Sacramento County
Biographies
GEORGE O.
BATES
GEORGE O. BATES, Supervisor of Sacramento County, began the responsibilities of life with no school education whatever, born May 13, 1829, at Milford, Otsego County, New York, during the pioneer period of that part of the country. His father was a shoemaker by occupation. When he was ten years of age the family removed to Herkimer County, and afterward to Pineville, Oswego County, New York, where young George peddled candy and apples on the line of the Erie Canal. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to L. B. Thomas, of Pulaski, to learn the trade of blacksmithing, and he became an expert wagon ironer. He then went to Rome, New York, where he worked two years as a journeyman blacksmith for Deacon Peggs. In 1848 he went to Sandy Creek and started business for himself in a small shop, where he continued until the fall of 1852, when he set out for California. The year previous he married Sarah Dennison, a native of New York, and a daughter of Robert Dennison. His brother, J. J., had come to California in 1849, and when George O., arrived on the coast in January, 1853, he went immediately to join him in the San Joaquin Valley, and remained there about two years. The grasshoppers of 1855 drove them out, and they went to Amador County and engaged in the butcher business until 1858. This year they moved to the Laguana, Sacramento County, and engaged in cattle-ranching. In 1859 Mr. George O. Bates went East for his family, going and returning overland. Returning, he bought at Salt Lake a herd of oxen, and drove them across the mountains, reaching Sacramento in safety. He continued farming on the Cosumnes some thirteen years, and engaged somewhat in speculating until 1873. He and his brother were engaged in speculating in live-stock, being together twenty-three years. Their parents came West in 1859, and were in George’s care, and he moved his family from the ranch into the city. His mother died in 1874, and his father in 1883. While he has not been a politician, Mr. Bates was induced by his friends in 1885, to accept the nomination for County Supervisor, and was elected; he served four years, and in the fall of 1889 was re-elected for another term; he now holds his office. In 1882 he became interested in the trading steamers El Dorado and Clara Belle. Three years ago he bought the steamer Neponset No. 2, and is now running her as a trading boat. Mr. Bates has a wife and three children. One of the latter is the widow of Mr. Devine, of Galt.; the name of the second daughter is Matie, and that of the son is Egbert W. Mr. Bates residence is No. 2229 O street.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Pages 710-711. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.