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Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography Arthur Lee Bates Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 441-443 Arthur Lee Bates, Vice-President of the Union Mutual Life Insurance Company of Portland, Me., was born at Northbridge, Mass., March 25, 1851, his parents being the Rev. William and Cornelia F. (Lee) Bates. His father was a well-known Congregational clergyman, born January 18, 1816, in Dedham, Mass. The Bates family are of English origin, the name having formerly been spelled Bate. The "History of the Town of Hingham, Mass.," in its genealogical pages, gives the names of several of the Bate ancestors who, so far as known, never left their native England, namely: Thomas Bate, of Lydd, parish of All Hallows; his son John, who died in 1522; Andrew, son of John and father of John, second; and, in the fifth generation James, son of John, second, and father of Clement. Elsewhere it is recorded that John Bate, son of Thomas, in his will bequeathed his soul to "God, Our Lady, St. Mary, and all the Holy Company of Heaven," and, after various doles for the poor and for the service of the church, left special legacies to the wife and daughter of his son Andrew and to his son Thomas, appointing these sons executors. James Bates had thirteen children, one son being Clement, who was born January 22, 1595, and was a tailor by trade. Clement Bates with his wife Ann and five children embarked at London for America on April 6, 1635, in the ship "Elizabeth;" William Stagg, master, and, on arriving in Massachusetts, settled in Hingham. His son Joseph, probably born in England about 1630, died April 30, 1706. Joseph's son Joshua was born in Hingham, August 14, 1671; and his son Joshua, second, born June 15, 1698, was a lifelong resident of Hingham, dying there March 16, 1766. He was father of Joshua, third, who was born December 1, 1724, and died June 8, 1816. His son Zealous, born March 1, 1754, died at Westboro, Mass., July 5, 1831. Zealous Bates married Abigail Nichols, of Westboro, who was born January 22, 1757, and died in Cohasset, September 25, 1812. Their son Joshua was born at Cohasset, March 20, 1776, and was graduated from Harvard College in 1800. He was assistant one year at Phillips Academy, Andover, was ordained pastor of the First Congregational Church at Dedham, March 16, 1803, remaining there fifteen years. September 4, 1804, he married Anna Poor, daughter of Deacon Daniel Poor, of Andover. She died February 7, 1826. On February 8, 1827, he married Maria Sage Latimer, a native of Middletown, Conn., born in 1786, her death occurring August 12, 1855. From March 18, 1818, until after the Commencement in 18J9, the Rev. Joshua Bates was President of Middlebury College, afterward serving as Chaplain of the National House of Representatives at Washington during the Twenty-sixth Congress, 1839-40. Going then to Portland, Me., he supplied the pulpit of Dr. Chickering for several weeks, then declined a call to settle at Northboro, Mass., but preached there two years, going thence to the Congregational church at Dudley, Mass., where he was installed March 22, 1843, forty years after his ordination at Dedham. He continued pastor of the Dudley church until his decease, January 14, 1854. He had thirteen children by his first marriage and one by the second. Two sons and three daughters became teachers; two married college professors; one son became a lawyer; and one, William, father of Arthur Lee, a clergyman. William Bates was graduated at Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vt., in 1837, while his father, the Rev. Joshua Bates, was President of that institution, and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1840. He was ordained as pastor of the Congregational church at Northbridge in November, 1845, retaining the pastorate twelve years. He was installed pastor of the church in Falmouth, Mass., June 16, 1858, continuing there until the close of his earthly labors by death, September 10, 1859. On June 8, 1848, in Northampton, he married Miss Cornelia F. Lee, who was born in Conway, Mass., December 7, 1826. Five children were born to them, namely: William, who died, aged five; Arthur Lee; Jeannie; Samuel Lee, a manufacturer of church organs in Philadelphia; and Katharine Lee, Professor of English Literature in Wellesley College. Arthur Lee Bates was educated in the public schools, and while yet a boy was employed in a book store in Northampton, Mass. When but eighteen years of age, he became junior clerk for the Union Mutual Life Insurance Company, and on its removal to this city in 1881 he came with it. Having risen from one position to another, in 1885 he was elected Assistant Secretary, and two years later was made Secretary. In 1893 his executive ability as well as his trustworthiness being recognized by the company, he was elected to his present responsible position, and at the same time elected a member of the Board of Directors of the company. On November 15, 1894, Mr. Bates completed his twenty-fifth year in the service of the company, the anniversary being made the occasion of many congratulations from friends in this city and elsewhere. His long connection with the company and his personal contact with its agents and employees have made him hosts of friends; and their congratulations, coming from all sections of the United States and Canada, were as hearty as they were spontaneous. Mr. Bates is a stanch Republican in politics and a popular member of many social organizations, belonging to Portland Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; to Haddattah Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and to Cagawesco Tribe of Red Men. Of the union of Mr. Bates with Miss Nellie Gertrude, daughter of George L. and Elizabeth (Locke) Bean, of Newtonville, Mass., three children have been born - Elizabeth Frances; Margaret, who died in infancy; and Dorothy Whittemore. Mr. and Mrs. Bates are attendants of the Williston Congregational Church, and reside at 95 West Street, having erected their beautiful house in 1890. As previously mentioned, Mr. Bates comes of a highly intellectual and cultured family, many of whom are prominent in the professions and in the literary world, not the least noteworthy being his sister Katharine, of whom the Wellesley Magazine, in its issue of November, 1894, speaks in most glowing terms, as follows: "Miss Katharine Lee Bates, Professor of English at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., is universally agreed to be far and away the most brilliant graduate Wellesley has ever turned out. While still a young student her power was recognized, she even then writing verse of so rare and fine a quality that she received complimentary notice from the poet Longfellow, her work being accepted and published by the Atlantic Monthly. "Since her graduation, notwithstanding her duties as teacher, she has been an indefatigable writer, editing books for class work, such as 'The Ballad Book,' the 'Ancient Mariner,' and the 'Merchant of Venice,' even in this semihack work imparting her own inimitable grace and depth of thought. Her book on `The English Religious Drama,' brought out about a year ago, received hearty commendations from the press and froth scholarly men. Miss Bates has also published two books for younger children, one of them, 'Rose and Thorn,' winning the seven-hundred-dollar prize offered by the Congregational Society of Boston, the other being 'Hermit Island,' which was written in the same charming and sympathetic vein that makes her work so delightful. The Lothrop House has also brought out a 'Wedding Day Book' compiled by Miss Bates, and three dainty booklets, 'Sunshine,' 'Santa Claus's Riddle,' and 'Goody Santa Claus.' Two volumes of her verse, 'The College Beautiful' and 'Sunshine,' she has allowed to be used for the benefit of various college funds. Her poems are widely known and read, appearing inn the leading magazines and papers of the day, the Century, Atlantic, New England Magazine, the Independent, Christian Union, Youth's Companion, and a host of others, the poem with which she herself is most satisfied being 'The Ideal,' which was published in the Century. "There are none connected with Wellesley College whose hearts have not been stirred by the poetic insight, the wonderful depth and breadth of thought, and the pure sweetness of all work that leaves her hand. And the best of it all is that this daughter of Wellesley, in whom our hearts feel most pride, is still a young woman; and, when she shall be able to devote all her time and strength to her beloved art, she will do yet more exquisite and more wonderful work."