Ezra Albert Bates, lawyer, and postmaster at Arnprior, is, like his parents, Joshua J and Tamson (Bigelow) Bates, a native of Canada, he being born at Farmersville, county of Leeds, April 14, 1839. His branch of the Bates family is of Scotch lineage, and its progenitor in this Province came from the United States nearly a century ago. When Ezra was eight years old the family moved to Brockville, where he was educated in the grammar school. Subsequently the family lived near Smith’s Falls, where Joshua Bates had a flouring mill and a custom carding mill, the son having for a time charge of both.
In 1859 Mr. Bates commenced the study of law with William H. Tremayne, of Whitby, county of Ontario; finished with John Deacon, then of Perth, now Judge of the county of Renfrew, and was admitted to practice at Easter term, in 1867. He settled in Arnprior; became postmaster in June, 1870, and has a great variety of labors on his hand, being a conveyencer, notary public, solicitor in chancery, &c.
Mr. Bates has a fine taste for music, a good deal of talent in that line, and leads the choir in Emanuel church, of which he is senior warden. Outside the church, on public occasions, when music is in demand, he is a sort of “reserve force,” and can always be relied upon. In many ways he makes himself useful as a citizen, and is quite popular.
Mr. Bates takes an interest in educational matters, as well as public enterprises generally, serving for a period of four years as a member of the school board, and he was one of the first directors and earnest promoters of the Arnprior Agricultural and Horticultural Society. He is chaplain of Madawaska Lodge, No. 196 of Free Masons.
In September, 1864, he married Miss Matilda H. Sache, of Perth, daughter of Charles H. Sache, a half pay officer in the army, and they have two children, Florence Julia aged fourteen, and Harry Walter, aged ten years.