The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-03-08
Edward Bates.

|
| Edward Bates was born on the 4th of Sept,
1898, on the banks Of James River in the
county of Goochland, Virginia, about thirty
miles above Richmond. He was the seventh
son and youngest child of family of twelve
children, all of whom lived to a mature age,
of Thomas Bates and Caroline NJ. Woodson.
Both Of his parents were descendants Of the
plain old Quaker families which had lived
for some generations in the lower counties of
the peninsula, between James and York riv-
ers. They were married in the Quaker
meeting, according to .he forms of that sim.
pie and virtuous people, in the year 1771.-
But in 1881, the father lost his membership
in the Society of Friends, by bearing arms
at the siege of York, volunteer private sol
dier, under La Fayette.
In 1905, Thomas T., the father, died. leav-
ing very small estate, and a very large
poor, the son was fortunate in what is better
than a patrimony, a heart and will to la
Dor diligently for promotion. Besides, seve-
raj of his brothers were industrious and
prosperous men, and treated the helpless
with generous affection. One of them Flem-
ing Bates, of Northumberland, Va took him
into his family as son, and did fathers
part by him.
| He had not the benefit Of collegiate edu-
cation, being prevented by an accident (the
breaking of leg), which stopped him in the
middle of his course of study, AMI confined
| him at home for nearly two years. In child
/ hood he was we'll taught by his father, and
afterward had the benefit of two years in
structon of his kinsman, Benjamin Bates,
of Hanover, Va, most excellent man, who,
| dying, left behind him none more virtuoas,
aud few more Intelligent.
Coming nnter the protection of his booth
err Fleming, he was sent in the Fall of 1896
to Charlotte Hall Academy, S.. M,ry's
| County, Maryland, where he remained three
years. and then left by reason of the acci-
dent above mentioned, without being pre-.
pared to enter Princeton College, where his
brother intended to send him.
Thus baffied in his hopes Of getting thor
ough education, he gave up the idea of fol-
lowing any learned profession, and set his
heart upon a midshipman's warrant in the
Navy. In the mean time, he served as
youngest apprentice in the Office of his
brother, who was Court Clerk, employing
all his spare time in eagerly devouring the
contents OF pretty good library, but with
out direction or advice.
! In the Winter of 18ll-12, his kinsman,
James Peasants, then q member of Con-
gress and afterward Governor of Virginia,
Navy, the special object of his ambitiou-the
thing which above all others he desired.
| Here again he was DOOMED to disappoint-
ment His mother refused her consent-re-
ing that all her sons should march, whenever
needed, to repel an invasion, but was still too
good Quaker to agree that any child of
hers should follow arms as profession, and
war for a livelihood. He declined the war;
rant; with what feelings we can well imag-
inc; and it is doubtful whether he has ever
been called upon for so great an effort of
moral courage as the rejection Of that war;
rant required He could never have made it
successfully if he had not been taught from
childhood, and accepted as a settled truth,
that the boy who deliberately thwarts the
wishes of a wise and virtuous mother, is not
likely, ever sfterward, to do much good for
himself or his country. A similar event in
the life of Washington will be suggested to
every mind.
In 1912, having ronounced service in the
Navy, and with no plan of life settled, his
brother Frederick (who was Secretary of the
Territory of Missouri from 1907 to 1920,
when the State was formed, by successive
appointments under Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe, aud was second Governor of the
State) invited him to come to st. Louis and
follow the law, offering to see him safely
through his course of study.
! He accepted the invitation, and was to
have started in the Spring Of 1918, but an
unlooked-for eyent detained him for year.
sudden call was made for volunteers to march
for ~. to repel on apprehended attack
- feet, and he joined the com.
II Fs&3 NY, marched to Norfolk, and
Erved till Oct r of that year, as private
bQrporal, and = gcant, sgccessively.
The next Spr he set out for st. Louis
) 3ps1eleis mississippi for the frs,
tl1s,1a1 of April 1914 Here he
studis tly in the Office of Rufus
EastSn, : CeaneelI> man, good lawyer