ROBERT GAIGE

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Mr. & Mrs. Robert Gaige and Grandson

Robert Gaige, a citizen of Tipton, whose many substantial qualities have won him high regard and whose influence is always found on the side of reform, improvement and progress, was for many years closely associated with agricultural interests in this part of the state but is now living retired. He was born in Owego, Tioga county, New York, on the 27th of June, 1841, and spent his youthful days there in the home of his parents, Henry and Nancy (Hayes) Gaige, who always remained residents of the Empire state. The father was a shoemaker in early life but later turned his attention to farming and for many years engaged in the tilling of the soil. He held membership in the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Baptist church, guiding their lives by its teachings.

Robert Gaige was seventh in order of birth in a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, but is the only one who ever came to Iowa. He resided at the place of his nativity until he removed to Cedar county in March, 1867, arriving in Tipton when a young man of about twenty-six years. He has since made his home here and is widely known in the county. His education was acquired in the district schools and he was reared to the work of the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After coming to this county he secured land about a mile and half east of Tipton and bent his energies to the development and improvement of the farm, upon which he resided until he retired from active business life and erected his present fine home at the corner of Seventh and Mulberry streets in Tipton. He then disposed of the farm but is still the owner of lands in Dakota and Kansas. While living in the country he was recognized as one of the most enterprising and progressive agriculturists of the community, following practical and advanced methods which brought him substantial success as the years went by.

On the 23d of December, 1872, Mr. Gaige was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Katharine Walters, who was born near Rochester, Iowa, on the 13th of December, 1848, and has spent all of her life in this county with the exception of a brief period of four years in her childhood days, when she lived in California with her parents, Henry and Mary (Thompson) Walters. In their family were fourteen children, of whom nine are now living.

Mr. and Mrs. Gaige have no children of their own but their kindness and generosity have prompted them to adopt two boys and two girls whom they have reared as their own. Of these Ally went to California and has not been heard from since the earthquake, so it is believed that he died in that terrible disaster. Mary, who is a graduate of high school and was formerly a teacher, is the wife of Frank McClelland of Stanwood, Iowa, and has two children. Claud, a traveling man, residing in Duluth, Minnesota, is married and has two children. Lenore Maley is still at home and will graduate from the Tipton high school with the class of 1911. The four children born of the above marriages are regarded by Mr. Gaige as his grandchildren and he could not bestow upon them a greater love if they were of his own blood. Mrs. Sarah Burns, eighty-five years of age, also makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Gaige, who give to her the care and devotion which should ever be accorded the aged. Thus the Christianity of these worthy people finds exemplification in their daily lives. Both are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are strong and earnest temperance workers. Mr. Gaige exercises his right of franchise in support of the prohibition party.