Joseph BATES, b: May 25, 1815, Clark Co., OH, d: July 16, 1896, Marshall Twp, Louisa Co., IA, married Margaret TINDALL, b: March 22, 1822, OH, d: February 6, 1907, m: March 31, 1846, Clark Co., OH, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah TINDALL. Joseph BATES' children were Laura, Charles, James, Curtis, Joseph, Leslie, Emma, Robert Calvin and Sarah. Robert Calvin BATES married and moved to Colorado. Joseph BATES obituary states that his mother died when he was quite young, and he was taken in by a John Marshall, who moved with the married couple to Iowa. There is no mention of Joseph BATES father or mother. Clark County, Ohio was organized from several other counties in about 1817. Birth records are not available. Civil records make no mention of him. The "History of Clark County, Ohio," from 1882 mentions a Josiah BATES as an early settler of Green Township in Clark County. Any information about my mysterious BATES ancestor would be greatly appreciated, as I am really stuck. William T. Erbes [email protected]