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ALBERT L. KATES
Vol. 3, p. 1064-1065

For more that twenty-two years Albert L. KATES has been a
progressive, and for much of that period, a prominent factor in the
newspaper and political activities of Claremore. His standing as a
citizen is firm and broad, as a leader of the democratic party, his
reputation has extended into a state influence while his splendid
public service in the capacity of postmaster has resulted in the
achievement of much for his adopted city.

Mr. Kates was born is Salem County, New Jersey, April 27, 1861, and
is a son of William C. and Harriet J. (JOHNSON) Kates, natives of
that county. The father, a lifelong farmer, carried on extensive
operations on the old homestead, where he died at the early age of
forty-seven years, in 1882. He was well known in his community and a
factor in civic life, and in 1876 was elected on the democratic
ticket to a seat in the New Jersey Legislature. Mrs. Kates survived
him for a long period and was sixty-three years of age at the time of
her death. Of their four children, three are living, of whom Albert
L. is the eldest.

The public schools of his native county furnished Albert L. Kates
with his educational training, and as a youth he worked on his
father's farm. His predilection for the newspaper business, however,
soon became too strong to be denied and, leaving the farm, he entered
the office of The Register, which was published at Woodtown, New
Jersey; and where Mr. Kates learned the printer's trade and received
his introduction to journalism. He afterward published the Register
for about six years. In June, 1893, seeking a new field for the
display of his abilities, he came to Claremore, Indian Territory, and
this city has continued to be his home to the present. On his arrival
he took over the Claremore Progress, a weekly newspaper, of which he
has continued to be the owner and publisher. He has extended its
subscriptions yearly and it is known as one of the most influential
organs of the democratic party in Oklahoma. On November 29, 1913, Mr.
Kates' son, William D., became editor, the father having been
appointed postmaster of Claremore, the duties of which office he
assumed January 1, 1914. The service is indebted to him for practical
and permanent improvements, and his earnestness, honesty and
unassuming ability reflect the attributes of his Irish ancestors whom
he traces back to the Fenwick settlement in New Jersey.

On December 23, 1886, Mr. Kates was married to Miss Nellie C. MOORE,
who was born at Swedesboro, Glouster County, New Jersey. Four
children were born to this union, of whom three are living, one
having died in infancy. The survivors are: John J., an Annapolis
graduate of the year 1913, who was an ensign on U. S. S. Utah, the
battleship in charge of the landing recently at Vera Cruz, and now an
ensign on the U. S. S. Saratoga, the flagship of the Pacific fleet,
now in Chinese waters; William D., who is editor of the Progress, and
one of the best known among Oklahoma's younger newspaper men, and
Harry.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Sherry Van Scoy Hall, November 1, 1998.