Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-02-08
From MesOpOtamia,. Interesting His.

W.
EDITOR CHRONICLE I'm looking over
the list Of names Of old people, resi-
dents Of Warren city and township,
published in the CHRoNICLE, recently,
IN me whole list L only counted fOuI
VINO We're older than M resident Of
our town. Mr.. Aaron Bates was born
in South Hampton, Massachusetts, July
18th, I775, which makes him now in
his eightv-sixth year He is the oldest
person in this town, and one OF the
oldest, perhaps, in this part OF the
county. His bodily health Is pretty good
for a man Of his age. but he is very de-
crepit, not having been able to walk
without a crutch for over fifteen years.
His mental faculties remain very good,
and II is very interesting to engage in
conversation with him and hear him
relate scenes and incidents that trans
pired in an early day. He was married
10 Miss Nancy Matthews, in the year
lS0S, and she died September ;, 1856.
aged ~siXty-nine years, ten months and
twenty-seven days, they having lived
together almost half a century. Mr.,
Bates embarked from the place OF his
nativity, New England in the spring
Of 1929, with his wife and family OF nine
children, for the western wilds Of Ohio.
They came on the canal to Buffalo, from
there on the lake TO Ashtabula, and from
there in wagons to this town, MesOpO-
tamia, where he has since resided. The
country here wa comparatively new at
that time. Only fOur Or five dwellings
were built at or e the center, and four
or five more scattered through the town.
ship. There was no church building
here then, and in the years lS3l-S2,
quite a large revival was experienced,
and the meetings were held in Mr.. Bates
barn. A few OF the present citizens Of
our township were among the number
converted at that time. Mr.. B. and his
wife were converted 10 christianity in
youth, and have always identified them
selves with the Congregational church,
himself and wife and oldest son having
brought letters from the east, and united
with the church here. lie has always
contributed literally for the support OF
the ministry, and for benevolent objects,
and his life has always correspondent
with his profession. Eleven children
eight sons and three danghters-were
the fruit OF this connection, all OF whom
lived to be men and women, and all
married except one. Mrs. Bates, the
mother, was the first one TO be taken
away by death from the family. One OF
the sons fell a sacrifice for our country.
He was captured by the rebels and con-
fined in the famous Libby prison, and
removed from there to Andersonville,
where he died; and it is supposed that
starvation was the cause of his death.
The next and last one of the family
that has been taken away, was another
OF the sons. He died OF disease, in
Braceville, and was buried in June,
1867. Others Of Mr.. BIS descendants
served their country in the late impend-
ing struggle, some of whom lost their
lives. The number OF descendants are
as follows: Nine children, twenty-five
grandchildren, and great-grand-
children. The number of descendants,
perhaps, is not as numerous, perhaps, as
many other old people. One thing quite
remarkable in their history, l might
mention-the parents never saw their
own children all together. b older
children we're married and gone from
home before the younger ones were born.
On one occasion, before the mother died,
they were all together but one, and at
her funeral they were all present but
one. It is hardly possible that the father
will be able to see all the surviving chill
dren together, as they are considerably
scattered. The names and residences OF
the children are as follows William NJ.
Bates, Mesopotamia, Ohio; Horace +.
Bates, hesopOtamia, Ohio; Aaron I.
Bates, Chicago; Alonzo A. Bates, Can
ton, Ohio; Alanson, Bates, Tomsburg,
Ohio; Elizabeth Sheldon, Cleveland /;
Austin G. Bates, deceased; Lorenzo D.
Bates, deceased; George p. Bates, To-
peka, Kansas; Angeline NJ. Lindsey,
New Wilmington, Pa; Elvira +. Bates,
M~esopOtamia, Ohio.
Feb. 8, ISL. ~