William Brimage Bate, soldier and statesman, was born near Castalian Springs (Bledsoe's Lick), October 7, 1826. He was educated at Rural Academy, working on his father's farm during his vacations. When he, the eldest son, was 15 years of age his father, James H. Bate, died. After a few years' work on the farm, when he was 18 years of age he determined to make his own way in the world. His first employment was as a clerk on the steamboat Saladin, the principal owner of which was, "John Bell of Tennessee," plying between Nashville and New Orleans.

In 1846, when the war with Mexico began, Mr. Bate was in New Orleans and enlisted in a Louisiana regiment, six month's troops. When his time expired he joined the Third Tennessee and was made First Lieutenant and served until the end of the war. He then returned to Sumner County and to the farm. Soon afterwards he became editor of the Tenth Legion, published at Gallatin. In 1849 he was elected to the Legislature. He then entered the law school at Lebanon, graduated in 1852, and began practice at Gallatin. 1854 he was elected Attorney General and served two terms. On January 17, 1856, he married Miss Julia Peete, of Huntsville, Ala. In 1860 he was an elector on the Breckinridge ticket. The day after the opening gun at Fort Sumpter was fired April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company 1, Second Tennessee. Confederate, and was elected Captain, and finally a Major General, serving until the end of the war. In the battle of Shiloh he was desperately wounded. In that battle his cousin, Dr. Humphrey Bate, was wounded; his brother, Captain Humphry Bate; Captain Tyree, brother-in-law of Captain Bate, and his cousin, James McDaniel were killed. IN the battle of Chickamauga General Bate was distinguished for gallantry and had three horses killed under him. He was also conspicuous for his bravery in the battle of Mission Ridge, and in the campaigns under Johnston in Georgia 1864. From 1862 to the end of the war General Bate remained in active duty in the field on crutches. He was three times wounded and had six horses killed under him in battle. In 1863 he was tendered the nomination for Governor, but declined in a telegram that is historic: "No sirs: while an armed foe treads our soil and I can fire a shot or draw a blade, I will take no civil honors." After the close of the war General Bate returned to Nashville and resumed the practice of law. In 1883 he was elected Governor and re-elected in 1884. In 1887 he was elected United States Senator, and, by re-election, served until his death, March 9, 1905.

The Bate family originally came from Saxony and settled in Yorkshire, England, early in the sixteenth century. Humphrey Bate, the ancestor of the American branch of the family, came to America at an early date and settled in Bertie County, North Carolina. He married Sarah Legate, who bore him five children. The eldest, James, born in 1747, served throughout the Revolutionary War. IN 1876, he married Mary Spiva. Their second child, Humphrey Bate, who was born in 1779, came to Tennessee in 1803 and settled near Bledsoe's Lick, on lands a part of which are still in possession of the family. He married Elizabeth P. Brimage; they had five children. After the death of his first wife he married Anna F. Weathered, a daughter of Frank Weathered, who born him nine children. James Henry Bate, a son of his first marriage, was born in 1804 and died in 1842. He married Amanda F. Weathered in 1825. Of this union William Brimage Bate was born. Senator Bate's daughter Mazie married Thomas F. Masten and resides in Texas. Susie married O.W. Childs. They reside in Los Angeles, California, the other children, both daughters, died young.