- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Location
- Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
I first read about Martin Van Buren Bates in book, "Clowns and Cannons". After the war Mr. Bates was part of several circuses and toured, all of U.S., Europe and Canada.
Martin Van Buren Bates was born on Nov. 9, 1837 or as Mr. Bates claims 1845, in Letcher County, Ky. He was born of normal sized parents. However, he began to grow rapidly. By the time he was full grown it is said he was seven feet eleven inches tall and weighted about 500 pounds. Because of his size he was known as the "Kentucky River Giant", "Giant of the South", and "Baby". The nickname "Baby" was given to him when he was eleven years old and weighted 170 pounds. The others he got later.
Bates enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private. He won a battlefield promotion and became a Captain before the end of the war. He joined the 5th Kentucky Infantry in 1861. He was transferred to the cavalry . In the fall and winter of 1862-63 his unit was instrumental in breaking up lawless guerrilla bands that were a menace to the mountain regions. Later under Humphrey Marshall's command, he was captured in a raid at Pound Gap. "When as a prisoner of war being taken through the town of Louisa, Ky., en route to Camp Chase, Ohio, he was observed astride a small mule, his feet sweeping the ground as he rode."
It was said that his fame spread through the Yankee units. They talked about "that Confederate Giant who was as big as five men and fights like fifty". After the war he returned to Kentucky. Soon after, he left Kentucky and went to Cincinnati were he joined a circus. He became the star of the show. He traveled throughout the eastern part of U.S and parts of Canada. There he met his future wife, Anna Hannon Swan, known as "Giantess of Nova Scotia" who was eight feet tall, She also became part of the circus.
Martin and Anna were married in London, England. Their wedding was watched by many. They were received by Queen Victoria. She gave them both watches the size of saucers. They were gold, studded with diamonds, and worth $1000 a piece, a fabulous sum for the time.
The Bates returned to U.S in 1874. They settled in Ohio. He wanted to farm. However, he again joined the circus, the leading attraction of the W.W. Cole Circus during the seasons 1878, 1879, and 1880. They had had two children, both who died as infants. They were very large too and didn't survive.
Anna Bates died in 1888. He again married. His second wife, Annette LaVonne Weatherby was a normal sized lady. Martin Bates died on Jan. 7, 1919 in Medina County, Ohio. He is buried in Mound Hill Cemetery in Medina County, Ohio.
Information from:
"Clowns and Cannons The American Circus During the Civil War", by William L. Stout.
"The Giant of the Hills: Martin Van Buren Bates" at http://www.tngenweb.org/scott/fnb_v7n2_martin_van_buren_bates.htm
He also has memorial on Find A Grave at:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6194083
Martin Van Buren Bates was born on Nov. 9, 1837 or as Mr. Bates claims 1845, in Letcher County, Ky. He was born of normal sized parents. However, he began to grow rapidly. By the time he was full grown it is said he was seven feet eleven inches tall and weighted about 500 pounds. Because of his size he was known as the "Kentucky River Giant", "Giant of the South", and "Baby". The nickname "Baby" was given to him when he was eleven years old and weighted 170 pounds. The others he got later.
Bates enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private. He won a battlefield promotion and became a Captain before the end of the war. He joined the 5th Kentucky Infantry in 1861. He was transferred to the cavalry . In the fall and winter of 1862-63 his unit was instrumental in breaking up lawless guerrilla bands that were a menace to the mountain regions. Later under Humphrey Marshall's command, he was captured in a raid at Pound Gap. "When as a prisoner of war being taken through the town of Louisa, Ky., en route to Camp Chase, Ohio, he was observed astride a small mule, his feet sweeping the ground as he rode."
It was said that his fame spread through the Yankee units. They talked about "that Confederate Giant who was as big as five men and fights like fifty". After the war he returned to Kentucky. Soon after, he left Kentucky and went to Cincinnati were he joined a circus. He became the star of the show. He traveled throughout the eastern part of U.S and parts of Canada. There he met his future wife, Anna Hannon Swan, known as "Giantess of Nova Scotia" who was eight feet tall, She also became part of the circus.
Martin and Anna were married in London, England. Their wedding was watched by many. They were received by Queen Victoria. She gave them both watches the size of saucers. They were gold, studded with diamonds, and worth $1000 a piece, a fabulous sum for the time.
The Bates returned to U.S in 1874. They settled in Ohio. He wanted to farm. However, he again joined the circus, the leading attraction of the W.W. Cole Circus during the seasons 1878, 1879, and 1880. They had had two children, both who died as infants. They were very large too and didn't survive.
Anna Bates died in 1888. He again married. His second wife, Annette LaVonne Weatherby was a normal sized lady. Martin Bates died on Jan. 7, 1919 in Medina County, Ohio. He is buried in Mound Hill Cemetery in Medina County, Ohio.
Information from:
"Clowns and Cannons The American Circus During the Civil War", by William L. Stout.
"The Giant of the Hills: Martin Van Buren Bates" at http://www.tngenweb.org/scott/fnb_v7n2_martin_van_buren_bates.htm
He also has memorial on Find A Grave at:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6194083