James was born in Pike County, Alabama.

All I have to go is the family "story" -
His mother, Rachel Moates, had an affair with William Goodson Miley, a cofounder and Deacon of the Pisgah Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Miley was married at the time and had a houseful of children! At least 4 older and then 7 after! Mr. Miley denied and abandoned him and his mother. Rachel lived with her parents and gave her son her maiden name of Moates, though she kept the Miley name as a middle name. Rachel had also used the Miley name later, I assume to cover the fact she was an unwed mother.

Rachel's parents were Noah and Elizabeth Peel Moates. Noah was born in 1793, probably in South Carolina, and died 1864 in Florida. Elizabeth died about or before 1870 in Florida. At this time, I have no further info on Elizabeth. I do not know where they are buried nor where they lived.

Rachel had 2 siblings that I know of -
William C Moates - Born 1815 in SC. Died in FLA.
Andrew J Moates - Born 1818

James was a Private in the Company E 1 Florida Infantry in the Confederate Army. He first enlisted in June of 1861, then reenlisted in June of 1862. He was captured in Nashville, Tennessee and remained a prisoner until the end of the war.

In the 1860 and 1870 Census, he is in Walton County, FL. In 1880, he is in Washington County, FL. In 1900, he is in Dale County, AL. In 1910 and 1920 Census, he is in Houston County, AL. where he died and is buried.

James married Ruth Ann Dew, daughter of Thomas Spencer Dew and Elizabeth Atkinson on February 7, 1866 in Eucheeanna, Walton County, FLA. They had 8 children:

Martha A. Moates - Born 20 Jan 1869. Died 24 Mar 1870.

Ruth Annie E Moates - She married Charlie Murphy

James Thomas Moates - He married Theodosia Ernestine Temple

Geneva Bell "Aunt Navy" Moates - She married W.H. Hunt

John Adams Moates - He married Susie Harbuck

Christopher Columbus Moates - He married Leila Clark

Grover Cleveland Moates - He first married Sarah Francis Wiggins. He second married Cleopatra Edmonson.

Noah Webster Moates - He married Katie Roberta Holland

James Marion (Miley) Moates & Ruth Ann Dew Moates are my GGG Grandparents. Their son, James Thomas Moates, is my GG Grandfather. His son, Miley Dew Moates, is my G Grandfather. His daughter, Alice Elizabeth Moates (George), is my grandmother. Her son, Kenneth Russell George, is my father. All are deceased.