Genesee-Lenawee County MI Archives Biographies.....Gage, John L. 1805 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 22, 2007, 3:57 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

HON. JOHN L. GAGE. The rank and file of the early pioneers are fast thinning,
and the men who have worked for their estates, clearing and logging them, are
being replaced by those who inherit the products of the labors of the sturdy
first settlers. The gentleman whose portrait is shown on the opposite page is
one of the few remaining pioneers in this vicinity. He was the second man who
was elected to represent this county in its legislature and has been a resident
of Burton Township, Genesee County, since 1836.

  Mr. Gage was born in Rockingham County, N. H., October 5, 1805, and is a son
of John and Lydia (Brockelbank) Gage. John Gage was the first white child born
in that part of New Hampshire after the Revolutionary War. Our subject's
grandsire, Joshua Gage, who was of English birth and parentage, was a
Continental soldier and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. John Gage
removed from New Hampshire to Ontario County, N. Y. He served in the War of 1812
and was the incumbent of various local offices in his place of residence. He was
seventy-eight years of age at the time of his decease, which occurred in 1857.

  Our subject is the eldest of nine children, of whom four are living. He
learned his letters in an almanac and attended school in a desultory way,
enjoying a few weeks at the then noted academy at Canandaigua. He was thereafter
engaged in teaching for six terms, and after coming to Michigan taught in the
schools of the city of Flint in 1838-39. He remained at home until reaching his
majority and was then engaged in the flouring mill for a few months. In 1827 he
determined to learn the carpenter's trade, receiving $8 per month when first
learning.

  In 1830 our subject came to Michigan and purchased a small tract of land in
Lenawee County. He subsequently prospected a good deal, making his tours on
foot, and finally located near Flint, taking up a tract of Government land in
1835. The settlers were few and the work of clearing was appalling. He, however,
built a house, to which the Indians came very frequently, and has made his home
near Flint ever since. Mr. Gage was married July 19, 1835, to Miss Mary Tufts, a
daughter of John Tufts, of Canandaigua, N. Y. Mrs. Mary Gage died in February,
1889. She was the mother of seven children. Of these Ellen is deceased; Mary is
the wife of George H. Chapin, a farmer of Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County;
Eliza Jane is the wife of Abram Peer, of Burton Township; Lydia E. is deceased;
Charles resides in Wexford County, this State; Julia is the wife of William Ray,
a farmer in Mundy Township; and Susan is the wife of Joseph Jellis, of Flint.

  Mr. Gage is a Democrat in politics. He has been Supervisor of his township for
five terms, Justice of the Peace for one term, Assessor and School Inspector,
and has held the position of Commissioner of Highways for two terms. He
represented Genesee County in the State Legislature during 1843, when it met in
Detroit. He then served on the Committee on Banks. A petition was made to the
Legislature to take from Lapeer County four townships and add them to Genesee
County. Mr. Gage was greatly in favor of this and urged it upon the committee so
that it passed and added greatly to the proportion of valuation in Genesee
County. He has owned eighty acres of land, but has sold off some and now has
forty acres all of which he has cleared himself.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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