Irvin L. Bathe, of Bloomington township, is one of the extensivelandow ners of Decatur county and is successfully engaged in generalfarming a nd stock-raising. His birth occurred at Tuskeega, thattownship, on the 1 0th of December, 1876, and he is a son of George
R. Bathe, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Irvin L. Bathe was reared in this county until he was a lad of aboutth irteen years, when the family removed to Kansas, whence theysubsequent ly went to Oklahoma. He received a good common-schooleducation and lea rned much concerning farming and stock-raising fromhis father, an expe rt in those lines. When eighteen years of age hebegan work for himself a nd so continued for five years. He receivedeighty acres of land from h is grandfather's estate and this gave hima good start in life. For a n umber of years he has resided inBloomington township and operates abou t seven hundred and forty acresindividally besides operating two hundr ed and eighty acres inpartnership with his brother-in-law, T. J. Hill. T hey own two hundredacres of that tract and rent eighty acres and Mr. B athe owns fivehundred and forty acres of the seven hundred and forty w hich heoperates individually. He resides on section 27, Bloomington township, and his home farm is one of the best improved properties ofhis l ocality. He is also interested in connection with Mr. Hill in abutcher s hop at Lamoni. He has displayed marked industry andenterprise and has a lso managed his affairs well, so it is butnatural that he is today ran ked among the men of affluence inBloomington township.
On the 24th of December, 1903, Mr. Bathe was married to Miss MarshiaH. H ill, who was born in Caldwell county, Missouri, but was takenwhen smal l to Harrison county, that state, where she grew towomanhood. She was e ducated at the Stanberry Normal School
and taught for eight years. Her parents, Maurice H. and Lucy M. Hill,b oth passed away many years ago. The brothers and sisters of Mrs.Bathe a re as follows: John and L. D., of Andover; T. J., of Lamoni;Mrs. Fred J ones, who is living in Andover; and Mrs. Riley Hurst, ofLamoni. Mr. an d Mrs. Bathe have two children: Irvin Lee, eight yearsof age, who is a ttending school ; and G. R., who will be five yearsof age in June, 191 5.
Mr. Bathe is a republican and is serving efficiently as trustee ofBloo mington township and as president of the local school board.Fraternall y he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, to whoseteachings he i s loyal. His wife holds membership) in the Christianchurch and takes a c ommendable interest in the furtherance of itswork. Mr. Bathe is progre ssive in all that he does and hascontributed to the advancement of gen eral farming and stock-raisinginterests
in Decatur county as well as gained marked success for himself.
