Santa Clara County
Biographies
CLARENCE A. BATES
CLARENCE A. BATES. An experienced, skilful and successful
contractor and builder of San Jose, Clarence A. Bates, senior member of the
firm of Bates & Bigger, is prominently identified
with the advancement and growth of the city and its suburban districts. As a
man of marked enterprise, ability and integrity, he is an important factor in
promoting the interests of his fellow-craftsmen, and as one of the organizers
and the president of the San Jose Builders’ Exchange, which was organized in
February, 1904, he is rendering excellent service. A son of
Cary B. Bates, and the descendant of an old and honored New England
family, he was born February 2, 1857, in Adams county,
Wis.
Born in New York state, near
Buffalo, Cary B. Bates was left an orphan in childhood. Becoming an early
settler of Wisconsin, he took up raw land, and by dint of persevering labor and
industry cleared and improved a homestead. Removing to Blue Earth county, Minn., in 1863, he located on the Winnebago
reservation, being the fifth white settler of the locality, and remained there
nine years. Purchasing land in Stearns county, Minn.,
in 1872, he carried on general farming for twelve years. Coming with his family
to San Jose in 1884, he first embarked in the grocery business in this city,
but subsequently sold out, and bought a ranch near Lawrence, Santa Clara
county, set out an orchard, and was there pleasantly and profitably employed in
horticultural pursuits until his death, March 12, 1904. He married Calista Ackerman, a daughter of Mark C. Ackerman,
who was born in New York state, became first a farmer
in Wisconsin, and later in Blue Earth county, Minn., where he spent his last
years. She was born on the Ackerman farm in New York state,
and died in Santa Clara county, Cal., in 1901. Of the seven children that she
bore her husband, five were sons, namely: H. B., an orchardist, living
near Lawrence, Cal.; Clarence A.; Arthur C., who for many years was a
contractor in San Jose and who died November 26, 1903;
Howard R., an engineer, residing in San Francisco; and Luther Adelbert, a carpenter, residing in San Jose.
Removing to Blue Earth county,
Minn., at the age of six years, Clarence A. Bates was brought up on the Winnebago
reservation, and had to trudge three miles to attend the nearest district
school. He subsequently continued his studies at the Mankato high school,
completing his education in the Mankato State normal school, paying his way
through the institution by working during the vacations and holidays at the
carpenter’s trade. In 1882 he began business for himself in Stearns county, Minn., as a contractor and builder. Coming with the
family to San Jose in 1884, Mr. Bates followed his trade for three years,
working as foreman the greater part of the time. Beginning contracting and
building on his own account in 1887, he has followed it ever since, and is now
carrying on a substantial business as head of the firm of Bates & Bigger.
He has erected many of the college buildings of San Jose vicinity,
and among the numerous beautiful and costly residences which he built mention
may be made of those of H. G. Marckres, at
the corner of Tenth and San Antonio streets, and of O. A. Hale, on
South Second street. He also filled the contract for the erection of the
Baptist Church at Palo Alto.
In 1883, in Minnesota, Mr. Bates married Alberta A.
Van Valkenberg, a native of that state, and the
descendant of a New York family of prominence. Two children were born of this
union, namely: Mildred, a graduate of the University of the Pacific; and Merlo,
who died at the age of four years and nine months. Mildred became the wife of
Irving A. Wilcox, manager of the Wilcox Fruit Company, and resides
near Santa Clara. Politically Mr. Bates is a stanch
supporter of the Republican party. He takes great
interest in educational matters, and for three years served as president of the
East San Jose District Board of School Trustees. Fraternally he was made an Odd
Fellow in Minnesota, and is now a member of the San Jose Lodge,
I. O. O. F.; and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 14 November 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
886. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie Hassard.