Coopersville Observer, October 16, 1891

Hiram Bateman, one of the oldest and best known of the pioneer citizens of Ottawa County, died at his residence "Valley Farm," at 2:20 o’clock Sunday, p. m., the 11^th inst.

He was taken sick Sunday evening, the 4^th inst., with severe chills, which were followed by the fatal diarrhea, to which he was subject. From the first his illness assumed a dangerous type. He rallied Wednesday so that some hope was entertained by his physician and family that he might recover, and he expressed his own belief that he should, but all was vain. Thursday the alarming symptoms returned and he was soon beyond hope. Friday and Saturday he was unconscious most of the time and on Saturday at the hour named he passed quietly away, leaving the already small number of pioneer citizens of Ottawa County one less, and one being taken who will be sadly missed by his many friends and acquaintances, including army comrades who will all deeply sympathize with the bereaved widow and family circle.

The funeral of their comrade was conducted under the auspices of Randall Post, with much credit to the post and fulfilling a well-known wish of the deceased to be laid at rest by the "boys in blue’ under the old flag where he should receive his "final discharge and muster out."

The following mention of the deceased in the funeral remarks of Rev. O. H. Johnson many be of interest to many who have known Mr. Bateman.

"Hiram Bateman was born in Moore’s, Clinton County, New York, January 26, 1812, moved from New York to Grand Rapids in April 1844, and to Steel’s Landing, now known as Lamont, in December of the same year, where he has resided ever since. He entered the army in 1861 as a soldier of the late War of the Rebellion, serving until 1862, when discharged for a disability which has finally caused his death.

He became a professor of religion and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church when a young man, learning his trade as tanner, in Cassville, New York, and was known as an earnest laborer in Sunday school work. His membership with this church was discontinued and one with the Congregational church in Lamont began in 1850, when he united with his wife and has been a member up to the time of his death. His hope and trust in the merits and love of Christ as his Savior were abiding until the end, for his last articulate sentence, two days before his death, was ‘Yes, leading, leading on.’ This was in answer to an inquiry if the Savior was leading him."

(Co. I, Third Michigan Infantry, buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Lamont, MI.)

Coopersville Observer Obituaries by Boersma