George Washington Bates was born on 22 Jun 1870 in Hillsdale, MI, to William Adolphis Bates and Hannah Washburn. According to Selma Jokel Williams, George's granddaughter, she was told that the family had German ancestry. Her sister, Dorothy, remembers the family saying that they were Scots-Irish and somewhere farther back, Pennsylvania Dutch. George's father, William, and grandfather, Isaac, were reportedly from New York, and Hannah was from Pennsylvania. The family had lived many years in Providence, Luzerne Co, PA (Now, Scranton, Lackawana Co.), before moving to southeast central Michigan sometime around the end of the Civil War or a little after. George was the second-to-youngest of at least 10 children, the oldest, Mary Ette, having been born in 1848. She and five other children, Sara Jane (1850), Cyrus (1852), Amanda (1854), and Jesse (1855), were out of the home before George's family moved to Kansas.
In 1874, the family settled in Montgomery Co, KS, in or around the town of Independence. In a state census counted in 1875, George was the fourth of five children living in the home. George was five, and had one brother, Robert, two years older, and a brother, Dwight, two years younger, all three in school, all three born in Michigan. In 1880, the family was counted in the census of the Twin Groves township in Jasper Co, MO. This is in the area of the town of Carl Junction, near Joplin, MO. George's sister, Lottie, married in Carl Junction and much of her family lived in the Joplin area. Joplin is also where George's granddaughter, Selma, settled later in life, and some of her family continues to live in that area.
Why George's father moved so often is uncertain, but as a carpenter, the family likely moved wherever construction was booming. There were at least two other Bates families in Montgomery Co, KS, who came from MI, NY, or PA. Perhaps the family chose those locations because other family had already settled there. Because the 1890 Federal Census was destroyed in a fire, it is unknown where the family was living at that time, or when they moved back to Independence, KS. There is a record of the death of a Hannah Bates in Kansas City, KS in 1887, and this is likely George's mother. In April 1892, George's younger brother, Dwight, married in Independence. According to state records, George married his wife, Minnie Jane Bailey, on the third of August 1892. As she was from the Independence area, it is likely that the Bates family had returned there at least long enough before this in order for the Bates boys to court their spouses for a few months.
In 1900, according to the Census, George (29 years) was a house painter. This is the profession that he would follow for the rest of his days. Dorothy Jokel Eaves, his granddaughter, remembers Zuma (her mother) saying that George primarily hung wallpaper, which was more in fashion at that time. He and Minnie were living on W. Main St, in the 2nd ward of the town of Independence and owned a house free of mortgage. He and his wife, Minnie (24), were both reported as literate, and the couple had all three children born to them alive and in their home. Their oldest child, Lillian J. (6), was born June 1893. Otis Adolphis (5) was born 25 Jan 1895. Zuma Irene (2) was born 5 Aug 1897. They were all born in Independence. In 1900, Lillian turned seven, and was the only child in school, and as of June 8, 1900 George had been out of work for two months.
Sometime after 1900, the couple divorced. No record of them has been found in the 1905 Kansas State Census, so it might be that the family was already separated before then. By 1909, George's ex-wife, Minnie had remarried. In April 1910, according to the census, Lillian (16 years) was living with her mother, and step-father, Edward Higgins, in Bartlesville, OK. Otis (15) was staying with Minnie's sister, Maggie Bonnie, in Independence. Zuma (12) was in the Soldier's Orphan's Home in Atchison Co, KS. George's location has not been found in the 1910 census.
By 2 Jan 1920, according to the census, George (49 years) was still residing on W. Main St, in Independence in house number 109½. George was remarried to a 48-year-old woman named Clara. Though George had owned his home in 1900, he was now renting a home shared with two other heads of household, a Maryetta Connor (67), and a Mrs. Ella Boggs (55) with her 14-year-old son, Lawrence. Unlike George, Clara was illiterate. She was from Pennsylvania, and her father was from New York. Clara's mother was an English-speaking immigrant from Canada. Clara was a housewife, and George was still a self-employed housepainter. In 1925, according to the state census, George and Clara were renting a home not shared with other tenants, but had a 21-year-old boarder, named Eva Beirman, from Montana. Eva had two daughters, Goldie (2), and Juda (1). George was still painting houses, and Clara was at home.
