Back in 1991 I found a young man (Larry Boatright) who lived in Batesville and asked him if there was an official version of the founding of the town. I had just returned from a "no time to tarry" trip through MS but did drive thru the town. I loved the way it was laid out around a town square, (red brick paving, if memory serves) with the train depot on one side of the square. It looked to be a real refuge from the Chicago area madness we have created with traffic and building everywhere. I promised myself to return, but so far I have not kept that promise. But to return to the story: Boatright checked out his facts locally and this is the local version of how Batesville got its name. It was named for Rev Jaames William Bates, a methodist minister and a conductor on the Miss and Tenn Railroad. Rev Bates was born in Nottoway County, VA in Jan 1821 and was the son of William Bates, jr and Elizabeth. Rev James Bates married 4 Nov, 1845 in Brownsville, Tenn and fathered eight children. Witt: I know I saw another version of its history not long ago, but I was browsing through my files and found this so I thought I would add it the the record of oral history. PS. I have found in checking town names that small whistle stops and watering towers were often named for members of the railroad crews which served at the time of naming. Jack Bates [email protected]