Henry Bates
Harvey Bates, one of the oldest pioneers of Indianapolis now living, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1795. When but four years of age his mother died leaving a family of four children all in tender years. The children were "put out" among friends. The parties with whom the subject of this sketch was intrusted moved to Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, where he remained doing general farm work until he was fifteen years of age. At this age he went into a store in that place, owned by the postmaster. He had the full care of the postoffice until he was about twenty-one years of age. During his youth his educational advantages were limited. In other words he received only the education afforded in the pioneer country schools. At this age Mr. Bates bought out his employer and commenced merchandizing on his own account. In 1816 he moved to Brookville, Ind., and opened a store there. Soon after he cast his first vote for delegates to the constitutional convention of 1816. He remained only a short time in Brookville, when he moved to Connersville, where he erected a carding mill and fulling mill, in which he carried on a successful business for about ten years. He sold out his interest in this mill, and in 1822 came to what is now Indianapolis, then a wilderness, commissioned by Gov. Jennings as sheriff to assist in organizing the county of Marion. From that date he was resided continually in Indianapolis, and has been one of its most useful and successful citizens.
From "An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana", Richard S. Peale & Co., Publishers, 1875