White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-12-01
Hon. Edward Bates.

OF Missouri for more than forty years
still be is unknown to large portion Of
the people Of the State. This can b
readily accounted for. The population
of this State, has rapidly increased With
in the last twenty years. and the Oldest
citizens who were here during the time
when he was in public life, have mostly
passed from off the theatre Of action. He
has remained for near thirty years in pri-
vate life. if we except the short period
during which he acted as Judge of the
Land Court Of st. Louis. SO entirely
has he avoided everything calculated to
give him notoriety, and so modestly has
he pursued the even tenor of his way,
that although justly acknowledged to be
not only the first man in the State. but
the most prominent in the whole West,
he has not attracted as much notice as
many who have not been ten years in the
country, and who after "strutting and
fretting their hour upon the STAGE have
sunk into the insigni6eance which con-
stitutes their true element. At this time,
when the name of Edward Bates begins
to be spoken of in connection with the
highest Office in the nation. and the eyes
of the great Opposition party are turned
towards him, as the Cincinnatus, whose
lofty virtue and elevated patriotism, must
be called into requisition to save the coun-
try, it might not be inappropriate, for
the information of his fellow-citizens, to
mention few circumstances in regard to
him, of which doubtless many are igno-
rant. Only few years since, the writer
of this article, heard it stated by gen.
tleman who ought to have been better in
formed, that Edward Bates was a native
of one of the New England States, and
there are many possibly, who entertain
that opinion.
Edward Bates is the youngest and last
surviving son of Thomas f. Bates Of
Belmont, in the county of Goochland.
and State of Virginia. lie was born on
the banks of James river, about thirty
miles above the city of Richmond. Thorn
as F. Bates died, leaving small estate,
and numerous family, the support and
education of which devolved upon his
widow. The subsequent history of the
family proves how faithfully she dischar
ged mothers duties.
Frederick Bates. the oldest son, came
at an early day to St. Louis, and the old
men of Missouri, venerate the memory Of
Governor Bates. as the ablest and most
virtuous of all her statesmen.
Charles Bates, located in his native
county, where he attained high profess
ional position and died while yet young
man.
Tarlton, also died at an early age,
though, not until he had given evidence
of uncommon talent, and Richard fell,
lamented and beloved by all who knew
him. a victim to code of honor which has
so long disgraced and so often dyed with
her best blood the soil of Virginia. For
his untimely fate, there were broken
hearts, and bitter tears shed, and the old
people of that country speak Of Richard
Bates. as one of the noblest young men
that Virginia ever produced.
Fleming Bates, settled in Northum-
berland county, and died in 1899 while
a member of the convention of Virginia.
In body composed of such men as Madi-
son, Monroe, Marshall, Leigh. Chapman.
johnson. John Randolph, and host Of
others. the fact that he was not regarded
as the least among them is of itself th
evidence of his grestness-and he was
even more esteemed for his private vir-
tues.
Hon. James Bates was q member Of
Congress from Arkansas, and Judge |
of the United States District Court.
Edward Bates, of st. Louis, is the
youngest of seven sons, and the only sur
vivor of the family, except his sister, Mrs.
Margaret Wharton, of st. Charles coun-
ty. He came to Missouri when she was
a territory, and during the time that his
brother was Governor. His mother |
came out and settled in st. Louis county |
about the year 1920, where she died in |
1S44'45, over 80 years of age, having |
outlived all her sons except the youngest.
The ancestors of Mr.. Bates were attached
TO the Society Of Friends, and many Of
bis relatives in Virginia still belong to
that Society. He is blood relative of
President Jefferson, and the late Govern
or peasants, of Yirginia.-LsringtOn
Exprsss. Ir ss-g -f ...t' v-'-