Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-03-21

1sOr was HIS flSLt ~ OETlugnolu Ino utoU siAnc
he had met that distinguished gentleman
While in Hartford, year or more since, they
formed somewhat intimate acquaintance,
which resulted in the warmest mutual frien1-
ship and confidence SO that Mr.. Lincoln
has, IN the selection, no doubt acted as much
upon his personal knowledge and estimation
of the man as upon any solicitation of prom
inent New England Republicans.
| EDWARD BATES, ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Edward Bates was born on the 4th of Sep
tember, 1893, on the banks of the James riv-
er, in the county of Goochland, Virginia,
about thirty miles above Richmond. He was
the seventh son and youngest child of a fam
| ily of twelve children, all of whom lived to a
mature age, of Thomas Bates and Caroline
M. Woodson. Both of his parents were de-
scendauts of the plain old Quaker families
which bad lived fer some generations in the
lower counties of the pininsula between
James and York rivers. They were married
in the Quaker meeting, according to the forms
of that simple and virtues people, in the year
l177l; but in 1871 the father lost his mem-
bership in the Society of Friends by bearing
arms at the siege of Yvrktown-a volunteer
private soldier under General Lafayette. In
1905, Thomas f., the father, died, leaving a
very small estate and large family. Left
at an early age an orphan, and poor, the son
was fortunate in what was better than pa
trimony, heart and will to labor diiigent-
ly for promotion. Besides, several of his
brothers were industrious and prosperous
affection. One of them Fleming Bates, of
Northumberland, Virginia, took him into bis
family as son, and did fathers part to
him. lie had not the benefit of collegiate
education, being prevented by an secident-
the breaking of leg-Bhich stopped him in
the middle of his course Of study, and conGn-
ed him at home for nearly two years. In
childhood he was taught by the father, and
afterwards had the benefit of two years. in
st7uetions of bis kins2an, Benjamin Bates,
Of Hanover, Virginia, a most excellent man,
who, dying, left behind him none more vir-
tuous and few more intelligent. In 1872,
having renounced service in the Navy, and
with no plan of life settled, his brother Fred
erick (who was Secretary of the Territory of
Missouri from 1907 to 1920, when the State
was formed, by successive appointments un-
der jefferson, Madison and 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 for event detained him for q
year. Being in his native county of Gooeh-
land, sudden call for volunteers to march
to Norfolk, to repel an apprehended attack
by the British feet, and he Joined a company
in February, marched to Norfolk, and served
till October Of that year. as private, corporal
and sergeant successfully. The next spring
he set out for st. LCuis, and crossed the Mis-
sissippi for the first time on the 29:h of April,
1914. Here he studied very diligently in the
Office of Rufus Easton, Connecticut man, a
good lawyer, regularly educated at Litch-
field, and once a delegate in Congress from
Missouri Territory. He came to the bar in
the winter of 1916 II, and prac.iced with
fair success as beginner. In 1853 he was
elected Judge Of the Land Court of ST. Louis
county, and after serving in the Office about
three years be resigned, and returned again
to the practice of the law. He acted as Presi-
dent of the River and Harbor Improvement
Convention which set at Chicago, and in 1852
acted as President of the Wing National Con.
Yention which met at Baltimore. In 1850
he was appointed by President Fillmore, and
confirmed by the Senate Secretary of War,
but declined the appointment for personal
and domestic reasons. Mr.. Bates was COM
plimented with the honorary degree of LII D,
in 1858. by Harvard College. Some years
before be had been honored with the same
degree by Shurtleff College, Illinois.