- JOSEPH GATES, capitalist; P.O. Clinton Junction. Mr. GATES
was born Jan. 24, 1817, in
- Yorkshire, England; son of Joseph GATES, who was a descendant
of Gen. Horatio GATES, one of the British officers in command
of His Majesty's troops during the revolution. Joseph GATES'
ancestors were of Scotch descent. He came to Geneva Lake, Walworth
Co., September, 1841; was a tailor by trade; at that time people
used to bring him, in return for his work, venison, or anything
useful or eatable; once a man brought him a hatful of honey.
He was one of the founders of the Methodist Church; the quarterly
meetings were held in his house; it was called the "Methodist
tavern." The country was very thinly settled then; in one
direction there were only three houses in fifteen miles. There
were Indian trails in place of roads; fences were few and far
between. Mr. GATES was elected Sheriff of Walworth County, in
1854; was U.S. Assessor at Geneva; Justice of Peace, Town Treasurer,
in fact was identified with principal interests of Geneva from
the time of its settlement till 1864, when he came to Clinton.
He has been Justice of the Peace here eight years. Through
his industry and business tact, has accumulated a competency;
is now engaged in the real-estate business, owning a good deal
of the business property of the town. Mr. GATES married, in
1839, Amanda O. DANIELS, daughter of a prominent farmer by that
name, of White Pigeon, Mich. Have had seven children - Elizabeth,
married J. W. JONES, now in business in Clinton, Anna M. was
a school teacher in Chicago about seven years, and is now the
wife of E. A. PELTON, of that place; Frank E. is now in the furniture
business in Beloit; William is in the drug business at Milton
Junction. Mr. GATES and family are members of the Methodist
Church. He has been a member for forty-four years.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, p. 780.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|