The record of what happened between 1925 and his death in 1941, is sketchy. According to his death certificate, he had resided in California for 16 years prior to his death, meaning that he must have moved in 1925. No census record has been found for George for 1930. At some point, Clara died and George married Eva. Because Zuma raised her family in Missouri, she was not close to her father in California. According to the few stories remembered by Zuma's daughter, Selma Jokel Williams, it was believed that George's third wife, Eva Alice, was the daughter of the second, Clara. There is no indication that the Eva who was boarding with George and Clara on the 1925 Kansas state census was any relation to Clara, yet she is the same Eva Alice Bates who later married George, and was widowed by him at his death. It could be that Eva was a daughter-in-law or step-daughter to Clara, thus making the later marriage a little less unusual.
There is one photo of George, taken later in life, which shows him in overalls and a beard. On the back is penned, "Mr. Geo. W. Bates" and "Taken 2 or 3 years ago in Wash. Or Oregon Ive forgotten which. But he is smoth shaved now." (Errors in original) Since, according to his death certificate, he had lived for the last 16 years in California, it is presumed that this snapshot was taken during a vacation or some sort of travel. George and Eva had lived in Stanislaus Co, for at least three years. In the cemetery where George is buried, his grave is found at Track 86, grave 75. In grave 74, is buried Goldie Blanch Bates (15 Jun 1922 – 15 Apr 1938). This is the same Goldie Beirman, Eva's daughter, who was living with George and Clara in Independence in 1925. Whether or not George officially adopted these two girls, they apparently took his name.
Even at age 71, according to his death certificate, George had still been painting. However, he had only lived in his last residence, in Riverbank, Stanislaus Co, for 3 months. Perhaps they had moved out of Modesto, CA, to the suburbs, or had simply changed homes. The medical certificate indicates that George had suffered from heart trouble for four years. On 27 July 1941, George passed away at 2:00 AM at the General Hospital in Riverbank. The immediate cause of death was "coronary occlusion," "due to coronary arteriosclerosis" and "myocarditis chronic." His body was laid to rest three days later in the Masonic Cemetery, now called Acacia Memorial Park, in Modesto California. Though his step-daughter, Goldie Blanch (Beirman) Bates is buried next to him, his last wife's name, Eva Alice Beirman Bates, has not been found among the cemetery interments. Perhaps Eva remarried or died elsewhere. Likewise what happened to Clara is unknown. George's son, Otis had settled in Riverbank sometime after 1930, and some of his descendants, who were closer to George, may know the answers to these unknowns.
In 1874, the family settled in Montgomery Co, KS, in or around the town of Independence. In a state census counted in 1875, George was the fourth of five children living in the home. George was five, and had one brother, Robert, two years older, and a brother, Dwight, two years younger, all three in school, all three born in Michigan. In 1880, the family was counted in the census of the Twin Groves township in Jasper Co, MO. This is in the area of the town of Carl Junction, near Joplin, MO. George's sister, Lottie, married in Carl Junction and much of her family lived in the Joplin area. Joplin is also where George's granddaughter, Selma, settled later in life, and some of her family continues to live in that area.
Why George's father moved so often is uncertain, but as a carpenter, the family likely moved wherever construction was booming. There were at least two other Bates families in Montgomery Co, KS, who came from MI, NY, or PA. Perhaps the family chose those locations because other family had already settled there. Because the 1890 Federal Census was destroyed in a fire, it is unknown where the family was living at that time, or when they moved back to Independence, KS. There is a record of the death of a Hannah Bates in Kansas City, KS in 1887, and this is likely George's mother. In April 1892, George's younger brother, Dwight, married in Independence. According to state records, George married his wife, Minnie Jane Bailey, on the third of August 1892. As she was from the Independence area, it is likely that the Bates family had returned there at least long enough before this in order for the Bates boys to court their spouses for a few months.
