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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  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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GORDYCE BATES, a successful farmer of Worthington, was born in this town, February 25, 1823, son of Quincy and Lovica (Knapp) Bates. Mr. Bates’s paternal grandparents were residents of Weymouth, Mass. Quincy Bates was born in Cummington, Mass., March 17, 1791; but, having grown to manhood, he settled upon a farm in Worthington, where he became a prosperous and well-known farmer. He died in October, 1875. His wife was born in Cummington, April 19, 1790, daughter of Jonathan Knapp, and she became the mother of ten children, namely: Shepard P., who died in Cummington in 1842; Herman L., who is now engaged in agricultural pursuits in Peru, Mass.; Emily L., widow of Talmage Church, a former manufacturer of Middlefield; Marcus A., now deceased; Mary L., who died October 3, 1838; Fordyce and Gordyce, twins; Laura T., who married Jabez Hazzard, a druggist of New York City, and is now deceased; Jonathan L., who died October 13, 1838; and Austin, who died on the passage to California, at the age of eighteen. The mother died January 1, 1839.

Gordyce Bates resided with his parents until he reached the age of seventeen, when he commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. He worked at that trade as a journeyman for five years, and then, in company with his brother Marcus, erected a sawmill in the vicinity of the old homestead, in which they manufactured fork, rake, broom, and shovel handles, besides sawing lumber for other parties. They conducted a successful business until sometime in 1866, when the mill was burned. In 1843 Mr. Bates purchased the old home farm, which originally consisted of forty acres; and he has increased his property to one hundred and sixty-five acres. He carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of raising beef and vegetables for the market. Mr. Bates is a Republican in politics, and has always taken an active interest in local political issues. He was for five years a member of the Board of Selectmen, and served one year as Collector.

On April 29, 1846, Mr. Bates married for his first wife Corinth Wing, a native of Hinsdale, Mass. She was born November 27, 1824, daughter of Zeri and Triphenia (Ingham) Wing, the former of whom was a practising physician. Four children were born of this union, namely: Emma L., who married Andrew Brewster, of Cummington; Clarence E., who married Ida Hancock, and resides in Huntington, Mass.; Shepard F., who died in infancy; and Shepard F., second, who married Nellie A. Tower, and resides in Worthington. The mother died July 21, 1894; and on June 5, 1895, Mr. Bates wedded for his second wife Mrs. Malina Graves, a sister of his first wife. Mrs. Malina Bates was born March 26, 1823, and has been three times married. By her first husband, Sherman Geer, she had one son, Elwin W. Geer, who married, and resides in Dalton, Mass. Her second husband was Amasa Graves, Jr., of Middlefield, by whom she had one son, Arthur W. Graves, who is married, and resides in Pittsfield, Mass.

Mr. and Mrs. Bates are members of the Congregational church. Fordyce Bates, Mr. Bates’s twin brother, went to California in 1849, and remained there for several years, during which he was successful both as a merchant and a miner. While there he served as a member of the legislature in 1860. Marcus A, Bates was a member of the legislature in 1880.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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