SAMUEL A. GATES

Samuel A. Gates, an attorney and real-estate dealer of Leon, Iowa, was born in Athens county, Ohio, February 25, 1850, a son of Samuel H. and Charlotte Gates. In June, 1855, he removed with his parents to Decatur county, Iowa, locating on a farm two miles north of Leon. He had the usual advantages of school and farm work afforded by frontier life, and when eighteen years old taught his first school at Davis City, Iowa. In February, 1869, he entered the high school of Leon and was a member of the first graduating class in June, 1871. He taught school and studied law alternately until he was admitted to the bar May 1, 1875. After spending a few months looking for a good place to practice law he decided there was no place like home and returned to Leon, where in September, 1875, he opened a law office and has ever since been identified as a member of the Leon bar.

On November 1, 1877, Mr. Gates married Miss Emma J. Springer, daughter of Rev. B. O. Springer, an early Presbyterian minister of Decatur county. Mrs. Gates passed away in may, 1891, leaving her husband and two daughters, Mary A. and Grace E. In July, 1894, Mr. Gates remarried, choosing for his bride Mrs. Lenna F. Huston, daughter of Captain E. H. Alexander. They are the proud parents of two children, John A., born September 28, 1899; and Florence E., born march 28, 1903.

Politically Mr. Gates is a republican and has always been an earnest advocate for the rights of the masses. Fraternally he has been identified with the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Homestead Lodges, and religiously is a member of the Presbyterian church to which his entire family belong. His life is an open book in Decatur county and has been so lived as to merit the confidence, respect and esteem of all who know him.