Benjamin E. Bates

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_E._Bates

Benjamin Edward Bates (July 12, 1808 – January 14, 1878)[1][2] was a New England industrialist and philanthropist, who was the namesake and a founder of Bates College and the Bates Mill in Lewiston, Maine.

Biography

Benjamin Bates was born in Mansfield, Massachusetts in 1808 to Sarah and Elkanah Bates, a Yankee farmer, cotton manufacturer and merchant. Benjamin attended local schools and the academy in Wrentham from 1823 to 1825. After moving to Boston, Massachusetts in 1829, Bates entered the dry goods business with Barnabas T. Loring on Washington Street. At age 24, he made a public profession of Christian faith, and he was a lifelong Congregationalist and temperance supporter. Bates taught Sunday school at several churches in Boston including Park Street Church and was later an active member of Central Congregational Church in Boston. He was largely responsible for constructing the current church building, formerly the tallest building in Boston.

Bates co-founded the firm of Davis, Bates & Turner (later Bates & Turner), which existed from 1833 until 1847. After the dissolution of the firm in 1847, Bates served as president and on the board of several banking, manufacturing and railroad corporations, including First National Bank of Commerce in Boston, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Lewiston Water Power Company in Lewiston, Maine, which built the first canal in the city. Bates was also the largest investor in the Bates Mill in Lewiston, which opened in 1854 and produced textiles into the 21st century.

Correctly anticipating that the increasing talk of secession in the Southern states might eventually lead to a shortage of cotton, Bates bought cotton prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. During the War, Bates was able to produce uniforms for the Union Army as well as other textiles.

Bates was the largest of the early donors to Bates College. He first made substantial donations to the school when it was known at the Maine State Seminary through the Lewiston Power Company. In 1862 he personally pledged $6,000 to the school. Then in 1863 the Seminary's president and founder, Oren B. Cheney renamed the College after Mr. Bates without his knowledge. Bates' donations to the College totalled over $100,000 and he pledged another $100,000 to be paid after his death, but due to the economic recession in the 1870s, his estate was substantially lessened. After his death in 1878, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts eventually ruled that Bates' heirs did not have to pay Bates College the pledged $100,000. This left the College financially burdened for several years. Benjamin Bates was buried at the Mount Auburn Cemetery on Fir Avenue. Bates College still exists today and is commonly known as one of the "Little Ivies."

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Obituary from Lewiston Evening Journal: "A telegraphic dispatch from Boston this forenoon, announced the death, some last night, of Benjamin E. Bates, esq., who has for many years been so closely identified with the interest of this city that we have come to justly regard lmm as lewiston's valued friend: We have as yet no particulars of his illness and death, except that he had been eick about a week with pleurisy. The impression ia that his condition was not considered alarming till a short time previous to his death. Three weeks ago, when Mr. Bates last visited the city, he appeared in his usual health, although it is understood that that he has had several unfavorable during the past year. Bates’ age was not far from seventy. At the time of his decease he was president of the Bank of Commerce of Boston, and director or treasurer of nearly all our manufacturing corporations, and a large owner in all. His time was devoted to the manufacturing interests of this city, which he frequently manifesting the in every tiling relating to our material and moral welfare. It was largely through his influence that many new mills were erected, and other enterprises rated intended to promote our prosperity. In lns death Lewiston loses ono of her best friends. In the death of Mr. Bates, College (named in his honor) will lose her most generous friend and patron. Indeed without his first generous subscription of in the college would not have been founded. In 1864 Mr. Bates made another subscription of all of which waa paid and added to the fund when tho conditions were met. And in 1873 he made another subscription of on condition that other friends of the College raised a sum within five years. At the last commencement, President Cheney announced that the amount was nearly raised, and that Mr. Bates would be ready to meet his subscription whenever the conditions were met. Pres. Cheney is now absent in Boston, and we are not aware whether or not the matter had_ heen settled prior to Mr. death. Mr. Bates began life with nothing but his hands to rely on, and soon entered into successful business in Boston, in which he accumulated a fortune estimated now from three to five millions. He early became interested in the development of the water power of Lewiston, and after a time retired fram mercantile business, and devoted his tims and fortune to the manufacturing interests of this city. Mr. Bates was a member of the Congregational church, and a most generous supporter of all religious enterprises. Mrs. Bates has been fer several year treasurer of the woman's Missionary Society, which cooperates with the American Board, and she received in this work the hearty cooperation of her husband. His benevolence was proverbial, and many who have been aided by his generous hand will rise up to bless his memory. Mr. Bates was twice married. By his first wife, we believe, two daughters were horn to him; and by his present wife one or two children, still young."