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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HERMAN J. BATES, a well known citizen of Latour, Johnson County, is a retired contractor and merchant. He possesses a valuable estate and has ample means whereby to pass in comfort his declining years, his fortune having been acquired by his own well directed efforts and business ability. He is a native of Oneida, N. Y., his birth having occurred December 8, 1829, and since 1868 he has been a resident of Missouri.

Elias Bates, father of our subject, was a painter by trade and for five years dwelt in the town of Oriskany Falls. In 1844 he removed to Waukesha, Wis., and a few years later settled on a farm in Fond du Lac County, that state. His wife, Alice (Vickery) Bates, was a native of Oneida County, N. Y., and by their union were born five children.

Until he was nine years old, Herman J. Bates resided in Oneida County, N. Y., and thence he removed to Jefferson County, where he received a good education in the district schools. Still later he attended an academy in Waukesha, Wis., there completing his education. At the age of about eighteen he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin and settled with them on a farm. Two years later, in company with his brother Augustus, he rented the homestead and planted a crop of wheat, which unfortunately proved a failure. Afterward he worked in the pineries of Wisconsin, cutting saw-logs, and this business he followed during the winter time for three or four years, the remainder of his time being occupied as foreman in a flour and saw mill. In this way he managed to lay up some money and with his brother embarked in a mercantile business on a small scale at Menasha, Wis. A year and a-half later he went to Weyauwega, and in partnership with a Mr. Puffer engaged in business for some four years. In 1857 he sold out and went to Lawrence, Kan., and from there to Burlington, in the same state. When a year or two had elapsed he returned to Wisconsin, and for three years operated the farm which he had previously purchased in Waupaca County. Not liking the business, or not succeeding as well as he desired, he then sold out and began clerking for his brother in Menasha, Wis., remaining there for some six months. His next venture was to buy out a furniture manufacturing establishment, the management of which kept him employed until 1868.

April 26, 1856, Mr. Bates married Sarah C. Hulse, who was born in Orange County, N. Y., October 1, 1834, and who grew to womanhood there, receiving a good education. She was a daughter of Hezekiah and Elsie (Hulse) Hulse, and about a year before her marriage to our subject went to live with a brother in Wisconsin. In 1861 Mr. Bates enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and was made Third Sergeant of the company. As he had formerly been in the drug business and was fairly acquainted with medical appliances, and as he was also physically incapacitated for active work, he was assigned to hospital duties, and in the last of December received a certificate of disability and returned home. Later, in 1862, General Halleck issued his order requiring all who were at home on such certificates to report at headquarters, and accordingly Mr. Bates went to Madison, Wis., thence was sent to Cairo, Ill., where he was examined. The authorities bade him go to Mound City for his discharge papers, but he was there informed that they were under orders not to let him off, and sent him to the hospital at Mound City. On passing through the dispensary there, Mr. Bates hastily came to the conclusion that if he must remain in the hospital he would prefer to be in the drug department. On applying for a position, he was informed that they were in need of just such a man, and he continued there from September until November. His wife then applied to the Wisconsin state authorities for the $5 per month which was then allowed to soldiers’ wives and she was informed that his name was not on the roll. Some correspondence resulted, and Mr. Bates, having written to the Adjutant-General of Wisconsin, received word from him that he (Mr. Bates) must report at the front immediately. The doctor in charge of the hospital did not wish to lose his services and dictated a letter to that effect, but it proved of no avail. Mr. Bates was then obliged to go to Corinth, but lo, when he presented himself to be mustered in he was refused, as his name was not on the roll. Many efforts were made to have this matter straightened out, but there seemed to be no one with the proper authority, and at length, on appealing to General Grant, our subject was informed that he was entitled to his pay, but would have to get it through the Wisconsin state department. He was sent home, and after applying to the Governor, that gentleman requested him to send in his papers, saying that he would look the matter up, but in the press of his duties he neglected to do this, and finally lost the aforesaid papers. Thus Mr. Bates has never been able to get a discharge or to draw any money. He is convinced that the officers thought his certificate of disability amounted to a discharge and did not report his name.

In 1868 Mr. Bates moved to Sedalia, from there to Pleasant Hill, and finally to Holden, where he bought twenty acres of land. He built several houses, which he sold and succeeded fairly well in his real-estate transactions. Afterwards he engaged in the furniture business, and then commenced taking contracts for building houses in Holden and vicinity. In this line of work he continued until 1884, in the mean time being also engaged in the grocery business with J. J. Wright, his son-in-law. In 1884 the two partners went to Norris, Henry County, where they conducted a general merchandising establishment until 1891, when Mr. Bates sold out on account of his health. He is the owner of forty acres in Holden, and a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near that village. He also owns property in Latour, where he is now making his home, besides a good store building in Chilhowee, the best in this part of the county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bates were born three children, namely: Alice, who married J. M. Moore, by whom she has two children, and is now a resident of Holden; Minnie B., Mrs. J. J. Wright, of Latour, and the mother of three children; and Adela, who married R. W. Duffield, of Warrensburg, and has two children. Socially Mr. Bates has been a member of the Sons of Temperance for several years, and is connected with the Union League. Originally a Free Soiler, he voted for Fremont in 1856 and continued to support the Republican party until the Greenback party came into existence. For a time he adhered to its teachings, but now is a People’s party man. While living in Wisconsin he was twice elected Township Assessor, and once held that office in Kansas, but aside from this has managed to keep out of a public career.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Missouri family biographies here: Johnson County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

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