Charles L. Gates 1847-1937

GATES, COX, COLLINS, WINTER, OSTRANDER

Posted By: Fran PATTEN (email)
Date: 4/24/2004 at 22:17:18

(This obituary was in the Clear Lake newspaper of the time. I only have a copy of the obit, no name of the newspaper or the actual day that it appeared.) I am a great grandaughter of Charles L. and Ida Mae Collins Gates

War Veteran Answers Last
Call On Independence Day

Funeral services for C. L.
GATES Held Tuesday at
2:30 at the Home

Funeral services of Comrade C. L. GATES, who answered the last roll call at his home, Sunday, July 4 at 9 o’clock a. m. were held at the home Tuesday afternoon, July 6, at 2:30, conducted by Rev. B. W. RINER, pastor of the Methodist church. O. J. KING sang, “Somewhere a Voice Is Calling. W. H. WARD, funeral director.

Charles L. GATES was born at Paw Paw, Ill, October 13, 1847, and passed away at his home in Clear Lake, July 4, 1937.

At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the Union Army and served with the 58th Illinois Infantry. He took part in several of the most important battles and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned to his home and was for some time employed on a farm.

Mr. Gates well remembered the Lincoln-Douglas debate at Syracuse, Ill., and could give first hand information on the stirring days preceding the Civil War.

On October 10, 1839 he was united in marriage with Miss Ida M. COLLINS. To this union eight children were born of whom six are living.

Shortly after their marriage M. and Mrs. Gates moved from Illinois and located on a farm in Greene county near Scranton, Iowa. Here they lived a number of years, after which they moved to a farm near Fort Dodge. Some years later Mr. Gates was appointed steward of the Webster county farm. In 1900 Mr. Gates with his family moved to a farm near Clear Lake where they resided until 1912 when they retired and moved into Clear Lake.

Mrs. GATES preceded her husband in death, having passed away February 6, 1937.

Those surviving are: daughters, Mrs. J. H. WINTER of Parkville, Mo.; Mrs. Wm. OSTRANDER, Webster City; sons, Charles E. GATES, Everett, Wash.; George GATES, Dayton, Wash.; Frank GATES, Oelwein, and Fred L. GATES, Nevada, Iowa.

Mr. GATES was a member of Verity Lodge A. F. & A. M. since 1906. He was a member of the G. A. R., Tom Howard post, until the post was disbanded several years ago.

He was a man of few words, but his many acts of kindness are a testimony to his love and consideration of his neighbors and friends. He was especially interested in young people and was ever ready to extend to them a helping hand, when they came to him for advice and counsel, although his home and family were his first consideration.

The beautiful flowers that surrounded his flag draped casket were a silent message to his children of the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors and friends. The Masonic burial service was conducted by Verity Lodge at the cemetery. The address was given by E. K. GREENE, chaplain, followed by depositing the evergreen emblem and Masonic honors. An escort of the American Legion gave the salute to the dead followed by taps. At the close of the service at the cemetery the American flag that draped Mr. GATES’ casket was removed and presented to his son, Fred GATES of Nevada.

His two daughters, Mrs. OSTRANDER of Webster City and Mrs. WINTERS, Parkville, Mo., and two sons Fred of Nevada and Frank of Oelwein were present at the funeral. On account of the distance his sons Charles and George who reside in Washington state were unable to be present.

Pallbearers were P. W. FISTLER, W. J. McGOWAN, C. N. WRIGHT, Ira STEWART, E. W. WINNIE and John SMITH.