In 1900, according to the Census, George (29 years) was a house painter. This is the profession that he would follow for the rest of his days. Dorothy Jokel Eaves, his granddaughter, remembers Zuma (her mother) saying that George primarily hung wallpaper, which was more in fashion at that time. He and Minnie were living on W. Main St, in the 2nd ward of the town of Independence and owned a house free of mortgage. He and his wife, Minnie (24), were both reported as literate, and the couple had all three children born to them alive and in their home. Their oldest child, Lillian J. (6), was born June 1893. Otis Adolphis (5) was born 25 Jan 1895. Zuma Irene (2) was born 5 Aug 1897. They were all born in Independence. In 1900, Lillian turned seven, and was the only child in school, and as of June 8, 1900 George had been out of work for two months.
Sometime after 1900, the couple divorced. No record of them has been found in the 1905 Kansas State Census, so it might be that the family was already separated before then. By 1909, George's ex-wife, Minnie had remarried. In April 1910, according to the census, Lillian (16 years) was living with her mother, and step-father, Edward Higgins, in Bartlesville, OK. Otis (15) was staying with Minnie's sister, Maggie Bonnie, in Independence. Zuma (12) was in the Soldier's Orphan's Home in Atchison Co, KS. George's location has not been found in the 1910 census.
By 2 Jan 1920, according to the census, George (49 years) was still residing on W. Main St, in Independence in house number 109½. George was remarried to a 48-year-old woman named Clara. Though George had owned his home in 1900, he was now renting a home shared with two other heads of household, a Maryetta Connor (67), and a Mrs. Ella Boggs (55) with her 14-year-old son, Lawrence. Unlike George, Clara was illiterate. She was from Pennsylvania, and her father was from New York. Clara's mother was an English-speaking immigrant from Canada. Clara was a housewife, and George was still a self-employed housepainter. In 1925, according to the state census, George and Clara were renting a home not shared with other tenants, but had a 21-year-old boarder, named Eva Beirman, from Montana. Eva had two daughters, Goldie (2), and Juda (1). George was still painting houses, and Clara was at home.
The record of what happened between 1925 and his death in 1941, is sketchy. According to his death certificate, he had resided in California for 16 years prior to his death, meaning that he must have moved in 1925. No census record has been found for George for 1930. At some point, Clara died and George married Eva. Because Zuma raised her family in Missouri, she was not close to her father in California. According to the few stories remembered by Zuma's daughter, Selma Jokel Williams, it was believed that George's third wife, Eva Alice, was the daughter of the second, Clara. There is no indication that the Eva who was boarding with George and Clara on the 1925 Kansas state census was any relation to Clara, yet she is the same Eva Alice Bates who later married George, and was widowed by him at his death. It could be that Eva was a daughter-in-law or step-daughter to Clara, thus making the later marriage a little less unusual.
There is one photo of George, taken later in life, which shows him in overalls and a beard. On the back is penned, "Mr. Geo. W. Bates" and "Taken 2 or 3 years ago in Wash. Or Oregon Ive forgotten which. But he is smoth shaved now." (Errors in original) Since, according to his death certificate, he had lived for the last 16 years in California, it is presumed that this snapshot was taken during a vacation or some sort of travel. George and Eva had lived in Stanislaus Co, for at least three years. In the cemetery where George is buried, his grave is found at Track 86, grave 75. In grave 74, is buried Goldie Blanch Bates (15 Jun 1922 – 15 Apr 1938). This is the same Goldie Beirman, Eva's daughter, who was living with George and Clara in Independence in 1925. Whether or not George officially adopted these two girls, they apparently took his name.
Even at age 71, according to his death certificate, George had still been painting. However, he had only lived in his last residence, in Riverbank, Stanislaus Co, for 3 months. Perhaps they had moved out of Modesto, CA, to the suburbs, or had simply changed homes. The medical certificate indicates that George had suffered from heart trouble for four years. On 27 July 1941, George passed away at 2:00 AM at the General Hospital in Riverbank. The immediate cause of death was "coronary occlusion," "due to coronary arteriosclerosis" and "myocarditis chronic." His body was laid to rest three days later in the Masonic Cemetery, now called Acacia Memorial Park, in Modesto California. Though his step-daughter, Goldie Blanch (Beirman) Bates is buried next to him, his last wife's name, Eva Alice Beirman Bates, has not been found among the cemetery interments. Perhaps Eva remarried or died elsewhere. Likewise what happened to Clara is unknown. George's son, Otis had settled in Riverbank sometime after 1930, and some of his descendants, who were closer to George, may know the answers to these unknowns.
