Nephi James Bates 1875-1958
2010
Nephi James Bates was born to Nephi James Bates and Sarah Sprague in Fillmore, Millard County, Utah. He was the second child and first son of 12 children born to his parents. His personal journal has been preserved and tells us much more about him. In 1901 he married Flora Louise Maiben in the Manti Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Flora’s uncle Elder John Bray Maiben married them. Nephi tells us that he did not use the designation of junior after his name but that his father did use the designation of senior. Thus it was a little easier to distinguish between the two men in writing.
After his marriage and while his children were small, he went to Denver, Colorado to study the law. In 1907 he was admitted to the Utah Bar and began a long career in his chosen profession. He served as a private attorney, a city attorney, a county attorney, a district attorney and as a district judge. He also served as the President of the Sevier County Board of Education. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and freely gave of his time, money and talents.
Nephi and Flora became the parents of seven children; one son and six daughters. One daughter, Irene, died at the age of one and is buried in the Provo City Cemetery. The rest of Nephi’s children lived to adulthood and in fac tinto old age. Nephi died of a heart attack while working on his farm in Monroe, Utah. Our direct line through Nephi James Bates comes through his daughter Mildred who married Everest Raymond Watrous. Nephi and Flora Bates have significant posterity to the present day.
The migration of Nephi James Bates
Utah