Supposedly, my grandfather, Edward Charles Bates, a lawyer and judge who also dealt in real estate was run out of Florida, literally, by the law. He was involved in land deals that turned sour, they say. He and others bought up some land and decided to grow pineapples on it. The pineapples grew to ENORMOUS size and all involved thought they were going to be rich. Not realizing the soil did was not conducive to growing pineapples, when they cut into one it was mostly hollow and rotten inside. My uncles say that their father came home and told them to grab everything they could and get into their car. My one uncle grabbed his books as he loved to read. I am not sure what the others grabbed as the sherrif was coming to arrest my grandfather.

I have on record that the family was living in Tampa in 1924. I am searching for records concerning my grandfather. Trying to find who is parents were.

Edward Charles Bates, b. March 6, 1886 in CT, d. Oct. 26, 1930. Married Laura Irene Evans, dau. of Elijah Asbury Evans and Dollie Susan Cecelia Townsend in Pearl, Coryell, TX.

Children:
Dorothy Bates
Edward Bates
Evans Bates