WILLIAM A. BATES

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 619-620

W. A. Bates & Co.

(Wholesale Grocers, Nevada).

   The wholesale grocery house of Bates & Co. (the only exclusive business house of the kind in this place) is recognized as one of Nevada's substantial establishments in a business point of view.  It is conducted by William A. and Edward W. Bates, father and son respectively, and no one who is acquainted with either member of the firm will question the reliability of the house.  The stock embraces as good an assortment as will be found in larger cities, and is constantly kept complete, and the success of their enterprise, which at first was experimental, has exceeded their expectations.  W. A. Bates, the senior member of the firm, has been reared with a mercantile experience.  He was born in Madison county, O., August 27, 1834, his parents being Sylvanus and Eunice (Turner) Bates, the former a native of Ohio and a merchant tailor by occupation.  William A. was the eldest son and second child in his parents' family of eight children, and until 18 or 19 years of age he lived in Ohio where his time was occupied in selling dry goods and groceries.  In 1855 he settled in Illinois and for a period of 20 years sold goods in Piatt county, that State.  Since 1880 he has been connected with the business interests of Nevada and no man has won a more enviable reputation for honor and integrity than he.  Mr. Bates was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Manning, of Pennsylvania.  Their only child is Edward W., who is associated with his father in business.  He was born in Monticello, Ill., was reared there and subsequently accompanied the family to this county.  His wife was formerly Miss Annie Robinson, an estimable young lady, of Kentucky nativity.

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