BATHE, George R.

BATHE, POWELL, MCCLAIN, FERGUSON, MCDONALD, NORRIS, RHODES, SHEPHERD

Posted By: Sharon R Becker
Date: 1/20/2014 at 05:54:10

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 255-57. Chicago. 1915.

GEORGE R. BATHE

GEORGE R. BATHE, who for many years owned and operated the Eagle Grove farm, on section 29, Bloomington township, removed to Kansas the winter of 1890-1 and subsequently became a resident of Oklahoma, where he still resides. His birth occurred in Moultrie county, Illinois, on the 20th of March, 1842, and he is a son of James and Melinda (Powell) Bathe, both natives of Illinois, the former born in Vermilion county.

George R. Bathe was left an orphan when but ten years of age and when fourteen years old came to Decatur county, Iowa, with his brother-in-law, A. J. McClain, with whom he made his home for years. He received a good common-school education but on the 15 th of August, 1861, when nineteen years of age, he enlisted in Company M, Third Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, for service in the Civil war and participated in all of the engagements in which that regiment took part. Although he was once slightly wounded he never missed a roll call and because of gallant conduct was made sergeant major in 1803. On the 9th of August, 1865, he was honorably discharged with his regiment at Atlanta, Georgia, and on the 20th of that month he was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa. He returned to Decatur county and in the fall of 1865 took up his residence in Decatur City, where he remained for three years, removing to Bloomington township in the spring of 1868. He settled upon his farm, which was known as Eagle Grove farm, on section 29, that township, near Tuskeega. He also owned five hundred acres of land on sections 22 and 23 and was an extensive breeder of tlioroughbred shorthorn cattle. He sold many head of registered stock and did much to improve the grade of cattle raised in Bloomington township. There were many who regretted his departure, when in the winter of 1890-1 he removed to Kansas, whence he went to Oklahoma.

Mr. Bathe was married on the 13th of October, 1865, to Miss M. A. McDonald, a daughter of Malay and Mary (Ferguson) McDonald. To this union were born six children: Mrs. Nora Norris, of Denver, Colorado; Mrs. Charles T. Rhodes; Irvin L., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Avon, who is married and who lives in Lenapah, Oklahoma; Carrie, the wife of Ernest Shepherd, of Pueblo, Colorado; and Charles W., of Coffeyville, Kansas.

Mr. Bathe is a republican and has been quite prominent in local public affairs. He has been a devoted husband and father and the familv are closely bound together by ties of mutual affection. His genial nature and great-hearted generosity have endeared him to those with whom he has come in contact, while his unswerving integrity and strict honesty have won the sincere respect of all who know him.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014

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1887 Biographical Record
Transcription by Christy Jay

G. R. Bathe born 1842

G. R. BATHE, an extensive breeder and dealer of short-horn cattle, and the proprietor of Eagle Farm, on section 29, Bloomington Township, is one of the old pioneers, and an active and enterprising citizen of Decatur County. He was born in Moultrie County, Illinois, March 20, 1842, a son of JAMES and MELINDA (POWELL) BATHE, natives of Illinois, the father born in Vermillion County. They had a family of eight children. Our subject was left an orphan at the age of ten years, and in 1856 he came to Decatur County, Iowa, with his brother-in-law, A. J. MCCLAIN, with whom he made his home for a number of years. He attended the common schools during his spare time, and by study at home he managed to obtain a fair education. He was early in life inured to hard work, and for a number of seasons he was engaged in breaking prairie. August 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company M. Third Iowa Cavalry, and was in all the engagements of that noted regiment, including the battles of Pea Ridge, Hartville, Missouri, Little Rock, Arkansas, Guntown, Selma, Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama, and Columbus and Macon, Georgia. He was slightly wounded at Guntown, Mississippi, but never missed a roll-call, and was always ready for duty while in the service. He was promoted to Sergeant-Major of his regiment in 1863, for his gallant conduct. He was honorably discharged with his regiment, at Atlanta, Georgia, August 9, 1865, and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, August 20, when he returned to Decatur County. October 13, 1865, he was married to Miss M. A. MCDONALD, a daughter of MALEY and MARY (FERGUSON) MCDONALD, her father having been a prominent pioneer of Decatur County, but at present resides in Kellerton, Ringgold County. They are the parents of six children – NORA, LORENA, IRVIN, AVON, CARRIE R. and CHARLIE W. G. R. BATHE located in Decatur City in the fall of 1868, when he removed to Bloomington Township and settled on his present farm at Tuskeega, then a wild, uncultivated tract of land. He built his residence the same year, which is a two story building 16 x 30 feet, with an ell 26 x 30 feet, making a comfortable and commodious dwelling, which is surrounded by a grove of shade and ornamental trees. He has two good barns, and other out buildings for the accommodation of his stock and stock-scales. His farm is located on sections 22 and 23, and contains 500 acres all fenced, and is mostly meadow and pasture land. His time is principally devoted to the raising of thoroughbred short-horn cattle, he being the largest breeder and dealer of thoroughbred cattle in the county. He has followed the business successfully since 1876. He began life a poor boy, but by his industrious habits and good business qualifications, he has acquired a property, and is classed among the prosperous citizens of the county. In his political views he is a Republican, and a devoted advocate of the principle that right will prevail. We find Mr. BATHE to be one of the most genial, good-natured man we ever met, always ready to assist those about him, and a father to the poor. We cannot speak too highly of his good wife and family – they are a model family whose words and conversations make lasting impressions for good.