Excerpt from, “History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps, and Dent Counties, Missouri” Goodspeed Pulishing Co, 1889, Reprint 1974, Page 770, Biographical Appendix, Pulaski County.

William Addison Bates, farmer and stock dealer, of Cullen Township, and native of Pulaski County, Mo., was born in February, 1845, being a son of Albert and Christian (Turpin) Bates. The former was born in the "Blue Grass" State, and when quite young came with his father, James Bates, to Pulaski County, Mo., being among the first settlers of the county. Albert Bates and his wife were married in 1838, and soon after located on Big Piney, where he died in 1845, in the prime of life. His wife was also born in Kentucky, and after his death married Abraham Skaggs, who was killed during the war. She died in 1853, leaving four children, who were born to her first marriage: James L.; Mary J., now Mrs. Franklin; Avirella, widow of John Robinson, and William A. The latter was an infant when his father died, and was only eight years of age when his mother died. He made his home with his Aunt Sallie Carmack until eighteen years of age, when the war broke out about this time, and Mr. Bates cast his destinies with the Confederacy, enlisting in June, 1861, in Company A, McBride's division, Price's command, and after serving six months, and participating in the fight at Springfield, returned home. In July, 1864, he again joined the army, enlisting in Company A, Forty-eighth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, United States Army, under Col. Blodgett, and received his discharge at St. Louis, Mo., June 20, 1865. In the fall of the latter year he engaged in the saloon business at Waynesville, but sold out two years later and purchased a general mercantile stock, in which business he was engaged until 1886, having G. W. Colley for his partner ten years and R. L. Christeson one year. In June, 1886. Mr. Bates moved to the farm where he now lives. He owns 388 acres of fine bottom land, and is one of Pulaski County's best farmers and most highly esteemed citizens. In 1867 he united his fortunes with those of Miss Sytha Lorena Mitchell, a daughter of Samuel Mitchell. Mrs. Bates was born in Pulaski County in 1849, and has borne six children, whose names are as follows: Corn Lee (wife of Dr. L. Tice, of Waynesville), Bertie G., Fred R., Walter A., Stella, and an infant son, Claude M-Bates. Mr. Bates is a Democrat politically, and in 1870 was elected treasurer of Pulaski County, being re-elected in 1876.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page