James William “Bill” McKinley Bates

Bill Bates, born of James Ragan and Victoria Bates was the youngest of four children; Luther, Tom, Alma and William. Bill was born on the banks of Cow Creek in Riddle, Oregon; his family were agricultural people growing their own produce and raising their own meat. They probably had an orchard that helped raise income for the family. When Bill was about eleven years old he took ill on a Sunday morning. He went to church with the family and as the service progressed he felt worse. When the family came out of the chapel Bill had some difficulty walking and finally took a fall. He got up and fell down again. His father picked him up and carried him home but refused to call the doctor. James Regan’s family had all died of the fever so it’s easy to understand why he figured his son wouldn’t live through whatever he had. Bill had come down with polio and a fever that left him paralyzed from the neck down. It was one of the first recorded cases in the area. Willie said "when I laid down the corn in the garden was just breaking through the ground and when I looked out again the corn crop had matured and been harvested.” His mother, Victoria who was a midwife and a nurse, took care of Bill but also consulted with a doctor from Portland. Bill was the only person in Riddle to catch the disease. As a result of the disease he laid in bed and couldn't walk for two years. He could swallow but couldn't move. His legs were drawn up against his chest. Their doctor from Portland wanted to cut the cords in his legs to let them down in a more normal position for comfort. Once the cords were cut it was a foregone conclusion that he would never walk again so his mother said NO! Victoria patiently nursed him back to health by applying moist heat and moving his limbs several times a day. It is due to her loving care that Bill regained his health and the use of his limbs. Bill came to Price, Utah as a young man looking for work. He found employment with the Utah Railway where he worked most of his adult life. He married Ida Lucille Richardson and they are the parents of four children. Bill was a kind, gentle man and liked by all who knew him. His pet moniker for Ida was Sally. Bill was an alcoholic and it did cause problems within the family but he was loved very much despite his weakness. His son Jim would often boast of his father’s strength. He loved telling stories of the times his father “street fought” which was like a boxing match out on the street in the coal camps. Bill died at the age of 60 leaving his sweet Ida a widow for 38 years. One day when Annie Jensen’s mother called her “Sally” Ida said, “Bill used to call me that.” Kelley asked grandma if she still missed him. Ida said, “You never stop missing someone you love.”