From her obituary in the 'Coldwater Courier' 19 June 1912: "Lydia Bunker was the eighth child in a family of twelve children born to Mr. and Mr[s]. Robert Bunker at their home near Ithaca, NY, May 19, 1825. When nineteen years of age, with her parents she moved from Chenango County, NY to Hillsdale County, Michigan. One year later the Bunker family moved to North Bethel, then known as the Butcher settlement of Branch County. Miss Bunker at the age of twenty-one years became the wife of Francis N. Bates on Sept. 30, 1846. During their long lives as farmer pioneers in Bethel and Batavia townships, six children came to their home. All grew to manhood and womanhood. Only four, however, are living, Daniel Bates of Hillsdale, Frank of Ovid, Robert Bates of Batavia and Mrs. Rose Mowry of Kalamazoo. Mrs. Bates is survived by thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. At the time of her demise, she was the eldest in a family descent of four generations and the last member of her parents family of twelve children. In September, 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Bates celebrated their golden wedding. The death of the former occurred in January, 1910, as did also the death of the eldest daughter, Eliza Jane, only a few hours elapsing between the demise of both. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Bates has resided on the farm homestead east of Batavia village with the family of her youngest daughter, Mrs. W. J. Mowry, whose husband and children have been kind and respectful to the dear old mother, as has also her loving sons and their wives. To the grandchildren, too, has been given the care of Mrs. Bates in the last few years of her life. In February she fell on the porch, sustaining injuries which hastened her demise, oweing to her advanced age, 87 years and twenty-four days, as she entered the peaceful Haven of Rest on June 12, 1912, at 6 o'clock p.m. Her funeral services were held in the Batavia F. B. [Free Baptist] church on Friday, June 14, at 2 o'clock p.m., and was largely attended by relatives and warm friends. As a fitting close to a life of one of Batavia's oldest pioneers, Rev. H.P. Collin of Coldwater, president of Branch county's historical association delivered one of his very best eulogies to the memory of the deceased lady. The casket was literally covered with the deautiful flowers of June. The remains were interred beside those of her husband in the family lot of the Batavia cemetery near the church."
From her obituary in the 'Coldwater Courier' 19 June 1912: "Lydia Bunker was the eighth child in a family of twelve children born to Mr. and Mr[s]. Robert Bunker at their home near Ithaca, NY, May 19, 1825. When nineteen years of age, with her parents she moved from Chenango County, NY to Hillsdale County, Michigan. One year later the Bunker family moved to North Bethel, then known as the Butcher settlement of Branch County. Miss Bunker at the age of twenty-one years became the wife of Francis N. Bates on Sept. 30, 1846. During their long lives as farmer pioneers in Bethel and Batavia townships, six children came to their home. All grew to manhood and womanhood. Only four, however, are living, Daniel Bates of Hillsdale, Frank of Ovid, Robert Bates of Batavia and Mrs. Rose Mowry of Kalamazoo. Mrs. Bates is survived by thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. At the time of her demise, she was the eldest in a family descent of four generations and the last member of her parents family of twelve children. In September, 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Bates celebrated their golden wedding. The death of the former occurred in January, 1910, as did also the death of the eldest daughter, Eliza Jane, only a few hours elapsing between the demise of both. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Bates has resided on the farm homestead east of Batavia village with the family of her youngest daughter, Mrs. W. J. Mowry, whose husband and children have been kind and respectful to the dear old mother, as has also her loving sons and their wives. To the grandchildren, too, has been given the care of Mrs. Bates in the last few years of her life. In February she fell on the porch, sustaining injuries which hastened her demise, oweing to her advanced age, 87 years and twenty-four days, as she entered the peaceful Haven of Rest on June 12, 1912, at 6 o'clock p.m. Her funeral services were held in the Batavia F. B. [Free Baptist] church on Friday, June 14, at 2 o'clock p.m., and was largely attended by relatives and warm friends. As a fitting close to a life of one of Batavia's oldest pioneers, Rev. H.P. Collin of Coldwater, president of Branch county's historical association delivered one of his very best eulogies to the memory of the deceased lady. The casket was literally covered with the deautiful flowers of June. The remains were interred beside those of her husband in the family lot of the Batavia cemetery near the church."
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