George Washington Bates was born on 22 Jun 1870 in Hillsdale, MI, to William Adolphis Bates and Hannah Washburn. According to Selma Jokel Williams, George's granddaughter, she was told that the family had German ancestry. Her sister, Dorothy, remembers the family saying that they were Scots-Irish and somewhere farther back, Pennsylvania Dutch. George's father, William, and grandfather, Isaac, were reportedly from New York, and Hannah was from Pennsylvania. The family had lived many years in Providence, Luzerne Co, PA (Now, Scranton, Lackawana Co.), before moving to southeast central Michigan sometime around the end of the Civil War or a little after. George was the second-to-youngest of at least 10 children, the oldest, Mary Ette, having been born in 1848. She and five other children, Sara Jane (1850), Cyrus (1852), Amanda (1854), and Jesse (1855), were out of the home before George's family moved to Kansas.
In 1874, the family settled in Montgomery Co, KS, in or around the town of Independence. In a state census counted in 1875, George was the fourth of five children living in the home. George was five, and had one brother, Robert, two years older, and a brother, Dwight, two years younger, all three in school, all three born in Michigan. In 1880, the family was counted in the census of the Twin Groves township in Jasper Co, MO. This is in the area of the town of Carl Junction, near Joplin, MO. George's sister, Lottie, married in Carl Junction and much of her family lived in the Joplin area. Joplin is also where George's granddaughter, Selma, settled later in life, and some of her family continues to live in that area.
Why George's father moved so often is uncertain, but as a carpenter, the family likely moved wherever construction was booming. There were at least two other Bates families in Montgomery Co, KS, who came from MI, NY, or PA. Perhaps the family chose those locations because other family had already settled there. Because the 1890 Federal Census was destroyed in a fire, it is unknown where the family was living at that time, or when they moved back to Independence, KS. There is a record of the death of a Hannah Bates in Kansas City, KS in 1887, and this is likely George's mother. In April 1892, George's younger brother, Dwight, married in Independence. According to state records, George married his wife, Minnie Jane Bailey, on the third of August 1892. As she was from the Independence area, it is likely that the Bates family had returned there at least long enough before this in order for the Bates boys to court their spouses for a few months.
In 1900, according to the Census, George (29 years) was a house painter. This is the profession that he would follow for the rest of his days. Dorothy Jokel Eaves, his granddaughter, remembers Zuma (her mother) saying that George primarily hung wallpaper, which was more in fashion at that time. He and Minnie were living on W. Main St, in the 2nd ward of the town of Independence and owned a house free of mortgage. He and his wife, Minnie (24), were both reported as literate, and the couple had all three children born to them alive and in their home. Their oldest child, Lillian J. (6), was born June 1893. Otis Adolphis (5) was born 25 Jan 1895. Zuma Irene (2) was born 5 Aug 1897. They were all born in Independence. In 1900, Lillian turned seven, and was the only child in school, and as of June 8, 1900 George had been out of work for two months.
Sometime after 1900, the couple divorced. No record of them has been found in the 1905 Kansas State Census, so it might be that the family was already separated before then. By 1909, George's ex-wife, Minnie had remarried. In April 1910, according to the census, Lillian (16 years) was living with her mother, and step-father, Edward Higgins, in Bartlesville, OK. Otis (15) was staying with Minnie's sister, Maggie Bonnie, in Independence. Zuma (12) was in the Soldier's Orphan's Home in Atchison Co, KS. George's location has not been found in the 1910 census.
By 2 Jan 1920, according to the census, George (49 years) was still residing on W. Main St, in Independence in house number 109½. George was remarried to a 48-year-old woman named Clara. Though George had owned his home in 1900, he was now renting a home shared with two other heads of household, a Maryetta Connor (67), and a Mrs. Ella Boggs (55) with her 14-year-old son, Lawrence. Unlike George, Clara was illiterate. She was from Pennsylvania, and her father was from New York. Clara's mother was an English-speaking immigrant from Canada. Clara was a housewife, and George was still a self-employed housepainter. In 1925, according to the state census, George and Clara were renting a home not shared with other tenants, but had a 21-year-old boarder, named Eva Beirman, from Montana. Eva had two daughters, Goldie (2), and Juda (1). George was still painting houses, and Clara was at home.
