Bio: Gates, Adelbert (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Gates, Edwards

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 715-716

Adelbert Gates, enterprising and progressive farmer of Otter Creek, whose post office address is Osseo, Wisconsin, came west from Allegany county, New York, where he was born November 13, 1853, a son of William and Sophia (Edwards) Gates, and is descended from sterling old New England families, and from Stalwart English stock on the Gates side, which at an early period in the history of New England, was transplanted from the mother country to New Jersey and later on, members of the family became residents of New York state. Saxon Gates, grandfather of Adelbert, was one of the influential men of his time, and highly respected in his community. During the Revolutionary War, and also in the war of 1812, members of the Gates family played an important part.

When Adelbert was three years of age, his parents came west to Wisconsin with their family and settled in Eau Claire county in 1856, on a farm near the village of Fairchild, where the father died at the age of 62. After the death of his father, our subject lived with his mother and carried on the farm where he still resides. The mother passed away at the age of 79 years, honored and respected by all who knew her. They had two sons, Adelbert and William and were both members of the Methodist church. The father who took au active interest in public affairs of his county, was a Republican in politics and held many local offices in Fairchild township. Mr. Gates, who is a bachelor, owns 43 acres of well improved land where he lives and carries on general farming, and 43 acres three miles east of Augusta. He has been a life long resident of Eau Claire county, and has seen it transformed from a wild and desolate state to one of productive farms and elegant homes.