Legislator Details

Image of William Rufus Bates
Image Description:
Portrait captured from Find-a-Grave.com 9/26/2024

William Rufus Bates
AKA:
Number of sessions served 2
Sessions served
Gender: Male
Age at election: 25

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 6/28/1845
City: Cazenovia, NY
County: Madison County, NY
Country: US
 
Death
Date: 1/6/1921
City: San Diego, CA
County: San Diego County, CA
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City: Flint, MI
County: Genesee County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Glenwood Cemetery

Marital Information:
married Gertrude A. Belcher of Flint in 1866; children: Irving and Eusebia Florence (Hardy)

Number of Children: 2

Background

Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: lawyer, printer
Race: Caucasian or White

Education:
attended University of Michigan law dept.

Biographical Sketch:
Son of Emilius Ahira and Maria Louisa (Dawson) Coburn. Came to Michigan as a student in 1863; returned to live in Flint in 1866. He was an assoc. editor on the Wolverine Citizen and later went to Saginaw as editor of the Daily Enterprise (for 1 year). He became a reporter in Chicago for the Daily Republican and held other positions on that paper until he returned to Flint. At that time he engaged in the lumbering business on the Augres River. Admitted to the bar, 1871 and assumed a seat in the Legislature but resigned before the extra session began for 1872 when he was appointed Registrar for the U.S. land office in Saginaw, 1872-76 (he resigned form this post and returned to Flint in 1876); special agent for the U.S. Dept. of Interior; private secretary to U.S. Senator H.P. Baldwin, 1879; special agent in the U.S. Dept. of Treasury 1882-85. Held positions within the party for several years before being elected to the legislature again in 1896. In May of 1887, appointed US marshall for the eastern district of Michigan and served for 8 years before returning to Flint. Member of the Masons and the Knights of Pythias.

Notable Facts:
First supervisor of the town of Augres

Sessions Served:

Thirty-Ninth Legislature, 1897-1898
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Asylum for Criminal Insane, Insurance , Private Corporations
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Flint
County of Residence Genesee
District: Genesee 2
District Description: City of Flint; townships of Burton, Flint, Forest, Genesee, Mount Morris, Richfield and Thetford

Date Elected: 11/3/1896
Date Sworn In: 1/6/1897
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Twenty-Sixth Legislature, 1871-1872
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Printing , Fisheries
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Au Gres
County of Residence Bay
District: Bay County
District Description: 3 wards of Bay City; thownships of Portsmouth, Hampton, Bangor, Arenac and Williams; villages of Bangor, Wenona and Portsmouth

Date Elected: 11/4/1870
Date Sworn In: 1/4/1871
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: Resigned
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Resigned before the extra session of 1872; succeeded by Isaac Marston.

Bibliography:

RepLeg p.[33] includes portrait; BiogHist p.85-86, includes portrait; Manual 1871 p.115; MIBiog: 1:61; Find-a-Grave.com; USCen 1910
View Bibliographical Sources