The record of what happened between 1925 and his death in 1941, is sketchy. According to his death certificate, he had resided in California for 16 years prior to his death, meaning that he must have moved in 1925. No census record has been found for George for 1930. At some point, Clara died and George married Eva. Because Zuma raised her family in Missouri, she was not close to her father in California. According to the few stories remembered by Zuma's daughter, Selma Jokel Williams, it was believed that George's third wife, Eva Alice, was the daughter of the second, Clara. There is no indication that the Eva who was boarding with George and Clara on the 1925 Kansas state census was any relation to Clara, yet she is the same Eva Alice Bates who later married George, and was widowed by him at his death. It could be that Eva was a daughter-in-law or step-daughter to Clara, thus making the later marriage a little less unusual.
There is one photo of George, taken later in life, which shows him in overalls and a beard. On the back is penned, "Mr. Geo. W. Bates" and "Taken 2 or 3 years ago in Wash. Or Oregon Ive forgotten which. But he is smoth shaved now." (Errors in original) Since, according to his death certificate, he had lived for the last 16 years in California, it is presumed that this snapshot was taken during a vacation or some sort of travel. George and Eva had lived in Stanislaus Co, for at least three years. In the cemetery where George is buried, his grave is found at Track 86, grave 75. In grave 74, is buried Goldie Blanch Bates (15 Jun 1922 – 15 Apr 1938). This is the same Goldie Beirman, Eva's daughter, who was living with George and Clara in Independence in 1925. Whether or not George officially adopted these two girls, they apparently took his name.
Even at age 71, according to his death certificate, George had still been painting. However, he had only lived in his last residence, in Riverbank, Stanislaus Co, for 3 months. Perhaps they had moved out of Modesto, CA, to the suburbs, or had simply changed homes. The medical certificate indicates that George had suffered from heart trouble for four years. On 27 July 1941, George passed away at 2:00 AM at the General Hospital in Riverbank. The immediate cause of death was "coronary occlusion," "due to coronary arteriosclerosis" and "myocarditis chronic." His body was laid to rest three days later in the Masonic Cemetery, now called Acacia Memorial Park, in Modesto California. Though his step-daughter, Goldie Blanch (Beirman) Bates is buried next to him, his last wife's name, Eva Alice Beirman Bates, has not been found among the cemetery interments. Perhaps Eva remarried or died elsewhere. Likewise what happened to Clara is unknown. George's son, Otis had settled in Riverbank sometime after 1930, and some of his descendants, who were closer to George, may know the answers to these unknowns.
In 1874, the family settled in Montgomery Co, KS, in or around the town of Independence. In a state census counted in 1875, George was the fourth of five children living in the home. George was five, and had one brother, Robert, two years older, and a brother, Dwight, two years younger, all three in school, all three born in Michigan. In 1880, the family was counted in the census of the Twin Groves township in Jasper Co, MO. This is in the area of the town of Carl Junction, near Joplin, MO. George's sister, Lottie, married in Carl Junction and much of her family lived in the Joplin area. Joplin is also where George's granddaughter, Selma, settled later in life, and some of her family continues to live in that area.
Why George's father moved so often is uncertain, but as a carpenter, the family likely moved wherever construction was booming. There were at least two other Bates families in Montgomery Co, KS, who came from MI, NY, or PA. Perhaps the family chose those locations because other family had already settled there. Because the 1890 Federal Census was destroyed in a fire, it is unknown where the family was living at that time, or when they moved back to Independence, KS. There is a record of the death of a Hannah Bates in Kansas City, KS in 1887, and this is likely George's mother. In April 1892, George's younger brother, Dwight, married in Independence. According to state records, George married his wife, Minnie Jane Bailey, on the third of August 1892. As she was from the Independence area, it is likely that the Bates family had returned there at least long enough before this in order for the Bates boys to court their spouses for a few months.
