The Rev. J. H. Bates, of Lincoln, Ill., died the 16th of February, in the eighty second year of his age. He was a man of great piety and purity of life. He was a native of Tennessee, but moved to Illinois early in life, where he reared a large and intelligent family of sons and daughters. He lived the last twenty years of his life in Lincoln, where he had a large circle of friends. He was devoted to his church, and in the latter years of his life enjoyed religious worship more than any thing else in the world. His presence in the congregation was an inspiration to the minister in the pulpit. He lived to a good old age, and died in great peace. He as very near and dear to the writer of this note. At some other time a more extended account of his life and labors will be published. It is hardly natural to grieve for one so aged and so thoroughly fitted for heaven. His aged widow and surviving family have the sympathies of the CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN .
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, March 1, 1888, page 4]