Gates, Samuel A.

GATES, SPRINGER, HUSTON, ALEXANDER

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/30/2019 at 07:04:32

Samuel A. "Sam" Gates
February 25. 1850 ~ February 27, 1931

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887), pp. 496-97

S. A. GATES, attorney, senior member of the law firm of S. A. Gates & Brother, was born in Athens County, Ohio, February 25, 1850, and was admitted to the bar at Leon, May 1, 1875. He is a representative of one of the earliest families of Decatur County, his father, S. H. Gates, having settled in Center Township in June, 1855, where he still lives. He was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1850. He came to Decatur County with his father in 1855, and lived on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he engaged in teaching school for a period of two years. In June, 1871, he completed his studies at the Leon High School, being one of four who comprised the first graduating class of that school. Three of this class were male graduates, all of whom are lawyers. A. F. Woodruff, of this class, is a leading lawyer at Bethlehem, Missouri, and T. W. Silvers was for a time county attorney of Bates County, same State, and is now an eminent criminal lawyer of that county, being an effective and impressive speaker. The lady graduate of this class was Miss Emma Jordan, now the wife of R. J. Critchfield, of the Weldon Hornet. Mr. Gates began the study of law in 1872, with J. W. Penny, Esq., of Leon, who died in the spring of 1874. He then continued his studies with A.M. Post, who was sent as consul to Cape Verde Islands. He completed his studies with N. P. Bullock, Esq. After being admitted to the bar, Mr. Gates at once opened an office, and immediately entered upon a successful and lucrative practice. In June, 1884, he was joined in the practice by his brother, John N. Gates. November, 1877, he was married to Emma J. Springer, daughter of Rev. B. O. Springer, one of the early Presbyterians of Decatur County. Mrs. Gates is a native of Ohio, born February 1, 1853. They have two children -- Mary A. and Grace. Politically Mr. Gates is a Republican, and is influential in the local councils of his party. He is also an Odd Fellow, and member of the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Leon.

Note: Samuel died February 27, 1931. Emma died May 17, 1891. They were interred at Leon Cemetery, Leon, Iowa.

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)

SAMUEL A. GATES
February 25. 1850 ~ February 27, 1931

History of Decatur County Iowa And Its People
Prof. J.M. Howell & Heman C. Smith, Supervising Edidors, S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. 1915.

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.

Note: Samuel died February 27, 1931. Emma died May 17, 1891. They were interred at Leon Cemetery, Leon, Iowa.

Transcribed for IAGenWeb~Decatur County website