a compendium of facts about Ohio history
by Dan Chabek
Wins Trophy for Being Homeliest
Reverend Timothy Bates was acclaimed in early Ohio for his masterful discourses and his homely face.
An anecdote concerning this Methodist preacher dates back to the period when Ebenezer Zane, founder of Zanesville, made salt kettles. Zane laughingly put aside one of his kettles to be awarded to the most unattractive looking man who could come to town to claim it.
A man named Bartlett, void of facial beauty, heard of the offer and traveled to Zanesville to try his luck. He won the kettle and loaded it on his wagon to take home. While on the way, he met Rev. Bates.
Bartlett was so overcome by the preacher's homeliness that he told him about the kettle, remarking, "I thought it belonged to me, but now that I have seen you, I find I was mistaken. It belongs to you. Here, take it." Whereupon her presented Rev. Bates with the trophy.
In Noble County, Ohio, the village of Batesville, once called Williamsburg, was named in honor of the pioneer preacher.
© 1998 Dan Chabek
