Gerard A. Gage (1856-1934), 1910 Biography

GAGE, MCCOLLUM, BATES, COPP, DODGE, COWEN, WRIGHT, GRIFFIN, HILSINGER, BARD, BRECKENRIDGE, SMITH, WULF

Posted By: LuAnn (Wentworth) Goeke (email)
Date: 6/15/2011 at 17:15:59

GERARD A. GAGE.
Among the native sons of Jackson county to whom success has come as the legitimate and logical result of diligence, perseverance and well directed labor, is numbered Gerard A. Gage, whose birth occurred within the borders of this county on the 13th of April, 1856. His father, James Davis Gage, who was born in Canada, July 16, 1833, engaged in farming in that country during the period of his early manhood and until his marriage in 1855. He is a representative of an old American family of the state of New York, whence representatives of the name removed to Canada. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Nancy McCollum, was a native of the Dominion, her people being among the earliest settlers of that country. The great-grandparents of James D. Gage in the paternal line came from Ireland, while the great-grandparents in the maternal line came from Nova Scotia. Both removed to Canada West and settled near Hamilton.
James Davis Gage continued his residence in his native country until 1855, when he removed to Iowa, taking up his abode near Sabula. There he engaged in farming for many years but about 1883 removed to the town and entered business circles there as a dealer in wagons, buggies and harness, but for the past thirty years he has been engaged in the real estate and loan business, making many investments in property and placing many loans. His sound business judgment has always been a strong factor in the success which has attended his operations. At the present time he is living practically retired, leaving the active management of his store to the charge of his son, J.P. Gage. At the outbreak of the Civil war he was captain of the militia company but took no active part in the conflict between the north and the south. Ere leaving Canada he was married on the 24th of February, 1855, to Miss Cornelia M. Bates, a native of that country, as were her parents, Philo D. and Rachel Bates. Mr. and Mrs. Gage became parents of seven children: Gerard A., of this review; Josephine R., the wife of A.J. Copp, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Jennie E., the wife of Charles D. Dodge; Elizabeth F., the wife of E.D. Cowen; Mamie E., the wife of Charles Wright, a resident of Savanna, Illinois; James P., who is engaged with his father in business; and Phebe L., the wife of Fred Griffin, of Chicago, Illinois. The parents are still residents of Sabula and are among the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens of the village.
Gerard A. Gage acquired his early education in the common schools near his home and amid the busy activities of rural life learned many lessons concerning the value of energy and industry, which proved an excellent foundation upon which to base his future successful career. Later, in the years 1879 and 1880, he pursued a course of study in the International Business College of Davenport, Iowa, and in 1881 entered the business world on his own account. Going to South Dakota, he there took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, where he continued to reside for three years, in the meantime directing his energies to the operation of that farm. At the expiration of that period he removed to the then small town of Bridgewater and there opened up a real estate office, being engaged in that line until 1887, when he organized a state bank at that place, in the conduct of which he continued until 1900, serving as president of the institution. The following year he returned to Iowa, taking up his abode in Sabula, where he now resides and where he expects to make his home during the remainder of his life. He has disposed of all his banking interests but is still active in the real estate business, his interest in that direction covering land in South Dakota, Kansas and Colorado, his property holdings amounting to more than five thousand acres. About half of this is under cultivation and all has been obtained through his good business ability and excellent management. He started out in life with one thousand dollars which was given him by his father and today he ranks among the substantial and successful business men of Sabula and is one of the extensive landowners of Jackson county.
It was on the 23d of October, 1884, that Mr. Gage was united in marriage to Miss Jennie A. Bard, who was born in Jackson county on the 1st of July, 1864, and is a daughter of John O. Bard. The latter, who was born in Pennsylvania, March 12, 1829, came to Sabula when a young man of twenty years, and a year later he was married but his wife died early in life and later he returned to the Keystone state, where he was again married, choosing for his second wife Miss Mary J. Breckenridge. Subsequently he again came to Sabula and here for several years conducted a general store, at the same time engaging in general agricultural pursuits. He was active in community affairs and served for two terms as sheriff of Jackson county. Unto his second marriage were born four children, namely: James E., of South Dakota; John O., also residing in that state; Mrs. Belle Smith, making her home in South Dakota; and Mrs. Gerard A. Gage. The latter by her marriage with the subject of this review became the mother of the following children: James O., born in South Dakota on the 23d of December, 1885; Milton G., whose birth also occurred in South Dakota on the 13th of June, 1894; Dorothea E., born in that state March 6, 1898; Josephine B., also a native of South Dakota, born July 3, 1900; and Gerard A., Jr., born in Sabula on the 1st of December, 1902.
In his religious belief Mr. Gage holds faith with the Methodist church, the teachings of which form the guiding influence of his life, while fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, although he has no desire for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. Having spent the greater part of his life within the borders of Jackson county, he is well known to his fellow citizens as a man of upright character and honorable purpose, whose success in the business world has been honestly won and who has in every relation of life ever measured up to a high standard of manhood.
James O. Gage, the eldest son of Gerard A. Gage, graduated from the Clinton Business College, Clinton, Iowa, on the 4th of April, 1906, and after working for one year in the J. Hilsinger Bank of Sabula took up his business career in South Dakota, where he has since resided. He is identified with banking interests in Ree Heights, that state, as cashier of a stock company bank and also owns a block of stock in the company. He was married in 1909 to Miss Minnie Wulf of Sabula, and although but a young man in years, has already manifested excellent business traits which augur well for a successful future, and is a worthy son of an honored and respected father. - 1910 History of Jackson County Iowa, Vol. 2, Pgs 512-514.