BATES, William Henry - 1912 Bio (1851-1932)

BATES, GEORGE, HUTCHINSON, SPERRY, CARTER, DAVIS

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 10/10/2003 at 19:09:25

From the History of Jefferson County - 1912, Volume II
Pages 91-92

WILLIAM H. BATES

“Agricultural pursuits have characterized the efforts of William H. BATES throughout his entire business career, and that his labors have been effective forces in the attainment of prosperity is indicated by the neat and well improved condition of his farming property. He is one of Jefferson county’s native sons, his birth having occurred in Cedar township on the 11th of April, 1851. His parents were Ephraim and Mary Ann (GEORGE) BATES; the former born in Oxford, Ohio, and the latter on the state line near Union, Indiana. They were married in Indiana, and, in 1846, came to Jefferson county, Iowa, locating on a farm in Cedar township upon which their remaining days were spent. The father carried on general farming, to which occupation his entire life had been devoted. The subject of this review was second in order of birth in a family of eight children, the others being as follows: Jerry, deceased; Eliza A., the wife of J. J. HUTCHINSON, of Center township; Perry O., a resident of Buchanan township; James K., residing at Tekamah, Nebraska; Emma, who married C. J. SPERRY, of Brown county, South Dakota; Ollie, who passed away at the age of fourteen years; and Ed, of Buchanan township.

No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for William H. BATES during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was passed amid the scenes and environment of rural life. Through the assistance he rendered his father in the work of the home farm, he gained valuable experience concerning the various branches of agriculture, and he continued to make his home with his parents until the time of his marriage, when about twenty-seven years of age. For about six years previous to that event, however, he had been employed by others in the locality of his home, working out by the month, and then he began farming on his own account, taking up his abode upon his present place. His first purchase consisted of sixty acres of raw prairie land, to the improvement of which he at once gave his undivided attention. After breaking the sod, he converted the tract into cultivable fields, planted the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and, from early spring until late fall, labored unceasingly in the further development of his property, which, under his careful management, was soon brought under a good state of cultivation. As a direct of unfaltering industry and unfailing perseverance, prosperity came to him in his undertaking, and, as success attended his efforts, he added to his original purchase, until today his farm consists of one hundred and ninety acres of land, located on sections 12 and 13, Center township, comprising one of the well improved properties of the locality.

Mr. BATES has been married twice. In 1878, he wedded Miss Eva CARTER, a native of Illinois, who passed away in 1884, leaving one son, Ernest, now engaged in farming in Buchanan township. For his second wife he chose Miss Ella DAVIS, a native of Pennsylvania, whom he married in 1887, and unto this union have been born four children, namely: Jesse, who passed away at the age of three years; Ralph and Leslie, both at home; and Willard, whose death also occurred when he was three years of age. The religious belief of Mr. BATES is indicated by his membership in the Christian church at Fairfield; in politics, he supports the principles of the democratic party. He is now serving as township trustee. He has held various road and school offices, and in all of his public work has proven that each has its place in the scheme of the world. His labors, therefore, have served as an element of growth along all those lines, so that, today, he is regarded as one of Jefferson county’s valued and representative citizens.”

I am copying this information for the benefit of genealogical research and am not related to said individuals.