Source: The County of Noble, Ohio
A History of Noble County, Ohio from the Earliest Days.
Hon. Frank M. Martin, Editor
Published 1904 Page 85

The next regiment to be organized in Southeastern Ohio was the One Hundred and Sixteenth infantry, which was mustered in at Marietta in the month of September, 1862. True to her traditions, Noble county was one of the first to answer the call with the result that a large part of Company F and practically all of Company H were recruited in the county. Those in Company F (included Dighton Bates).

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Source: The County of Noble, Ohio
A History of Noble County, Ohio from the Earliest Days.
Hon. Frank M. Martin, Editor
Published 1904 Page 170

Dighton M. Bates, a farmer and substantial citizen of Noble county, was born in Seneca township May 9, 1844. He is a son of Barna and Martha (McWilliams) Bates, a great grandson of Ephraim Bates, a veteran of the Revolutionary war, and a grandson of Timothy Bates, among the first settlers of Noble county. Dighton M. Bates was reared in his native county and at the age of eighteen years enlisted in Company F, one of the One Hundred Sixteenth Ohio volunteers, being transferred soon after to Company H, of the same regiment. In June, 1865, he was transferred to Company E, of the Sixty-Second regiment; he was mustered out August 7, 1865, at Richmond, Va. He was in sixteen engagements, including Moorefield, W. Va.; Winchester, Halltown, Berryville, Fisher's Hill, Winchester the second time, Opequon, Newmarket, Cedar Creek, Hatcher's Run, in the charge of Ft. Greeg; in front of Petersburg; and at Piedmont, a minie ball hitting him in the mouth, but it did not prove a serious injury. Returning he took up farming, and in the fall of 1867 he moved to Illinois where he remained on a farm for a year; he returned to Noble county in the fall of 1868, and a year later went back to Illinois, remaining there three years; in 1872 he moved to Reno county, Kansas, where he lived about seven years. Moving to Colorado, he worked in the mines for nearly three years. Ohio still held out her arms for him and in the fall of 1883 he returned to Noble county and resumed farming, in which he has been engaged ever since. Mr. Bates is a local preacher for the United Brethen church. He has been twice married; the first time on October 29, 1868 to Miss Eliza A. Brain, of Christian county, Illinois, and to them were born five children: Joanna, Elmer, both deceased; John E. of Oklahoma; Mande, now Mrs. Henderson, living in Kansas; and Charles H., a teacher, also of Oklahoma. The second marriage was with Miss Anna Phelps, daughter of John H. Phelps, a veteran of the Civil war; this occurring April 23, 1884; the Phelps family being of Noble county; six children have been born to them; Phoebe J., now Mrs. Ball; Aaron D., Elvin G., William McKinley, Minnie Belle, and Mary Caroline. Mr. Bates is a member of the Grand army of the Republic; he has filled the position of assessor of Center township, in which he lives, for two years.

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Source: 15 June 1921 Noble County Leader

Rev. Dighton M. Bates, son of Barna and Martha Bates, was born in Seneca township, Noble county, Ohio May 9, 1844 and was called to his eternal reward at Fredericksdale, Ohio, May 17, 1921 at the age of seventy seven years and eight days.

He was twice married. First to Eliza Ann Brain/Brayne, of Illinois of which union the following three children survive; John E. of Lookeba, Okla; Charles of Enid, Oklahoma and Maude Henderson of Cherokee, Oklahoma. On April 23, 1884 he was united in marriage to Anna Phelps. To this union were born three sons and three daughters as follows; Aaron D, Mrs Phebe Ball and Elvin G of Caldwell; Rev W McKinley of Canton; Mrs Minnie B King of Sarahsville and Mrs Mary C Miller of Fredericksdale. Besides his widow and children he leaves to mourn their loss two stepchildren, Mrs Verna Stevens of Zanesville, Ohio and Sherman Phelps of Caldwell, thirty eight grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters: Timothy Bates of Cumberland, Ohio, and Kellar and Finley Bates of Oklahoma; Mrs Nancy Stevens, Byesville, Ohio; Mrs Ruth Scott, Akron, Ohio; Mrs Susanna Stevens, Little Washington, Ohio and Mrs Eliza Yoho, Owaneco, Illinois.

During the Civil war, Mr Bates, at the age of eighteen, enlisted for service as a private to Company F, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Volunteers, being transferred soon after to Company H of the same regiment. For three years he endured the dangers and privations of war, during which time he engaged in sixteen battles receiving but one slight flesh wound in the battle of Piedmont. After the war he spent fourteen years in the states of Illinois, Kansas and Colorado. At an early age he became a Christian and did faithful service for his Lord for more than half a century.

For the last thirty five years he had been licensed permanently as a local preacher in the United Brethren church. Funeral services were conducted at the church at Mt Ephraim by Rev T.Z. Hadley of Cleveland who was ably assisted by Rev J.W. Rich of Senecaville and Rev O. L. Spencer of Sarahsville.

(Burial was made in the new addition to the Mt Ephraim - A friend)