Clifton A. Bates (1858-1932)

BATES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 3/23/2022 at 22:59:00

Clifton A. Bates
(April 21, 1858 – April 5, 1932)

Clifton A. Bates, a well known representative of the operative department of railroad service in Lake City, has for a long period been connected with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company and is now one of its engineers, running between Lake City and Des Moines. He was born on Indian land in Wisconsin, April 21, 1858, a son of Andrew J. and Jane (Ackerman) Bates, the former a native of New York, while the latter was born in the Buckeye state. In the year 1837 the family removed to Minnesota and there the father purchased a farm, which he continued to cultivate until 1873, when he took up his abode in Waseca. There he engaged in the lumber business until 1885 — the year of his removal to Spokane, Washington, where his widow still resides. His death occurred on the l0th of March, 1894. Unto them were born the following children: Hazen, now deceased; Ernest, a resident of Spokane ; Clifton A., of this review ; Libbie, the wife of John Grant, of Spokane; E. G., who is an engineer employed by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company and makes his
home in Tama, Iowa; and B. B., a brakesman residing in Eagle Grove, Iowa.
Mr. Bates of this review spent the first nine years of his life in his native state and then accompanied his parents to Minnesota, where he continued his education, which had begun in the schools of Wisconsin. He remained at home until 1879, and then started out in life on his own account. He resided in Eagle Grove, Iowa, from 1882 until 1890, and then came to Lake City, where he has since made his home. He began his railroad work as a brakesman on the Winona & St. Peter Railroad, and after being employed in that capacity for three years, he entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, in 1882, in the capacity of a fireman, running out of Eagle Grove on the northern Iowa division. He thus served for three years, and on the 2nd of September, 1885, he was promoted to engineer, while in October, 1899, he was assigned to a passenger train and is now running between Lake City and Des Moines. The only accident which he has ever had occurred in 1893, when he ran into some cattle on the track and the engine and five cars were derailed but nobody was injured. He exercises the greatest care in the performance of his duties and is regarded as one of the most safe and reliable engineers in the service.
On the 29th of October, 1888, Mr. Bates married Miss Lizzie Sadler, of Eagle
Grove, but on the l0th of March, 1894, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on that date, leaving many friends. He is a well known and esteemed Mason, belonging to Zerubbabel lodge, also to the chapter and commandery, the last named being in Sac City. He also holds membership relations with the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Lake City and with the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, in which he is insurance collector. He has made judicious investments of his savings and is the owner of property in Eagle Grove and a fruit farm in Washington. These are the visible evidence of his life of diligence and perseverance. He is a self-made man and all that he possesses has come to him as the merited reward of earnest and honest labor.
[Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.228]