Isaac L. Bates Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 1070-1073

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HON. ISAAC L. BATES, a prosperous and influential farmer residing in 
Garden Prairie township, is one of the pioneer settlers of Brown- 
county, and has been closely connected with the financial and social 
development of that region. A portrait of Mr. Bates appears on the 
opposite page. 

Mr. Bates was born in New York July 12, 1835, and was the fourth in a 
family of six children, three sons and three daughters, born to Jairus 
and Zarina S. (Phelps) Bates. His father was a farmer by occupation, as 
was also the grandfather of our subject, Rufus Bates. The family was an 
old New England family. When our subject was four years of age the 
parents made a home in Buffalo, New York, and later moved to Ottawa 
county, Ohio, where the father engaged in farming. The country was then 
unsettled, and they located in what was called Black Swamp. After five 
years they moved to Sandusky county, Ohio, where they resided one year. 
The mother died when our subject was but six years of age, and about 
two years after her death he was given to the care of strangers, 
remaining with them three years. Others of the family were also away 
from the home, and finally they reunited and the father moved the 
family to Wisconsin about 1848. He rented land four years in Walworth 
county, and then moved to Waushara county, where our subject grew to 
manhood. After attaining his majority he left home and worked at the 
cooper's trade one summer, and in the fall of 1858 located in Michigan, 
where he worked by the month until August, 1861. At the first call for 
three years' troops he enlisted in Company C, Third Michigan Cavalry, 
and was among the first to enlist for three years' service. He was sent 
to St. Louis, Missouri, and his first battle was at New Madrid, 
Missouri, after which followed Island No. 10, first battle of Corinth, 
and was in the thickest of the fight at Iuka after which was in active 
service and many skirmishes. After the expiration of his three years' 
service he reenlisted and was finally mustered out in September, 1865, 
after a service extending over four years and seventeen days. 

Returning from the war, Mr. Bates engaged in farming in Michigan, and 
in 1882 he visited South Dakota and homesteaded the northeast quarter 
of section 13, township 121, range 60, and in 1883 returned to his 
homestead and "bached it" during that and the summer of 1884, then 
rented the place during 1885. In 1886, he moved his family to Brown 
county, South Dakota. He is now the possessor of a well improved estate 
consisting of six hundred and forty acres, one quarter of which is in 
the name of his son. He engages principally in grain raising, and is 
interested to some extent in the raising of stock. He was one of the 
first to enter the locality as a settler, and his shanty was the first 
in that vicinity. He hauled all supplies from Andover, and encountered 
other pioneer experiences. 

Mr. Bates was married in Michigan, February 22, 1866, to Miss Emily L. 
Adams, a descendant of President John Adams. Mrs. Bates was a daughter 
of Horace H. Adams, and was born and raised in Michigan. Three children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bates, as follows: Franklin A., born 
September 6,1867: Sarah S., born September 18, 1869; and Minnie L., 
born June 14, 1876. They are all married, and the son is a railway mail 
clerk. Mr. Bates has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic 
for the past twenty-five years. He is prominent in the affairs of his 
county, and is an ardent worker for reform. He was elected on the 
Populist ticket to represent Brown county in the state legislature of 
1890-91, and was one of the first of that party to act in that 
capacity. He was foremost in the Farmer's Alliance and was president of 
the organization for three or four years. He attended the first 
Populist caucus, and was a delegate to the first Populist convention 
held in Brown county. He has held numerous township offices, including 
assessor in 1890, and four years justice of -the peace. His earnest and 
efficient work has gained him the confidence of the people and he is 
willingly accorded the rank of a leader in his community.