Corporal William Clement "W.C." Bates was born in Rutland County, Vermont.  He was a farmer, born to a family of farmers.  In around 1840 his family moved south to Livingston County, New York, in search, perhaps of 'greener pastures'.

Like many young Yankee men of the time, Bates enlisted in the 16th New York Cavalry on July 20th, 1863 and saw the Civil War through to the end.  In around 1850 he married Clarinda Remington, a widower with three children.  Her marriage to Bates would produce eight more.

He was a blacksmith by profession but in around 1880 Bates took over the Oakland Brewery in Nunda New York.  The brewery was notorious in town and Bates was unable to temper its character.  In early April, 1885 Henry Camp murdered John Long in an argument that started in the Oakland's sample room.  Long's widow sought damages from Bates as the provider of the intoxicants and the grand jury agreed, awarding her $450.  This all but ruined Bates, who had already abandoned the brewery and left town.  The brewhouse would sit idle for ten years.

W.C. Bates spent the rest of his years farming in Allegheny County.  When death finally came to his door on February 2nd, 1908, his short and troubled time in the brewery business was a long-ago memory.

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