The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-03-20
EDWARD BATES, ATTORNEY GENERAL,

Edward Bates was born Oh the 4th ol Sep
teml,er, 1893, on The banks OF the james
river, in the county OF GoochIand Vrginia,
sbou, thirty miles above Richmond. H.
was the seventh son and youngest child OF
fnmijy Of twelve childret, all OF whom lived
to IN ature age, Of Thomas Bates and Caro
line M Woodson. Bu,h Of hl- parents were
descendants OF the plain old Quaker fami
lies which had lived tor some generations in
the lower counties Of the pe"in uls between
james End York rivers. They were married
in the Quaker meeting, according to the
orms OF that simple and vir'u0us people, in
the year l77l but in 1871 the lather lost
his membership in the Society OF Friends oy
bearing arms at the siege of Yo'ktown--a
volunteer private soldier under General La
foyette. In 1905, Thomas F., the father,
died, leaving Il very small est"te and large.
family. Left at an enrly age an orphan, ano
poor, the son was fortunate IN what was
better than It trimony, heart ana Will
to lnbor diligently Tor promotion. BESIDES:
several OF his brother were industrious and
prosperous men, and treated th5 help'ess
with with generous Election. One OF them'
Fleming Bates, OF Northumberland, Virgin.
10, took him into his family as d son, and did
a fathers part to him. He had not the
benefit OF a collegiaie education, being pre-
vented by an accdent-the breaking OF leg
which stopped him in the middle OF his
course of study, and confined him at home
fo. nearly two years. In childhood he was
taught by the father, and afterwards had the
benefit OF two years. instructions OF his klns'
man, Benjamin Bates, OF Hanover VIRGINIA
a most excellent man, WHO, dying, lett DE-
hind him none more virtuous and lew more
intelligent. In 1912, having renounced
service in the navy, and with no plan OF lie
settled, his brother Frederick (who was Sec.
retary OF the Territory OF Missouri from 1877
to 1920, when the Stute was formed, oy sue
cesslve appointments under Jefferson Mndl'
son and Monroe, and was second Governor
OF the Stale.) invited him to come out TO st.
Louis, and follow the law, offering to see
him sofely through his course OF study. lie
accepted the invitation and was TO nave
started in the Spring of 1918, but an anlook'
ed for event detained him Tor year. being
in his native county ol Goochland, sudden
call was made for volunteers to march tor
Norfolk, to repelian apprehended attack by
the British feet, and he joined company IN
February, marched TO Norfolk, and served
till October OF that year, as privste, corPo.
raj and sergeant excessively. The next
spring he set out tor st. Louis, and crossed
the Mississippi for the first time on the 2sth
oil April, 1914. Here he studied very di'l'
gently in the office Of Ru'us Eas,on, Con
necticut man, good lawyer, regularly edn'
Gated at Li,ch6eld, and once delegate 10
Congress from Missouri Territory. he
came to the bar in the winter OF lSl6-l7l
and practiced with fajr success as 2 Oegiu.
her. In 1853 he wac elected Judge OF the
Land Court OF StaLpsis county, and alter
serving in the oftiee about three years he
recigned, and returned again to the practice
of the law. He acted as President OF the
River and Harbor Improvement Convention
which set at Chicago, and in 1861 acted as
President Of the Wing National Convention
which met at Baltimore. 10 1850 he wal
appointed by President Filimores and con
irmed by the Senate Secretdsy'oi War, bu
declined the appointment tor personal ant
domestic reasons. Mr.. Bates was compli-
mented with the honorary degree OF LII u
in 1868, by Harvard College. Some year
before he had been honored with the ssm'
degree by Shdrtleff College, Illinois. = 8
l n T !. -. .