G1: Samuel Bates, Sr. > G2: Mathew Bates

Mathew and Cynthia (Bentley) Bates

"Many years ago, in the Emerald Isle, dwelt Mathew Bates.  After nineteen summers of happy school days he ventured forth to test the desirableness of the far-famed United States, and finding it all and more than admirers had painted it, determined to desert the land of his fathers for this broader country.  Before reaching Uncle Sam's fair domain [Mathew] settled for a time in Canada, where he became acquainted with Miss Cynthia Bentley, to whom he was married.  Locating in Story County [Iowa] immediately after touching American soil, he appreciated the advantages of this district to such an extent that he started at once to build up a prosperous farming business there, remaining in the same place until his death, September 23, 1885.  He has the misfortune to lose his beloved wife by death several years before."  [1]

Mathew and Cynthia were married in Ontario, Canada, on May 26, 1852.  They were living in Bayham, Elgin County, Ontario at that time. [2]

Their first child, Samuel, was born in April 1853 and a son, George, was born in November 1854.  Mathew and Cynthia, with 2 infants in tow and one on the way, relocated to Story County, Iowa in February of 1856. George, died on 28 February 1856, apparently just after their move.  A third son, Joseph, was born the same year.  Samuel and Joseph both die at a young age, 12 and 26, due to issues with horses. 

The couple added another 10 children to their family.  Cynthia died while giving birth to the 13th child leaving Mathew with children ranging in age of 22 to newborn. 

Family Tree

Children

1. Samuel J. Bates  -  Born in Canada on 3 April 1853.  Tragically died on 30 March 1866 at the age of 12. "The name of a family well and favorably know in the county occurs in this issue of the Aegis in connection with the notice of the accidental death of a young son, Samuel, of Mathew Bates of Howard town ship.  The boy was upset by a fractious colt that he was trying to hold while his mother climbed into the wagon, and the wagon ran over him with fatal consequences. This boy was the nephew and evidently the namesake of Samuel Bates who was once county recorder and was for many years a retired resident of Nevada.   Matthew Bates was long one of the most prominent citizens of Howard." [3]

2. George P. Bates —Born in Canada on 3 November 1854.   Died 28 Feb 1856 at age 1 year, 3 months, 25 days in Story County, Iowa.

3. Joseph B. Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1856.  Married Mary Watson. Tragically died in November 1882.

4. William Oren Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1857. Married Carrie Ballard. Died in November 1937 in Bates County, Missouri.

5. John McGee Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1859.  Married Millie E. Moore in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. Died in 1929 in Los Angeles, California.

6. Ulrich Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1863. Died in Brown County, Nebraska on 15 October 1942 at the age of 82.

7. Mary Alice Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1864.  Married Levant Shattuck in 1886.  Died in 1947 in Nebraska.

8. Andrew Miller Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1865.  Married Alice. Died in 1942 in Stanislaus County, California.

9. Frank Carson Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1866. Married Sophronia Eivins. Died in 1939 in Iowa.

10. Susan Anna Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1 February 1868.  Married W. Minor Lemen.  Died on 16 October 1906.

11. Austin Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1870.

12. Ida Victoria Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1871.  Married Isaac Eivins.  Died in 1953.

13. Martha Jane Bates — Born in Story County, Iowa in 1878.

Citizenship

Census

1851 Census: Bayham, Elgin County, Canada WEst [10]

1860 Census: Lafayette Township, Story County, Iowa [8]

1870 Census: Howard Township, Story County, Iowa [7]

1880 Census: Howard Township, Story County, Iowa [6]

NEW ITEMS

"Our old friend and esteemed patron Mathew Bates met with a very serious accident yesterday, the particulars we have not learned in full, but understand that he was leading one of his fine horses, which in one of its playful modes struck him near or in the ingrinal region but we trust not a fatal one.  Mr. Bates is one of our oldest as well as most enterprising citizens and we sincerely hope that nothing serious will follow.  We deeply sympathise with Mr. Bates and family in this great misfortune." — Page  3 of Story County Watchman, published in Nevada, Iowa on Friday, April 29th, 1881 [4]

“Mathew Bates of Howard township is building a large stock barn on his farm. Who will be next to follow the example.” — Page  3 of Story County Watchman, published in Nevada, Iowa on Friday, July 17th, 1885 [4]

" MARRIED:  By Rev. Neible, Mr. L. H. Shattuck, of Milford township and Miss Mary Alice Bates, eldest daughter of the late Mathew Bates of Howard township, at the residence of the bride." -- Page  3 of Story County Watchman, published in Nevada, Iowa on Friday, February 26th, 1886 [4]

""Pioneer Department contributions from Old Timers Invite:

The name of a family well and favorably know in the county occurs in this issue of the Aegis in connection with the notice of the accidental death of a young son, Samuel, of Mathew Bates of Howard town ship. The boy was upset by a fractious colt that he was trying to hold while his mother climbed into the wagon, and the wagon ran over him with fatal consequences. This boy was the nephew and evidently the namesake of Samuel Bates who was once county recorder and was for many years a retired resident of Nevada. Matthew Bates was long one of the most prominent citizens of Howard." —  Nevada Representative, Nevada, Iowa on Friday, April 6th, 1906, Page 1 [4]

Obituaries

Will: Mathew Bates [5]

Citations

1. "Biographical and Historical Memoirs - Story County, Iowa," The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1890, page 289

2. "Ontario, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2YM-9G2K : 17 March 2018), Matthew Bates and Cynthia Bentley, 26 May 1852; citing Middlesex, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,030,060.

3. Newspaper: Nevada Representative, published in Nevada, Iowa on Friday, April 6th, 1906, Page 1:  Under the column of "Pioneer Department contributions from Old Timers Invite:”

4. http://nevada.advantage-preservation.com/

5. Source Citation: Probate Records, 1855-1947; Author: Iowa. District Court (Story County); Probate Place: Story, Iowa. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Iowa, Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Iowa, County, District and Probate Courts.

6. 1880 Iowa Federal Population Census Schedules, Story County, Howard Township. Reel 0364, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, Washington, Enumeration District No. 199, Supervisor District 4, Page No. 8, Archive.org

7. 1870 Iowa Federal Population Census, Story County, Howard Township, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, Reel 420, Pages 23 and 24; Archive.org

8. 1860 Iowa Federal Population Census Schedule, Story County, La Fayette Township; Washington : National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, Reel 339, Page 52; Archive.org

9. Story County Clerk of Court records; State Historical Society of Iowa

10. Bayham, Elgin County, Canada West; Enumeration District 2; Census of 1851 (Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) for Image No.: e002346987; Library and Archives Canada