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Cuthburt Dean Bates

  • County: La Porte County
  • Location: La Porte
  • Years Active in the Business: c. 1910s - 1920s

Cuthbert (Burt) D. Bates was born on June 25, 1880, in Salem, Illinois. In the 1900 U.S. Census, he was recorded as living in Marion Township, Jasper County, Missouri. He married Nellie Rogers, who was born in La Porte, Indiana, in 1913. He died at age 65 on November 26, 1945, and is buried in Pine Lake Cemetery in La Porte, Indiana.

He had a partnership with George F. Ulm, and together they served as agents for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. According to the 1913 city directory, they also operated a saloon at 612 Indiana Avenue. See: Ulm & Bates

Sometime after his partnership with Ulm ended, he shifted into the soft drink business, as many bottlers did during prohibition. The 1923 city directory lists him as a soft drink dealer, and the 1926 and 1929 directories show him in the soft drink business with Louie J. Jermann. By 1931, neither of them is listed as a soft drink dealer.

1) JAIL AND FINE FOR LAPORTE BOOTLEGGER

Special to The News-Times: LAPORTE, Ind., May 29—Charged with selling intoxicating cider, Cuthbert D. Bates, proprietor of a soft drink parlor in this city, was fined $100 and costs and given a sentence of 30 days in jail by a jury here late this afternoon.

Bates was arrested on a federal warrant. Several government agents, it is said, have been quietly at work here for several days and further arrests are expected. The South Bend News-Times, May 30, 1920.

2) INVENTS TRAIN CONTROL

An innovation which is promised to advance railroad safety has been announced by Cuthbert D. Bates of Laporte and William B. Allen of Michigan City. The device, of which Bates has a working model on display, serves as an automatic braking throttle for trains that pass warning signals in inclement weather. Journal and Courier, Lafayette, Indiana, January 11, 1928.

1910 – NO LISTING
1913 – Ulm & Bates, (George F Ulm, Cuthbert D Bates) Agents for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, 612 Indiana av.
1913 – Bates Cuthbert D, rooms 310 E Main.
1923 – Bates Cuthbert D, soft drinks 806 Lincolnway, residence 1205, married to Nellie.
1926 – Bates Cuthbert D, (Bates & Jermann) residence 12025 Lincolnway, married to Nellie I.
1926 & 1929 – Bates & Jermann, 507 Michigan av. (soft drinks)

Bottle Photos

#1

Bottle Type: 12 oz., pint, hand-tooled crown top. 
Embossing: C. D. BATES / CONTENTS / 12-FLUID OZS. / LA PORTE, IND. 
Glass Maker: ROOT (embossed on base) Root Glass Company, Terre Haute, Indiana.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD (embossed on back).
Notes: Air bubble above the “T” in BATES. 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#2

Bottle Type: 13 oz., pint, hand-tooled crown top. 
Embossing: C. D. BATES / 13 OZ.CAPY / LA PORTE, IND. 
Glass Maker: I G CO 72 (embossed on heel), Illinois Glass Company.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD (embossed on back).
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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