An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 318-319
	
	
	JOHN TATE, Notary and Justice of Medical Lake, and one of its pioneer
settlers, was born in England, in 1839, the eldest child of Thomas and Elizabeth
(Betts) Tate, natives also of that country. The parents came to America in 1856,
going first to Northern Wisconsin, but soon afterward located in Cass county,
Iowa, where they were among the early pioneers. They purchased and improved
Government land. The father died in 1887, but the mother still resides on the
old homestead with her two daughters and one son.
	John Tate, the subject of this sketch, attended school in England, where he
also studied civil engineering, and after coining to this country attended
school in Wisconsin. After removing to Iowa he taught school there several
terms, and then engaged in farming. In 1873 he purchased a farm near Portland,
Oregon, where he remained six years, and then, on account of ill health, came to
what is now the town of Medical Lake. Mr. Tate was one of the first campers on
the bank of the lake. He took up a homestead one mile from the lake, later
purchased and improved a quarter section of railroad land adjoining, but in 1888
embarked in the real-estate, insurance and collecting business in the city,
which he still continues. He was the first real-estate agent in Medical Lake,
and now makes many sales. In addition to his valuable farms near the busy and
growing resort of Medical Lake, he also owns good property in the city.
Politically, he is an active Republican, was instrumental in organizing that
party in this county, and has been a delegate to State and county conventions.
	In 1861 Mr. Tate was united in marriage to Miss Jane Davis, and they had
eleven children, namely: Thomas R.; Edna, wife of Arthur J. Cone, of Crescent
Park, Washington; Eliza, a teacher by occupation; Martha, who died in youth;
Anna; Seth, a printer of Pullman; Edward; John, who died at the same time as his
mother, aged seven years; Ivy; Roy; and one deceased in infancy. Mrs. Tate died
September 12, 1888. Our subject takes an active interest in educational matters,
and is a member of the Methodist Church. He was a member of the first quarterly
conference at Spokane, in 1880; was one of the organizers of the church in this
city, and is now Superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Tate has been a
pioneer to several States, but has seen none that promised such prosperity as is
now coming to the vicinity of Washington, where he has made his home. There,
under his observation, the wilderness has given place to prosperous towns and
well-tilled fields. He is greatly interested in improvement and public affairs,
and is a civil officer.
	
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
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individual featured in the biographies.