Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Bates, George W. 1889 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 20, 2011, 1:06 am

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 724 - 725
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     GEORGE W. BATES, president of George W. Bates & Co., Bankers, at 
Portland, has been identified with the banking business since the age of 
twenty years, and is regarded as a man of dependable judgment and substantial 
qualities, being held in high esteem in the financial circles of Portland. Mr. 
Bates was born in this city in 1889, a son of George W. and L. M. (Menzies) 
Bates. His maternal grandfather, Captain Menzies, was a pioneer of Oregon and 
at one time was the owner of Sundial ranch. George W. Bates, Sr., was a 
pioneer of Portland, where he became extensively engagd in bridge and railroad 
contracting. In 1893 he bought the Albina Savings Bank and in the following 
year reorganized the business under the name of George W. Bates & Co., 
Bankers. He remained president of that institution until about 1914, when he 
resigned in order to accept the presidency of the Lumbermen's National Bank, 
of which he remained the executive head to the time of his death, which 
occurred in 1916.

     George W. Bates attended the public schools and completed his education 
at Allen's Preparatory School. In 1909 he entered his father's bank, beginning 
at the bottom, and advanced through the various positions until 1914, when, on 
the resignation of his father, he was elected president and has directed the 
affairs of the institution to the present time. The bank has made splendid 
progress and is regarded as one of the strong and influential banks of 
Portland. In 1927 a fine new banking building was erected at Bussell street 
and Union avenue, the structure being sixty by eighty feet, and beautifully 
finished and furnished in Italian and French walnut, being modern in all of 
its appointments. This is a state bank and its resources are now in excess of 
one million, five hundred and thirty-two thousand dollars. J. S. Birrel, the 
cashier, has been with George W. Bates & Co., Bankers, for twenty-five years.

     In July, 1927, Mr. Bates was united in marriage to Miss Elise Cramer, of 
Portland. Mr. Bates is a strong republican in his political views, while 
fraternally he is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M.; 
Washington Chapter, No. 18,, R. A. M.; Washington Commandery, No. 15, K. T., 
of which he is eminent commander and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He 
also belongs to the Multnomah Athletic Club, the Portland Rowing Club, the 
East Side Commercial Club, of which he is a director, and the Union Avenue 
Association, of which he is president. He is at all times greatly interested 
in the progress and development of his city and gives his hearty cooperation 
to all movements for the advancement of the public welfare. Personally genial 
and friendly in manner, he is well liked by his associates and is regarded as 
one of the representative men of his city. In December, 1917, he enlisted in 
the United States Navy as apprentice seaman and was discharged in December, 
1918, as gunner's mate, third class. He was stationed at Goats Hill, San 
Francisco, California, serving as instructor of drilling.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/bates1377gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/

File size: 3.7 Kb