The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-08-13
James Yates, Council
President, Passes Away
Veteran Builder Dies in North Main Street Home Tuesday
Night, Following Attack of
Old Ailment.

The funeral of James Yates
took place this afternoon at 2
O'Clock from his home, SIS North
Main St, where he died Tuesday
afternoon, following an attack of
stomach and kidney trouble, from
which he had long been suffering.
Rev. J. J. Messler, pastor of the
Wesley NJ. E. Church, had charge
of the services. The pail bearers
We're the six members of City
Council, Councilman Edward Ste
phenson, Councilman James Rey-
nolds, Councilman Edwin Collins,
Councilman Mortimer Ware, Coun-
Gilman George r. Englehardt and
Councilman Guy Wilson.
Beautiful flowers, and the
scores of friends who attended
the final services We're proof of
the high esteem which the Coun-
Gilman and builder was held on
the Mainland. Interment was
made in the Pleasantville Gene
terry.
His widow is the only surviving
relative. City officials, including
Mayor Charles E. Jackson, mem
bers of Common Council, officers
of the fire and police departments,
employees, and a host of friends
which he had made in the city
during his life long residence here
followed the remains to the grave.
The quiet, unobtrusive demean-
or of James Yates at all times
and in all places, was character
istic which carried him far into
the affections of those with whom
he came in contact. While occu-
plying positions of Importance, he
never vouchsafed an opinion un-
less invited to do so, or was re-
CURED to make an answer or rul-
ing upon some question brought
before him as presiding officer or
director of the body in which he
served.
AS president of the Common
Council, Mr.. Yates conducted the
proceedings not only with parlia
mentary order, but he spoke upon
topics presented in the hearings
with d first hand knowledge 81
city affairs gained from practical
experience in building operations
and full understanding and infor-
nation of situations obtained as a
taxpayer and long resident who
had seen the city grow and its
problems multiply. His fellow
Council members and all connect
ed with city affairs held him in
brotherly regard and he was wide
ly held in the greatest esteem.
Mr.. Yates had but recently re-
turned from a motor trip which
took him, with Mrs. Yates, south,
into Virginia and adjoining states.
1t was while on the trip that he
first suffered from attacks of the
old ailment which later resulted
in his death.
Mr.. Yates was born in North
field 62 years ago. He was edu-
Gated in the school in that COM
munity, and during the early part
of his life followed the sea.
Shortly before his marriage to
Caroline Adams, he gave up the
sea, and learned the trade of a
carpenter. That was 43 years ago.
A few years later he came to
Pleasantville, and, with the excep-
ton of the seven years he resided
in Atlantic City, had lived here
since that time.
twenty-five years ago he start
ed building on the Mainland. The
Pleasantville Trust Company, the
Absecon public school, the Abse-
con First National Bank, the Som
ers Point City Hall, and scores of
other buildings of lesser promi-
hence on the Mainland stand as
a memorial of his efforts.
He was elected to Council from
the First Ward six years ago and
was Immediately named president
of that body by the administra-
ton which came into power that
year. He has held the presidency
of Council since that time.
He was a member of the Kiwa-
mis- club, Red Men, Odd Fellows,
and a number of organizations on