In 1900, according to the Census, George (29 years) was a house painter. This is the profession that he would follow for the rest of his days. Dorothy Jokel Eaves, his granddaughter, remembers Zuma (her mother) saying that George primarily hung wallpaper, which was more in fashion at that time. He and Minnie were living on W. Main St, in the 2nd ward of the town of Independence and owned a house free of mortgage. He and his wife, Minnie (24), were both reported as literate, and the couple had all three children born to them alive and in their home. Their oldest child, Lillian J. (6), was born June 1893. Otis Adolphis (5) was born 25 Jan 1895. Zuma Irene (2) was born 5 Aug 1897. They were all born in Independence. In 1900, Lillian turned seven, and was the only child in school, and as of June 8, 1900 George had been out of work for two months.
Sometime after 1900, the couple divorced. No record of them has been found in the 1905 Kansas State Census, so it might be that the family was already separated before then. By 1909, George's ex-wife, Minnie had remarried. In April 1910, according to the census, Lillian (16 years) was living with her mother, and step-father, Edward Higgins, in Bartlesville, OK. Otis (15) was staying with Minnie's sister, Maggie Bonnie, in Independence. Zuma (12) was in the Soldier's Orphan's Home in Atchison Co, KS. George's location has not been found in the 1910 census.
By 2 Jan 1920, according to the census, George (49 years) was still residing on W. Main St, in Independence in house number 109½. George was remarried to a 48-year-old woman named Clara. Though George had owned his home in 1900, he was now renting a home shared with two other heads of household, a Maryetta Connor (67), and a Mrs. Ella Boggs (55) with her 14-year-old son, Lawrence. Unlike George, Clara was illiterate. She was from Pennsylvania, and her father was from New York. Clara's mother was an English-speaking immigrant from Canada. Clara was a housewife, and George was still a self-employed housepainter. In 1925, according to the state census, George and Clara were renting a home not shared with other tenants, but had a 21-year-old boarder, named Eva Beirman, from Montana. Eva had two daughters, Goldie (2), and Juda (1). George was still painting houses, and Clara was at home.
The record of what happened between 1925 and his death in 1941, is sketchy. According to his death certificate, he had resided in California for 16 years prior to his death, meaning that he must have moved in 1925. No census record has been found for George for 1930. At some point, Clara died and George married Eva. Because Zuma raised her family in Missouri, she was not close to her father in California. According to the few stories remembered by Zuma's daughter, Selma Jokel Williams, it was believed that George's third wife, Eva Alice, was the daughter of the second, Clara. There is no indication that the Eva who was boarding with George and Clara on the 1925 Kansas state census was any relation to Clara, yet she is the same Eva Alice Bates who later married George, and was widowed by him at his death. It could be that Eva was a daughter-in-law or step-daughter to Clara, thus making the later marriage a little less unusual.
There is one photo of George, taken later in life, which shows him in overalls and a beard. On the back is penned, "Mr. Geo. W. Bates" and "Taken 2 or 3 years ago in Wash. Or Oregon Ive forgotten which. But he is smoth shaved now." (Errors in original) Since, according to his death certificate, he had lived for the last 16 years in California, it is presumed that this snapshot was taken during a vacation or some sort of travel. George and Eva had lived in Stanislaus Co, for at least three years. In the cemetery where George is buried, his grave is found at Track 86, grave 75. In grave 74, is buried Goldie Blanch Bates (15 Jun 1922 – 15 Apr 1938). This is the same Goldie Beirman, Eva's daughter, who was living with George and Clara in Independence in 1925. Whether or not George officially adopted these two girls, they apparently took his name.
Even at age 71, according to his death certificate, George had still been painting. However, he had only lived in his last residence, in Riverbank, Stanislaus Co, for 3 months. Perhaps they had moved out of Modesto, CA, to the suburbs, or had simply changed homes. The medical certificate indicates that George had suffered from heart trouble for four years. On 27 July 1941, George passed away at 2:00 AM at the General Hospital in Riverbank. The immediate cause of death was "coronary occlusion," "due to coronary arteriosclerosis" and "myocarditis chronic." His body was laid to rest three days later in the Masonic Cemetery, now called Acacia Memorial Park, in Modesto California. Though his step-daughter, Goldie Blanch (Beirman) Bates is buried next to him, his last wife's name, Eva Alice Beirman Bates, has not been found among the cemetery interments. Perhaps Eva remarried or died elsewhere. Likewise what happened to Clara is unknown. George's son, Otis had settled in Riverbank sometime after 1930, and some of his descendants, who were closer to George, may know the answers to these unknowns.
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