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John Wesley “Wes” Bales

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Birth	:	29 Aug 1849 Richland, Keokuk County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	25 Nov 1925 Prosser, Benton County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Prosser Pioneer Cemetery, Prosser, Benton County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.1947937, -119.8095245
Description	:	John Wesley "Wes" Bales was the third child of William "Riley" Bales, a farmer and veteran of the Civil War, and his first wife, Martha (Towell) Bales. Wes was born in 1849 in Richland, Iowa. When he was 20 years old, he moved to a community called Dinsmore, in Madison Township, Mercer County, Missouri, which once had a post office on County Road D, near US Highway 136. Almost no trace of this place now survives. He married Margaret Elizabeth Thogmatin (also spelled "Margret") a native of nearby Modena, Missouri, on 27 February 1871. Their first four children... Read More	John Wesley "Wes" Bales was the third child of William "Riley" Bales, a farmer and veteran of the Civil War, and his first wife, Martha (Towell) Bales. Wes was born in 1849 in Richland, Iowa. When he was 20 years old, he moved to a community called Dinsmore, in Madison Township, Mercer County, Missouri, which once had a post office on County Road D, near US Highway 136. Almost no trace of this place now survives. He married Margaret Elizabeth Thogmatin (also spelled "Margret") a native of nearby Modena, Missouri, on 27 February 1871. Their first four children were born in Dinsmore. The Bales lived in Modena from about 1877 to 1881; Richland, Iowa from about 1882 to 1886; in Goshen, Mercer County, Missouri from about 1886 to 1888; and in Harris, Sullivan County, Missouri from about 1889 to 1903. In about 1881, about 4 years after the death of his father, Wes and his wife raised his youngest brothers Riley "Elmer" Bales and Charles Albert Bales, and his half-sister Mary Frances (Bales) McNutt. (Note: His infant half-sister Lulu 'Pearl' (Bales) Towell was raised by her mother.) Wes worked as a farmer and laborer until he returned from Iowa to Missouri in 1886. He then worked as a quarrymen and laborer who built the route for the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City (QO&KC) Railroad across north central Missouri. About 3 years later, he bought a home in Harris where he worked as a brick maker. (Note: His two eldest daughters, Alice and Mandy, died of tuberculosis at Wes and Margaret's home in Harris in 1894, according to notes written by his granddaughter, Sarah (Moss) Hall. In 1896, his daughter Rose Bales married Fred Davis at their home in Harris, as well.) At age 54, in 1903, Wes, Margaret, and their 10 year-old adopted grandson, Cecil Ernest "Pete" Moss (son of their deceased daughter Alice), crossed 1,700 miles of plains, deserts, and the Rocky Mountains from Missouri in one of the last horse-drawn covered wagon trains to make the arduous trip West. They first settled in the Glade district of the Horse Heaven Hills, near the former community of Plainview, Washington, which no longer exists. (It was located in far southeastern Yakima County, about 20 miles due south of Mabton.) They led a hardscrabble life as dryland wheat farmers for several years, before settling closer to Mabton. Wes and Margaret raised of nine children of their own (in addition to the four related children they raiised, noted above): 1.) America Alice (Bales) Moss (1872 - 1894) 2.) Mary Amanda "Mandy" Bales (1873 - 1894) 3.) Edgar Bert Bales (1875 - 1956) 4.) Rose Bell (Bales) Davis (1876 - 1971) 5.) Bertha P. (Bales) Scoles (1880 - 1903) 6.) William Harvey "Bill" Bales (1877 - 1958) 7.) Jesse Richard Bales (1883 - 1911 8.) Max P. Bales (1885 - 1903) 9.) Cora Lee Bales (1887 - 1904) Wes was known for his sharp wit - though he had little education, his ingenuity, and being hard worker. He had a special love of music, and any chance he got, he enjoyed playing his fiddle and mandolin -- his two most prized possessions. His two instruments have been passed down though his family with fond memories of his life. (See photos.) Wes died at age 76 in 1925, and was interred at Prosser Pioneer Cemetery (formerly I.O.O.F. Cemetery). His wife Margaret rests next to him.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Wesley “Wes” Bales's memorial?
John Wesley “Wes” Bales's memorial is located at: Prosser Pioneer Cemetery, Prosser, Benton County, USA.
When did John Wesley “Wes” Bales death?
John Wesley “Wes” Bales death on 25 Nov 1925 in Prosser, Benton County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Wesley “Wes” Bales's memorial?
Latitude: 46.1947937
Longitude: -119.8095245

Family Members:

Parent

William Riley Bales

(1826 - 1877)

Spouse

Margaret Elizabeth Thogmartin Bales

(1852 - 1934)

Siblings

Margaret Priscilla “Maggie” Bales Bryan

(1852 - 1926)

(unknow - unknow)

Charles Albert Bales

(1869 - 1957)

Children

William Harvey “Bill” Bales

(1877 - 1958)

Jesse Richard “Dick” Bales

(1883 - 1911)

Max P Bales

(1885 - 1903)

Cora Lee “Corey” Bales

(1887 - 1904)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Prosser Pioneer Cemetery
Prosser, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1947937, -119.8095245

2. Prosser Cemetery
Prosser, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2047539, -119.7541504

3. Grandview Cemetery
Grandview, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2658005, -119.8902969

4. Mabton Cemetery
Mabton, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2285995, -119.9852982

5. Holy Trinity Episcopal Close
Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3235000, -120.0158500

6. Lower Valley Memorial Gardens
Sunnyside, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3450012, -120.0117035

7. Outlook Cemetery
Yakima, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3208008, -120.0811005

8. Glade Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.0778008, -120.0914001

9. Horse Heaven Hills Cemetery
Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1551018, -119.4826736

10. Evergreen Cemetery
Benton City, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2867012, -119.4938965

11. Paterson Memorial Cemetery
Paterson, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 45.9437943, -119.5705566

12. Smohalla Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3009660, -120.2186250

13. Black Rock Cemetery
Moxee City, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.5111084, -119.9985962

14. Beaver Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.0993996, -120.2866974

15. Sixprong Cemetery
Sixprong, Klickitat County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8810997, -120.0224991

16. Riverview Cemetery
Boardman, Morrow County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8493996, -119.6939011

17. Sunset Memorial Gardens
Richland, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2825127, -119.3098602

18. Pine Creek Cemetery
Roosevelt, Klickitat County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8373400, -119.9295600

19. McCoy Cemetery
Toppenish, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3835983, -120.2755966

20. Zillah German Baptist Cemetery
Zillah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4128550, -120.2506400

21. All Saints Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
Richland, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2875000, -119.2824000

22. Resthaven Cemetery
Richland, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2861023, -119.2804413

23. Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery
Irrigon, Morrow County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8972015, -119.4721985

24. Methodist Cemetery
Bickleton, Klickitat County, USA
Coordinate: 46.0041161, -120.2838135