My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James E. Bates, a farmer and stock dealer, was born in Troy, Ind., in 1845, the fifth of seven children of James B. and Elizabeth P. Bates, the former of Anglo-Polish ancestry, and born in Virginia. The father, William S., also of Virginia, was a soldier in the early war, and came to near La Grange at an early day. He died in 1859, about seventy-one years old, and his widow died in 1867. James, the father, came with his parents to this State, and afterward went to Troy, and engaged as a merchant. He continued until 1847, although he was married in Kentucky. He then came to this township, where he died in 1853. He was an influential farmer, and a justice of the peace. The mother was born in Kentucky, and now lives in Kansas, at the age of seventy-six; they both adopted the Baptist faith. Our subject attended the La Grange College for a time, and in his sixteenth year took charge of his mother’s farm. He was married, in 1871, to Anna L., a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Prentiss, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively. His wife was born in Illinois. Their children are Edward P., Harry S., Hattie and James F. In 1873 our subject moved to La Grange, and after two years in the milling business returned to the old farm. Since 1880 he has been on his present estate, a well improved farm of 280 acres. He has also been successfully and extensively engaged in stock dealing. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Greeley. He has been a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity for some years, while his religious society, and that of his wife, is the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies

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