385 Woodland Avenue
Bates House

(40 feet off South Side of) Lot 44 Nelson Place Addition

This house was probably completed in 1907 for Wesley C. Bates.

Wesley Carl Bates was born May 11, 1866 in Ward, Hocking County, Ohio, son of Eli and Ruth A. Hill Bates. He married Mary Florence McDowell in Franklin County on April 3, 1895. Mary was born June 16, 1873 in Tarlton, Ohio, daughter of James W. and Susanna McClelland McDowell. They had three children Eli (February 12, 1896 - October 5, 1918), and twins Merritt Allen (January 9, 1898 - March 30, 1969) and Margaret (1898).

Bates was an attorney and also dealt in real estate. He was National (party) candidate for Ohio Secretary of State in 1896. He also ran as a Socialist candidate for Columbus City Solicitor.

In 1892 the Bates lived at 911 Franklin Avenue. On February 21, 1904 the Columbus Dispatch reported that construction began on a 10-room duplex at 1682 Bryden Road for Bates, designed by architect Wilbur T. Mills. In 1907 Bates lived at 493 East Mithoff Street and in 1908 the Bates are at 385 Woodland Avenue. 

A garage was added to the property in 1920. 

The Bates divorced before 1925, and Mary retained the house on Woodland Avenue. She married Warren N. Stack in Franklin County on June 27, 1925, and sold the house to E. Ray Evans on April 14, 1926. 

Mary died February 28, 1935. She is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Wesley died on January 14, 1953 and is buried at Greenfield Cemetery in Carroll, Fairfield County, Ohio.

Merritt Bates' son Jack A. was the founder of a carpet cleaning business in Columbus in 1947. With his son, Wesley Carl Bates, they invented the carpet cleaning machine and well-known business they named Stanley Steemer in 1976. 

The Bates appear to have always had roomers living with them at the house on Woodland Avenue.

In 1911, Oscar M. and Grace V. Keiss lived their with their daughter Elinor C. Oscar was a piano salesman. Also in that same year, William L. Goodman, local manager for Oliver Typewriter lived in the house. 

In 1914, salesman Frank V. Colton boarded with the Bates.

In 1920, Lacey and Lila Cox lived there with their son Leo. At that same time, Clarence and Minnie Graves lived there too and were there at least through 1922. 

In 1923, Lowell and Ruth Smith lived with the Bates. 

1904 Bates House
1682 Bryden Rd
arch. Wilbur T Mills
10 room double house begun
Dispatch 2/21/1904 p5 sec 2

1910 Census 385 Woodland Ave
Wesley Carl Bates 47 OH lawyer 1865 (WIDOWED, res 65 N 22nd in 1935-40) 5/11/1866-1/14/1953
​m. Fr Co 3 Apr 1895, divorced before 1925
Mary Florence McDowell Bates 36 3 ch/3liv OH m15 b 16 jun 1873 Tarlton Oh d/o James and Susann McClellan Mc Dowell 
Eli 14 (12 feb 1896 - 5 oct 1918 bur greenlawn)
Merritt A (male) 12
Margaret 12
Also living at the house, separately
Oscar M. Keiss 27 m7 PA piano salesman
Grace V. 27 1ch/1liv PA
​Elinor C 5 PA

Harrisburg Telegraph, June 24, 1909, "Mrs. Oscar M. Keiss and daughter, Elinor, have returned to their home at Columbus, O., after visiting Mr. and Mrs. George Wilbar."

Lowell Smith (Ruth) lived here 1923
see 
1598 Pembroke Avenue
1610 Pembroke
1614 Pembroke

1926 William A. (Hazel G.) Hartford, engineer

E. Ray Evans owned the house until June 6, 1928 when it became the property of The Columbian Building & Loan Company. It passed through several hands before being purchased by the home's first black owners, the Oakfields on September 15, 1928.

Russell Samuel Oakfield was born September 29, 1888 in Springfield, South Carolina, son of Lank and Henrietta Williams Oakfield. He married Florence W. Seales in Franklin County on October 19, 1920. Florence was born January 1, 1877 in Ashland, Kentucky, daughter of Charles L. and Frances Page Seales.

Florence had been married twice before and had a son by a previous marriage, Lewis A. Robertson (age 28, born in West Virginia), who lived at the house in 1930. In that same year, the Oakfields had 2-1/2 year old Manesa F. Owens living with them. The 1930 Census stated that she was born in New Jersey and the Oakfields had adopted her by 1940. 

From 1909 to 1917, Russell lived in Chatanooga, Tennessee, but was living in Springfield, Ohio in 1920. He had been married once before. Florence had been married twice before and had a son by a previous marriage, Lewis A. Robertson (age 28, born in West Virginia), who lived at the house in 1930. In that same year, the Oakfields had toddler Manesa F. Owens living with them. Manesa was born October 7, 1927, and the 1930 Census lists her birthplace as New Jersey. 

Russell was a bricklayer, and in 1920, Florence worked as a baker. Florence was later the Editor of a Columbus black weekly newspaper, The Columbus Voice, that was published from about 1928 to 1937. 

In 1940 the Oakfields had five lodgers living with them: 
George Dowaway, a 23-year-old entertainer and showman; Beatrice Smith, a 33-year-old widowed housekeeper; two 11-year-old girls, Louise Dillard and Hagar Saddler; and 7-year-old Joyce Richardson. 

Manesa was married Fred William Nallie in Franklin County on May 29, 1948 and the marriage license lists her birthplace as Columbus and her parents as the Oakfields. The Oakfields were then living at 238 North 22nd Street. 

Florence died October 23, 1960 and is buried at Eastlawn Cemetery in Columbus. Russell died November 17, 1962 and is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

The Columbus Voice (short lived black weekly) published from 1928-1933? (OHS has issue dated 10/19/1929) Published through 1937.

At least by 1960 the house was divided into 3 units. 

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OCT-01-19801$13,600

385 Woodland Avenue, circa 1960

385 Woodland Avenue, March 2010

Wesley C. Bates