History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1323

work, with more detailed facts regarding their business activities and
accomplishments, which are well worthy of them and of their father and
uncle.
George W. Carter is a Democrat and for several years he was a member of the Jackson Board of Public Works, though he has never been a
seeker after official favors or distinction. He and his sons are members
of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, and he is treasurer of the Jackson Fence Company, mentioned above.
GEORGE WILLIAMS BATES. Forty years as an active member of the
Detroit bar is the record of George Williams Bates. His practice as -a
lawyer has been in connection with a large volume of litigation in both
the state and federal courts, and for years he has been regarded as one
of the ablest counselors and attorneys of his home city. Mr. Bates is a
native of Detroit, and his ancestry includes many of the most notable
lines of family stock in old and modern New England history.
The Bates family in America was founded by three brothers, James,
Clement and Edward Bates, who were among the Puritan settlers in the
Massachusetts Bay colony, coming from England. A direct ancestor
of the Detroit lawyer was James Bates, who settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1634, while Clement resided at Hingham, and Edward at
Weymouth, and the descendants of these three brothers are now found
in all parts of the United States. Robert Bates, a son of James, followed
the leadership of the Rev. Thomas Hooker into Connecticut and became
one of the landed proprietors of Wethersfield, but moved from there in
I640 to the colony that founded Stamford, Connecticut. In the collateral lines of the Bates ancestry are found many other notable characters, including the following: William Cross, a soldier in the Pequod
Indian war and a participant in the fight of Narragansett Swamp, and
subsequently a representative of Wethersfield in the general court at
Hartford; Robert Chapman, one of the founders of Saybrook, Connecticut, a deputy to the general court, a commissioner, and one of the
largest landholders in Saybrook; also Gershom Lockwood, soldier, judge
and legislator of Greenwich, Connecticut; Jonathan Selleck, a brave Indian fighter, legislator and liberal churchman; Richard Law, a distinguished Connecticut jurist in the early days; David Smith, one of
Washington's soldiers during the Revolution; the family of Weeds
in Connecticut and New York. Through the Bucknam family Mr. Bates
claims relationship with Nicholas Stowers, Captain John Sprague and
Lieutenant Ralph Sprague, who were among the original settlers of Newtown or Charlestown, Massachusetts, in I628, and Ralph Sprague was
one of the first selectmen of that village. On his mother's side, George
Williams Bates is descended from Roger Williams, a cousin to the
famous Roger, who was the founder of Rhode Island; this Roger Williams, whose home was in Connecticut, came to America in I635, was
deputy representative of Windsor in the general court at Hartford,
served as selectman, and was a member of the famous organization, the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston.
George Williams Bates, who was born at Detroit November 4, 1848,
is a son of Samuel Gershom and Rebecca (Williams) Bates, who were
early settlers at Detroit, which remained their home during the rest of
their lives. Samuel G. Bates was a merchant and for many years a
public-spirited citizen of Detroit. The Detroit public schools gave Mr.
Bates his early training; in I870 he graduated A. B. from the University
of Michigan, and in recognition of his continued attainments the same
institution gave him the degree of Master of Arts in 1875. On leaving