BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BATES 

Benjamin Franklin Bates, dentist at Folsom, an honored an old-time citizen of California and Folsom, is a native of the district of Greenville, South Carolina, born November 24, 1829. John Bates, his father, was also a native of that State, and passed all his life there. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Elizabeth Springfield, was also a native of the Palmetto State, and died in 1846 or 1847. She had twenty-one children, most of whom grew to years of maturity, settling principally in South Carolina. Dr. Bates passed his boyhood on a farm, deprived of school education, but acquired a good, practical one. At the age of seventeen he worked at the carpenter’s trade and commenced the study of dentistry in North Carolina. He followed the business of carpentering for a short time in Georgia; then came to California, sailing from Charleston on the brig Emily, to Havana, and thence on the steamer Isthmus. The steamer came near sinking on that voyage; indeed this was the last trip she made. He arrived in San Francisco April 15, 1852, and went immediately to the mines on Weaver Creek, El Dorado County, remaining in that county nearly two years; then went to Yuba County, where he bought a mining claim near Comptonville. After working this claim about a year, he sold out and returned to El Dorado County, where he invested the money accumulated from mining in a ranch. After improving this considerably, he sold at a sacrifice; then in 1855 came to Sacramento County, stopping at Folsom, where, with G.W. Gaylord, he resumed the study and commenced the practice of dentistry, subsequently practicing with Dr. Esterly at Sacramento. Since that time he has been a resident practitioner of his chosen profession at Folsom. During the many years of resident of this State he has been successful in almost every undertaking. The most of his property and means has been acquired by thrift and enterprise in his profession. He has, since residing at Folsom, taken a great interest in its growth and prosperity. He has been a member of the Masonic order since he was twenty-one years of age; at present is a member of Natoma Lodge, No. 64. In political matters he has always been Democratic. From 1857 to 1864 he made regular annual trips into Amador, El Dorado and Calaveras counties, taking about six months to each trip. There being at that time very few dentists in the country, his visits were always hailed with delight. In 1864 he married Mrs. Jennie S. Bates. Their only child, Jennie E., died April 21, 1881, in her eighteenth year.