R. L. Bates
R. L. Bates, who is prominently identified with the oil interests of the State, has been a resident of Lima since 1886. He was born in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, February 3, 1852, and is a son of the late Norman R. Bates, who was a well-known oil producer.
R. L. Bates was educated at the well-known Walkill Academy, at Middletown, New York, and at Flushing, Long Island. He was first introduced to the oil business at Titusville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Almost from the beginning of his business life he has been associated in some way with different oil fields, including Bradford, Pennsylvania, and other points. He came to Lima as agent of the Buckeye Pipe Line Company, which was organized and incorporated n April, 1886. The present local officers of this company are: John O' Brien, general superintendent; M. Moran, assistant general superintendent, and R. L. Bates, agent. This office is the Lima branch of the great transportation and storage oil company, and their pipe lines run through the Ohio and Indiana oil fields. Mr. Bates is also agent for the Indiana Pipe Line Company, of Indiana, which operates in the oil field of that State. In addition to carefully looking after the interests of these great companies, Mr. Bates is interested in other enterprises and still finds time and takes pleasure in furthering commendable public movements, and is a factor in social, political and fraternal life. In poitical sentiment he is a Democrat. Prior to leaving Pennsylvania, he was a member of the Democratic Central Committee of McKean County and was chairman of the Democratic City Committee, of Bradford.
Mr. Bates was married December 15, 1874 to Evelyn Hazzard, who is a daughter of the late Hiram Hazzard, at one time the leading merchant at Titusville, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Bates have one daughter, Mrs. George A. Straw, who is in the telephone business at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The family belongs to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Mr. Bates is prominent in Masonry and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Council, Chapter and Commandery at Lima. He has been a member of the board of directors of The Masonic Hall Company since its organization, and was a member of the organizing board of directors which conceived and carried to completion the building of the stately Masonic Temple here. He continues to be secretary, treasurer and superintendent of The Masonic Hall Company. His intelligence, business acumen and public-spirit have been brought to bear in cooperating with other financiers and men of affairs, and the result has been of large benefit to Lima.