John W. Bates came from Russell Co., Va. to Letcher co., Ky., about 1810.He was sheriff of Russell Co. and by then was broken up.  He had a fine farm on Clinch River and slaves.  He then emigrated to repair his fortune. He prospered in Letcher and rose to wealth owning much land and stock.  My mother was a sister of Robert Bates of Knott Co. and Martin VanBuren Bates, the Kentucky giant.  He now lives 30 miles from Cleveland at Seville, Co., Ohio and is engaged in raising fine stock, horses and cattle and sheep.  He
married a woman from Nova Scotia, a giantess, about his height, 6 ft., 10 in.  Martin weighs 360 pounds.  He has his second wife who weighted [sic] 119 lbs. when he married her.  She is an Ohio woman.  He went through the war as a Rebel soldier in the cavalry.  He was captured at Pikeville and taken to camp Chase, but was soon exchanged.  He is about 60 years old. His last visit here was about 1891 or 1892.  His conversion was mainly about religion.  He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.    John W. Bates had children as follows:  John W.; Margaret (Payne Johnson); Martha (Craft) my mother; Eliza (Joel Wright); Jesse married Ashbury; James married Adams, was murdered in Letcher Co. during the war; Robert of Knott Co.; Urick married an Adams, lived in Letcher, died in the Rebel Army at Warm Springs on Holston; Sarah (William Mullins), lives in Clay on Rockcastle; Henderson married a Robinson in Va., lived and died in Letcher and left a family; Mary Jane died at 16; Martin VanBuren, he is the youngest, he was married in London (The picture of him and his bride are here.  J.J.D.)  Queen Victoria gave him a watch proportioned to his size.  It stuck.  He was a fine swimmer.  We were boys together.  He inherited the home farm in Letcher Co., and farmed up to the war, was a model farmer.  He began to travel immediately after the war.  He is remarkably well proportioned.
   The Bates family were simple strong, robust people.  None extra large. Urich weighed only 140.  James weighed 200 lbs.  In 1855, Oct. 11, I married Jane Caudell.  She was the daughter of John A. and Rachel (Cornett) Caudell, daughter of William Cornett of Perry Co.  She is a sister of Benjamin A. Caudell of the 10th. Ky. Rebel Mounted Infantry.  My wife's grandfather was Stephen Caudell who emigrated from N. C., I think, Ashe Co., to Ky.  I do not know when but was an early settler of Letcher Co.    The Caudells, Crafts, Adams and Holbrooks were the first settlers of Letcher Co.  The Bates came in 1810.  There were other Caudells besides her grandfather in the early settlement, vis; William, Henry, James who were
very old men when I could first remember, also Mathew Caudell.    I had five brother's-in-law in the Rebel Army, vis; Benjamin, the Col.; Stephen; Sutter, who also fought as he had the opportunity; Samuel, 1st.
Lieutenant Colonel 10th. Army Ky., mounted infantry.  I was also a Rebel soldier in the 10th. Ky., 1st. Lieutenant Co. C; Caudell, another brother was with the army at the beginning, engaged in the fight at Middle Creek, Ky., did not enlist I think, he had a sore leg and returned home.  We all came out alive and are still living except Col. Ben; Jesse, if living is in Carter Co.; William is in Rowan; and the others in Letcher.  Hon. Benjamin Caudell of Letcher Co., son of John Dickson Caudell was a member of the legislature just after the Constitutional Convention.  Hon. William Caudell of Barboursville, son of Col. Ben was in the Ky. Senate.  Col. Ben was a very zealous Baptist preacher.  D. J. Caudell of Carter is a very active churchman.  The Rowan man (is) a steady farmer.  Most of the Caudells were religious.  So were many of the Crafts though, not so many of the Caudells.    My great grandfather Craft was a consistent member of the Old Regular Baptist Church.  My grandfather was not a church member, but my father was a regular Baptist preacher.  John Craft, son of my great grandfather settled in Breathitt Co. (His descendants are there now. J.J.D.).  My brother, Morgan Craft, received letters from the Crafts of Massachusetts, Boston, inquiring about the family.  They were of the opinion that the name is the same and family the same.  This correspondence was 17 or 18 years ago before the family left Letcher Co.

Source:  John J. Dickey Diary