., son of E. M. & Rosetta Bates, to Ada Pettitt, 21, born & residing in Rowan Co., daughter of James & Lizzie Pettitt, at Morehead by Arthur Hogge, witnesses Harlan G. Cooper and Isaac D. Caudill.

In 1920 Ada is listed with her mother and stepfather, with her marital status given as married, while Garrett is listed with his parents, with his marital status given as divorced:

1920 census of Fleming Co., Ky, Plummers Landing, enumerated 14 Jan, lists on p. 5B as family #97:
Bates, Emery, 53, farmer; Rosa, wife, 46; Garrett, son, 23, divorced; Amanda, dau, 20; Robert, son, 19; Carrie, dau, 17; Lizzie, dau, 16; Lula, dau, 10. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1920 census of Fleming Co., Ky, Hillsboro precinct, enumerated 7 Jan, lists on p. 3B as family #55:
Pelfrey, Beveley, 62, farmer; Elizabeth, wife, 52; Leslie, son, 17; John, son, 23, married; Anna, dau-in-law, 23, married; Venton, grandson, 7/12; Petit, Nanie P., step-daughter, 15; Arnold, stepson, 12; Bates, Ada, step-dau, 20, married; Jessie G., dau, 6/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.

Garrett and Ada were probably just temporarily separated rather than divorced (either that or they remarried), because they continued to have other children.

1930 census of Highland Co., Ohio, Liberty precinct, enumerated 12 April, lists on p. 6A as family #151:
Bates, Tom G., 32, age at first marriage 22, tobacco farmer; Ada L., wife, 30, age at first marriage 18; Jessie G., dau, 10; James C., son, 9; Junior, son, 5; Virginia E., dau, 3. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1940 census of Fleming Co., Ky, ED 35-13 (Grange City and Ringos Mills), enumerated 22 April, lists on p. 9B as family #187:
Bates, T. G., 43, farmer; Addie, wife, 39; James, son, 18; Garr C., 14; Virgina, dau, 13; Simmons, Joe, inst, 82, single; Staggs, Lide, inst, 70, widowed; Hollands, Mary, inst, 68, single; Story, Sallie, inst, 65, widowed. All born in Kentucky, living in same place (but not same house) in 1935.

Although it does not say so in the occupation column, the enumeration district description says that this district contains the county poor house. Probably the four institutionalized senior citizens are being cared for by Tom and Addie at county expense.

Tom’s parents are listed three households below.