The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-02-03
william Bates,

william BATES,
Son of Joseph and Mary Parker Bates,
was born at Cummington, Mass, Jan.
18th, 1907 and was the last to die of four
brothers, In 1928 he moved to Bennipg-
ton to the farm where Norman Oviatt
now lives. He afterward removed to the
village, where he resided to the time of
his decease. At the time of his death
Mr.. Bates was the only male resident in
the village that was living here at the
time of his coming to Bennington. Mrs.
Coggswell Morgan is the only woman
now living here that was resident in the
village when he came to II. Had he lived
till July next he would have celebrated
his golden wedding. q
His eldest son, w. Frank Bates died In
1860. The children now living are,
Elizabeth B. Moody of Waukegan, H.,
Robert p. Bates of Chicago, Ill, and Col.
Edward L. Bates of Bennington.
His widow also survives him. 1t was
peculiarly fitting that Mr.. Bates should
be laid away to rest in the old historical
cemetery where lie the remains OF so
many of the early pioneers Of the town,
and under the shadow of the Old First
Church where he formerly had char @ of
the largest choir ever organized in Ben
nington, most of the time cOmposed1 al
thirty voices, the singers extending clear
around the gallery. The late Deacon
Scott then played the bass viol in the
same choir. $40
Mr.. Bates was also connected with the
militia in the days when June trainings
were the events of the year. He held a
commission as First Lieutenant of the
Company of Artillery, LIST Regiment, LIST
Brigade and I'd Division. This commits
sion was issued by Governor JenisOn,
1885,
He was early identified with the inter-
ests of the town secular and religious.
He never sought any public office, and
did not hold any Office, with the except
ion of that of District Trustee under the
old system of school management: to
that Office lie was repeatedly chosen, and
administered the same with exceptional
fidelity. Though Mr.. Bates had never
made profession of religion, he was a
religious man, well versedi in the Bible,
and was trusting in His Saviour when he
quietly passed into the other life. HIS
knowledge Of the Bible was wonderful,
he seemed to know it by heart, and could
easily recall chapter and even verse, when
passage was called to his attention.
Rev. Mr.. Marten officiated at the funeral
which was very largely attended by his
many sympathetic friends and neighbors.
The pail bearers were Messers, l.. p.
Norton, A. b. Valentine, H. w. Scott
and 7. A. Hutchins.
The following tribute is paid to him
by Mr.. Marten and is but the echo of
sentiments shared in by the many friends
of the deceased. THE life of Mr.. Bates
proves to us that no life is strictly speak
ing common. place. The simplest, quiet
est lives are missions, The man with the
musket is as important person IN his
place as the general at the head of the
great army. The simplest laborer on the
massive cathedral in some respects has
as important a sphere of labor as the
great architect or master builder. The
supreme value then of true life, an hon.
est career, pure life is emphasized. A
calm even tenored life may be after all
the most important life in the mind OF
God. To live an unbending, straight
forward life, to have a character integral
and comparatively tiawless in world
full Of sin and temptation is something
not only notable but almost miraculous.
An unsullied reputation makes good
pillow to dying head. So much the
more grand is this simple life OF In
tegrity when we consider that II
was lived so modestly, uhassumingly,
that this simple plain man among men
was so disinterested and so little dis
posed to the praise of men. 1t is much
to say of him that in the midst of scan.
dial loving and scandal monging world
he was exceptionally and uniformly
charitable and kind in his estimates OF
his fellow men. The world needs such
lives as his. Strong hearts and wills are
needed more than strong brain ano
Drawn. The grandest heroism is found
in the quiet homes and calm lives Of
everyday. so-called common place people
His was i-deed good old age, a grand
old age, and It was crowned, as all ole
age ought to be crowned with Gods
favor. For the dying hour came the dy
ing grace, and he "fell on sleep in Jesus. '
A patient sufferer to the end he now hai
rest from all pain. A good citizen,
true friend, kind neighbor has passed
cut Of this community, what void il
left
"I.Ife's race we'll run LIES work well DONE
/ Ii es crown ell won: Now comes rest. "
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searsburgh.
The rain was not sufficient to raise the
| streams very much,