William Gates Obituary - Grant County Wisconsin ***************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ***************************************************************************** Grant Co Herald January 24, 1912 IN MEMORIAM WM. GATES William Gates was born October, 10, 1829, in Richmond, England and entered into the life eternal from his home near Beetown, Wisconsin, Jan. 2, 1912 after a most painful illness of five weeks, preceded by three years of ill health. He came to America in 1849, and was married to Ann Raisneck March 28, 1885. To the union were given eight daughters and five sons, four of whom, Mary Jane, and Lottie, infants, and Joseph grown to manhood and Mary [Mrs. Thomas Marshal,] preceded their father to the spirit land. Those surviving to mourn with the devoted wife and mother are John, William, James, and Charles R., Elizabeth [Mr. Ernest Stark] Sarah [Mrs. Wm Gillies] Hattie [Mrs. Lee Sturmer] Emma [Mrs. Elliott Knotwell] and Mabel [Mrs. Amos Chapman], twenty-nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. Mr. Gates was thoroughly converted at a revival held in Hurricane Corners in 1856 and thus early the altar of religion was established in his home. And he continued in the faith and conscientious membership of the Methodist Episcopal church up to the time of his entrance into the higher services of the church triumphant. He resided in vicinity of Hurricane for nearly sixteen years and Benton one year coming to Beetown in 1872, making his residence there about forty years. He became one of the leading citizens, always interested in the promotion of the community’s good. For a number of years he represented his town on the county board. He was a farmer and in harmony with his wife who was a true helpmate, he reared his large family in habits of thrift and industry----and so successful was he and so happy was the home life that all the sons are following the honored father’s vocation and all the six daughters married farmers, and all settled near the old homestead, Mrs. Knotwell residing tow and a half miles west of Lancaster, living the furthest away. Up to the time of his release, his greatest joy Was the frequent home coming of the children and the children’s children. There was always a great Christmas gathering until this year, so sad a time for all with the revered father breathing in slow agony his life away. “Grandpa’s “gift to every grandchild a habit begun with the first, was a new dollar, and with what delight did he put them by for the Christmas joy! He was a great man for his home and a most generous provider, relieving the wife of nearly all care of buying. For many years Mr. Gates was numbered among Lancaster’s successful stock buyers, driving back and forth from his home. He was a man of powerful endurance physically very strong until about three years ago, when attacked by disease, the signs of age rapidly increased. Morally, he was a man of sterling integrity. He was a positive and strong conviction as to right and wrong, and fearless in his expressions of those convictions. These characteristics made a successful life. His generosity did not end in the home, he was generous with his help and this hospitality was extended to all who entered his threshold. Mr. Gates was undoubtedly the largest contributor to his church. Probably without his ample aid the pretty and commodious Dodge church would not have been built. Certain we are that the organ and nearly all of the conveniences to the social apartments were provide without solicitation by Mr. Gates quiet undemonstrative generosity. He was a regular attendant as long as health would permit. This simple tribute would be incomplete indeed without the mention of a beautiful incident that occurred at the very beginning of our old neighbor’s last sickness. He had been in great agony of body when suddenly he looked tenderly at the loving wife who was giving her most devoted care and said, “Ma, I have seen my mother. She has been here and laid her hand upon my shoulder and she had on a most beautiful white robe and when I looked down, I too, was wearing a beautiful white robe” The dear mother had been many, many years in Paradise, and Mr. Gates was never a man expressive of sentiment. But who shall say the white winged messenger whom we call Death did not come in the sweet guise of the mother who had taught him at her knees the truths that made his dying bed at eighty-three “soft as downy pillows are” and gave the sweet assurance of a meeting in the home not made with hands eternal in the heavens? A mother’s love! It lives and lasts through all eternity. Notwithstanding the awful weather of Friday, the 5th, a very large crowd paid the last tribute at the Dodge Church at 2o’clock p.m. Rev. D. Witherbee, a former pastor , came by request of Mr. Gates from Hazel Green to conduct the service. All the immediate relatives except Ora Gillies and Archie Marshall both living near Ismay, Mont. were present. Edna Marshall, who was living on her claim near there, came to be with the beloved grandpa in his last days. Relatives from Shullsburg and Apple River, Ill were also in attendance. The pall of death was softened by may beautiful floral tributes, among them a sheaf of grain ripe for the harvest, a fitting offering. For these and the many acts of kindness, many expressions of sympathy expressed to their loved one and themselves, Mrs. Gates and all the sons and daughters will ever hold in appreciative and tender memory the donors. When we shall see the dear, familiar faces Which cheered our fire side in the long ago When we behold instead of vacant places The friends whose tender love once blessed us so; When their warm hand clasp shall the grief have banished, Which ne’er has left us since they went away Joys will return which with their presence vanished While happiness our constant guest will stay When we shall hear the well remembered voices Breathing our name as in days gone by [Ah at the thought our full heart now rejoices while we cannot express a longing sigh] Then shall we know that home whose ties were broken As one by one left for the heavenly shore Is ours again, not missing one dear token And from it none shall go forevermore D.B. S.