Person:David Bates (4)

DAVID BATES. No country affords a greater opportunity to the poor man th an our own; it is, indeed, the poor man's country; here an industrious fru gal man has a chance to accumulate property. Many fail to do so, but the b est of our population lay by some of their earnings, and soon find themsel ves in the possession of a good competence. Among the latter class is t he gentleman whose name introduces this article.

Mr. Bates is a native of OH, born in Scott Twp Sandusky CO, in . 1855, and is the son of Adam and Betsey (Metcalf) Bates. The father sti ll resides in that Twp but the mother died when our subject was on ly three years old, after which he was reared by his uncle, David Phillip s, and his education was obtained in the district schools. On attaining ma n's estate, Mr. Bates was married November 16, 1876, in Scott. Twp S andusky CO, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret E. Faint, who w as born in Jackson Twp that CO, October 10, 1857, the daught er of Martin and Catherine (Good) Fiandt, farming people of that localit y. They have become the parents of six children: Ada E., born April 8, 187 8; Etta M., born March 5, 1883; Rosa B., who died in infancy; David M., bo rn October 2, 1889; Amby C., who died in infancy; and Merrill E., born.Nov ember 3, 1893.

For two years after his marriage, Mr. Bates rented land in Scott townshi p, Sandusky CO, but in the spring of 1879 purchased forty acres the re in Section 22, at a cost of $800, going in debt for half the amoun t. At the end of two. years he rented an eighty-acre farm in Section 27, M ontgomery townshipWood CO, for a year, which he then bought, after sel ling his original tract at a profit. He lived upon that place until Apri l, 1893, when he rented and operated a farm of 240 acres, for four year s, but now has 120 acres of fertile and productive land in Section 27, Mon tgomery Twp on which, in 1896, he erected a fine dwelling at a co st of 864 - WOOD CO OH. $3,000, and will make it his future home. He has ever been a hard worke r, energetic and enterprising, and is destined to become one of the prospe rous farmers of the locality. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bates hold membership wi th the Church of God, in which he has been deacon, and superintendent of t he Sunday-school, while she has been a teacher in the latter. They are kin dhearted, considerate people, and have the respect of the entire community .