Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-22
sketch OF the Life of Hon. Edward
Rnfaa.

Edward Bates was born on the 4th OF
Sept. 1893. on the banks Of James river, (
in the county Of GOochland. Virgins,
about 30 miles above Richmond. He was
the seventh son and youngest child of a
family OF twelve children, all of whom
lived to mature age. of Thomas Bates
and Caroline II. Woodson. Both of his
parents we're descendants Of the plain old
Quaker families which had lived FOR some
generations in the lower counties Of the
ers. They we're married in the Quaker
meeting. according TO the forms Of that
simple and virtuous people. in the year
iii But in 1851, the father lost his mem
bership in the Society of Friends. by bear
ing arms at the siege Of York. q volusteer
private soldier. under La Fayette.
In 1905. Thomas F., the father. died.
leaving very small estate. and u very
large family. Left at IN early age az or
phan. aud poor. the son was fortunate in
what is better than Patrimony. heart
aud q will to labor diligently for promo
ton. Besides. several Of his brothers were
industrious and prosperous men. and trea-
ted the helpless with generous affection. -
One Of them. Fleming Bates. of Northum-
berland, Va. took him into his family as
a son, and did fathers part by him
He had not the benefit of collegiate
education. being prevented by an accident
(the breaking of Lego, which stopped him
iu the middle of his course of study, and
confined him at home for nearly two years.
In childhood he was we'll taught by his
father, aud afterward had the benefit of
two years instruction ofhis kinsmsn, Ben.
jsmin Bates, of Hanover, Va, a most ex
cellent man, who, dying, left behind him
none more virtuous, and few more intelli-
gent.
Coming under the protection of his bro
Their Fleming. he was sent in the Fall of
1906 to Charlotte Hall Academy. St Mary's
county. Mary land, where he remained
three years, and then left by reason of the
accident above mentioned. without being
prepared to enter Princeton College, where
his brother intended to send him.
Thus bsfled in his hopes of getting a
thorough education, he gave up the idea
of following any learned profession. and
set his heart upon 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, employ
ing all his spare time in eagerly devouriDg
the contents of pretty good library, but
without direction or advice.
La the Winter of 1sll-l2, his kinsmsa.
James Peasants, then member OF Con-
gress, and afterward Governor of Virginia,
procured him The offer Of warrant in the
Navy, the special object of his ambition
the thing which above all others he desired
Here again he was doomed to disap.
pointment. His mother refused her con
sent-remonstrated, entreated, wept-she
was willing 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 arm. as a
profession, and war for livelihood. He
declined the wsrrant; with what feelings
We can well imagine aud it is doubtful
whether he has ever been called upon for
so great an effort Of moral courage as the
rejection Of that warrant 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 thwsrts the wishes of 8
wise and virtuous mother, is not likely,
self or bis country. A similar even. in the
life of Washington will be suggested to
every mind.
In 1912, having renowned service 10 the
Navy. aud with no plan of life settled. his
brother Frederick (who was Secretary of
the Territory of Missouri from 1907 to $3.50.
when the State was formed, by successive
appointments under Jefferson, Madison,
aud Monroe, and was second Governor OF
the State) invited him to come out 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 1913, but an
unlocked fof event detained him for year.
Being in his native county Of GoochlaDd.
sudden call was made for volunteers to
march for Norfolk, to repel an apprehend.
ed attack by the British feet, and he joined
company IN February. marched 10 Mt
folk, and served till October of that year,
as private. corporal. and sergeant. success
sively.
The next Spring he set out for St. Louis.
aud crossed the Mississippi for the first
time, on the 29th of April. 1914 Here he
studied very diligently in the Office of Ru.
fus Easton, Connecticut man, good law
yer, regularly educated at Litch field, and
sometime Delegate in Congress from Mis-
souri, Territory. He came TO the Bar in the
Winter of lsl6-l7. and practiced with fair
success as beginner.
In the Fall OF 1890, the State Govern.
I tDenb OeiuR put lhlo lmUculhtt dGliODs
without waiting to be told by any other
power whether or no 1t was State, or had
Constitution, he was appointed the first
Attorney General of the State, aud exerci
sed the Office both before aud after it's ad-
mission into the Union. He resigned the
office of Attorney General in 1922. and was
chosen member Of the House of Represen-
tatives OF Missouri and served as sHch. In
1924, he was appointed by President Mon
roe United States Attorney for the Nilsson
ri District
He was elected member Of tn. United
States House OF Representatives in 1926,
and served through the XXth Congress as
sole Representative of the State. In 1880
he was elected to the State Senate and
served four years; and in 1884 he was
again elected to the House. aud took an
active part in the revision Of the State
laws.
From that TINA Till the present he has