The Asabel Isreal Stevens Family:Information about Thomas McBath

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Thomas McBath (b. 27 Dec 1857, d. 20 May 1940)

Thomas McBath (son of Samuel McBath and Jane E. Steen) was born 27 Dec 1857 in Lisbon, St. Lawrence County, NY, and died 20 May 1940 in Watertown, Coddington Co., SD. He married Effie Mae Chase on 11 Sep 1887 in Watertown, Coddington County, SD, daughter of Albon D. Chase and Tirzah Jane Turner.

Notes for Thomas McBath:
Per Sue McBath Lindner - Thomas McBath's granddaughter: Thomas married Effie M. Chase in l887 and they had five children. Thomas homesteaded land claims north of Watertown and later became a grain buyer in Groton, SD. In 1889, he operated the first grain elevator in Willow Lake, SD. He came to Watertown in 1891 and entered the grain and coal business until retirement in 1932. Thomas died in 1940 at age 83 at his home (213 First Street, S. W.) in Watertown, SD.
BIOGRAPHY; George W. Kingsbury, "History of Dakota Territory" 4 volumes, (S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.: 1915), IV: 733-734
Thomas McBath, proprietor of a grain elevator and thus actively connected with the business interests of Watertown, was born in Saint Lawrence County, New York, December 27, 1857, a son of Samuel and Jane McBath. The mother died in the East but the father afterward came with his son Thomas to South Dakota, arriving in this state in 1880, and still makes his home in Watertown. The son was educated in the public schools of New York and spent his youthful days upon his father's farm in that state, assisting in its cultivation and improvement as the years went on. When he had reached the age of 23, however, he came with his father to the northwest, with Dakota Territory as his destination. Arriving in Codington County, he secured a homestead in Rauville Township and also a tree claim near Henry. He made improvements thereon and farmed the place for a while, but after 4 years sold both the homestead and the tree claim. He then engaged in buying grain at Groton for one year and for the Northwestern Elevator Company at Willow Lake for 3 years, and in 1894 established an elevator business in Watertown under his own name. He is also proprietor of an elevator at Thomas and at Yahota and Adelaide, but maintains general offices in Watertown. His four elevator interests have made him closely connected with the grain trade of his section of the state, his business having assumed extensive and gratifying proporions. He is also the owner of a quarter section of land in Codington County, within the city limits of Watertown. Mr. McBath was united in marriage to Miss Effie M. Chase, a daughter of A. D. & Tirzah J. Chase, the former minister of the Methodist denomination and the first pastor of the Methodist church in Watertown. He came to South Dakota in 1878 and established the first Methodist congragation in the state. He has since been actively identified with the work of the church and his labors have been attended with splendid results, contributing largely to the moral advancement of South Dakota. Rev. A. D. Chase is still living at the age of 83 years, but his wife is deceased. It ws in September 1890 that their daughter Effie became the wife of Thomas McBath. The children of this marriage are as follows: Earl, Grace, Harry, Roy and Wilbur, all of them home. All are natives of this state. The parents are members of the Methodist church and guide their lives according to its teachings. Mr. McBath also belongs to the Masonic Lodge, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a progressive republican, believing in advancement along political lines just as much as in other connections. For 5 years he has served as a member of the city council and for 6 years has been a member of the school board. His work in behalf of Watertown, both in office and out of it, has been effective for the upbuilding of the city and the promotion of its best interests. He is a self-made man and one whose business career has been founded upon the substantial principles of inductry, integrity and progress"

OBITUARY: Watertown Public Opinion, May 27, 1940
MCBATH SERIVICES SET WEDNESDAY
Funeral services for Thomas McBath, 82, a long-time Watertown resident, who died Tuesday afternoon, were to be held today in the Methodist Church at 2:30 o'clock.
Mr. McBath, owner of McBath Grain and Coal Company, had been ill nearly five months.
The Rev. W. R. Peterson, pastor of the First Methodist Church will officiate and burial will be made in the Mount Hope Cemetery. The ody will be in state at the Shaw-Messer Chapel until the time of the services.
Mr. McBath, who had been living at 214 Fist Street, S. W., was born in Ogdensburg, New York, December 27, 1857. He married Effie M. Chase at Kampeska, September 11, 1887. A grain buyer, Mr. McBath was in Watertown in 1880, Groton from 1887 to 1889, Willow Lake from 1883 to1891 and back to Watertown in an active role until 1932 when he retired.
Mr. McBath was a former member of the Kampeska Lodge #13, a former member of the B.P.O.E No. 828 and a member of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce for several years. Mr. McBath was alderman from the third ward for four years and served on boh the school board and the church board.
Survivors include his widow, Grace McBurney, daughter, Harry C., Earl A., Wilbur M., of Watertown and Roy T. of Minneapolis; sons, Mrs. Glen Chase, Watertown, a sister, Mrs. G. A. Breinen, Seattle WA, as sister, Mrs. John Nicholson of Seattle, another sister and seven grandchildren.
His parents and sister died before him.
OBITUARY: Watertown Public Opinion May 1940
EARLY PIONEER PASSES
Thomas McBath Rites Methodist Church Wednesday
Funeral services for Thomas McBath, 83, were held in the MethodistEpiscopalChurch, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 with Rev. W. R. Peterson officiating.
A beautiful program of organ music was played by Miss Bertha Taecker, preceding the service. Mrs. Ray Spooner and Mrs. M. D. Burns sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Crossing the Bar".
Acting pallbearers wereJess H. Thorpe, A. C. Nelson, F. R. Meadows, D. F. Jones, Andrew Daley and F. V. Flint. Internment was made in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

More About Thomas McBath and Effie Mae Chase:
Marriage: 11 Sep 1887, Watertown, Coddington County, SD.

Children of Thomas McBath and Effie Mae Chase are:

+Earl Allen McBath, b. 05 Jan 1889, Willow Lake, SD, d. 26 Jan 1973, Watertown, Coddington Co., SD.
+Grace McBath, b. 14 Mar 1892, Watertown, Coddington Co., SD, d. 28 Nov 1971, Watertown, Coddington Co., SD.
+Harry Charles McBath, b. 09 Dec 1894, Watertown, Coddington County, SD, d. 24 Nov 1979, Salem, Marion Co., OR.
Roy Thomas McBath, b. 16 May 1896, Watertown, Coddington Co., SD, d. 18 Aug 1979, Virginia, MN.
+Wilbur Mark McBath, b. 07 Apr 1899, Watertown, Coddington Co., SD, d. 03 May 1992, Watertown, Coddington Co., SD.