Biography - Elder William A. Bates
ELDER WILLIAM A. BATES. The divine command "Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature," has for more than eighteen hundred
years been accepted by a few who felt that they would accept the humble
position of teacher to the people, for their dear Lord's sake. Every
religion has its fanatics, but the purpose of none is so pure and unalloyed
as that of the preacher to the simple agricultural classes of America. They
are one with the people and no false notions of superiority can give them
prestige over their flock. They can preach the life of the Divine man in all
its simplicity, because they themselves, in a degree, live the same life.
Our subject resides on section 13, of Ridge Township, Shelby County. He was
born in Grant County, Ind., his natal day being December 4, 1851. He is a
son of David and Elizabeth (Bradshaw) Bates, both natives of Indiana. Both
paternal and maternal grandparents were pioneer settlers of his native
State. The parents of our subject died in Indiana, and of a family of eight
children, only three attained their majority. They are, Rebecca, John Wisley
and our subject. Rebecca married C. F. Lay, and resides in Miami County,
Kan. John died in 1890 in Miami County, Kan. Our subject was only five years
of age when his father passed away from this life, and one year later he
lost his mother, and only those who have been orphans can appreciate the
bereavement of the lad. Our subject had a guardian appointed with whom he
lived for a time, after a previous residence with his relatives on the home
farm. He attended the district schools and derived all the advantages to be
had there.
At the age of seventeen the original of our sketch came to Shelby County and
purchased eighty acres of land. In 1874, he was married to Arminta Bare, a
daughter of Michael and Margaret (Dillinger) Bare. The lady was born in
Westmoreland County, Pa., August 11, 1847. In 1848 the family removed to
Ohio and in 1872 came to Shelby County, where she and our subject met and
married. After marriage, he of whom we write, with his wife, went to Kansas,
where they resided for a time in Miami, and then went across the line into
Missouri. While West, he purchased forty acres of land and operated land
which he rented.
In October, 1882, the family returned to Shelby County and our subject has
since rented the land which he now occupies, operating two hundred and forty
acres. Politically. Mr. Bates is a Prohibitionist, not only living, but
teaching and preaching a total abstinence from all stimulants. Five little
ones have come as buds of promise to cheer the home of our subject and wife.
Of these, four are now living. They are Maggie, Cora, Bertha and John. Mr.
Bates has been an earnest Christian and has officiated as minister over
several congregations. He preached one year at Antioch, two years at Wilber
Creek, two years at Union, and two years at Zion, at which place he is now
preaching. He united with the Church of Christ when twenty one years of age,
and had no special preparation for the pulpit, gleaning his theological
training as best he could from books and conversations with learned, good
men. During the time of his ministry with the churches above mentioned, he
at the same time pursued his calling as a farmer, although he has given a
portion of his time to his ministerial duties. He is a member of the church
of Antioch, and occasionally preaches at that place.
Extracted 17 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 687-688.
