Iberia County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Gates, Judge Frederick "Fred" Larned - May 25, 1897
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Mary K Creamer marykcreamer@yahoo.com November 12, 2019, 11:55 pm

source: The Lafayette Gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921,
June 05, 1897, Image 2

DEATH OF JUDGE GATES. - Judge Fred Gates died in New Iberia last week. The 
judge had many friends in this parish who were pained to hear of his death.

Fred Gates was a plucky man and a loyal friend. As a citizen and a Democrat 
he rendered a great service to his parish and district. He was pre-eminently 
the implacable foe of negroism. He was just to the negro, but he was one of 
those who believed, that Sambo was not the proper person into whose hands 
the reins of government should be placed. He led the movement which resulted 
in the establishment of white supremacy in Iberia parish. The odds were 
against him, but he fought to a finish and won the battle. It required a man 
of indomitable will and unflinching courage. He possessed both. He never 
gave up until he had rid the district of corruption and incompency in public 
affairs, and no one who knew him ever doubted his bravery. Although he had 
occupied public office several times and was a candidate for the votes of 
the people, he was always what he professed to be and never played the part 
of the demagogue.

There was one thing which Judge Gates would not stand and that was the negro 
in politics. When, in the State Legislature, he was speaking upon some issue 
that had come up for discussion an oily-skinned darky who represented one of 
the river parishes interrupted him with some frivolous question. He turned 
toward the colored law-giver and in language that was both forcible and 
eloquent made him distinctly understand that no such impudence would be 
tolerated.

In his death the State of Louisiana loses a good citizen.


source: The Weekly Messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. 
Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, May 29, 1897, Image 2

JUDGE FRED GATES. - Times-Democrat May 26th. - Judge Fred Gates died 
suddenly at his home in New Iberia yesterday, aged sixty-nine years. No man 
was better known in that section of the State or was more popular than he, 
and his popularity was not confined to Iberia, but extended over the entire 
State.

Judge Gates played a leading part in the politics of his parish and section, 
and to him we largely owe their redemption from the Republican party. That 
party was stronger there than elsewhere in Louisiana and it required both 
courage and political sagacity to defeat the Republican leaders and drive 
them from power. This, Judge Gates was largely instrumental in doing. He was 
elected District Judge in 1884 and again in 1888, and filled the position 
with great credit. In 1892 he was elected to the State Legislature from 
Iberia parish. He made a strong fight in the Legislature for a change in our 
assessment laws, to assure greater uniformity and equality of valuation. 
Judge Gates was appointed a member of the Constitutional Commission to frame 
amendments needed to our Constitution, so as to avoid the necessity of 
calling a convention. He devoted himself to this work and was largely 
instrumental in drawing up the famous suffrage amendment which would have 
had such a beneficial influence upon our suffrage and elections had it not 
been sacrificed to the wild desire for office.

Judge Gates filled other positions of importance in Iberia, was for years 
president of the New Iberia Oilworks, and a man who enjoyed the respect and 
esteem of his fellow-citizens.


Additional Comments: www.findagrave.com memorial # 32840939


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