Bates, Joseph A. T. (1837-1925)

BATES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/24/2019 at 23:11:54

Joseph Andrew Thomas Bates
Nov 23, 1837 - May 11, 1925

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa,by J.H. Keatley, p.62, Belknap Twp.)
J.A.T. Bates, Farmer and general merchandise, P.O. Oakland, was born near New Boston, Mercer Co., Ill., November 23, 1837; he is the son of John and Elizabeth (Noble) Bates. His father was born in Virginia in 1800. He was a farmer; moved to Mercer County, Ill., where he lived for nearly thirty years. In 1863, he came to Taylor County, this State, and to this county in 1871. He died in Oakland, this county, August 25, 1881. His (subject's) mother was born in Tennessee in 1804. She left Tennessee when she was young, and went to Ohio. During the war of 1812, she went to Indiana, where she experienced many hardships from the Indians. She is still living in Oakland, this county. Our subject had the advantage of a common school education, and lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He came to this county bringing with him a separator and a horse-power machine for the same. He followed threshing for two seasons, Mr. Brazil having an interest in the business. He then enlisted in the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry. He was one of the guards at Fort Negley under Gen. Thomas; was afterward with the troops that followed Hood through Alabama. During this time, he was on detached duty. His regiment was with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea, and he rejoined it at Goldsboro, N. C. He was in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., after which he came back to Big Grove. He was married in Council Bluffs, August 9, 1866, to Mrs. Margaret Reed. She was the daughter of Louis and Susan (Palmer) Huff. Her father was born in North Carolina in 1811. He was one of the earliest settlers in Big Grove, and is still living near Oakland. Her mother was born in Indiana about 1821. She died at the age of fifty-three. After his marriage, our subject confined his attention to farming at Big Grove. He raised, principally, stock. In 1879, he went to the Gunnison country, in Colorado, where he prospected and mined for two seasons, coming home to pass the winters. The mining party of which he was a member pitched the first tent on the present site of Irwin, Colo. This party discovered and located the principal mines of the camp - the Ruby King and the Forest Queen. In the fall of 1880, he began business at his present location Block 2, Lot 10, on Main street, Oakland. He is the senior member of the firm of Bates & Reed, dealers in general merchandise. Mr. Bates lives on his farm, half a mile south of Oakland, which he also operates. He has seven children, four sons and three daughters - Clara B., John O., Susie E., Phoebe D., Thomas A. C, Pardon H. and H. Irwin. Mr. Bates was for a time Justice of the Peace, and was the first Postmaster at Big Grove. He is an A., F. & A. M., and is a charter member of the lodge to which he belongs, Mrs. Bates is a member of the Baptist Church. He is Democratic in politics.