Biographical Sketch of

Albert Gates

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 714 - 715


Albert Gates, retired farmer and merchant of Berlin, was born in the town of Stow, Middlesex County, Mass., on 
the 15th of September, 1832, and his parents, Elbridge and Sally G. (Conant) Gates, were also natives of Stow 
and were of English descent.  On the paternal side, our subject's most remote ancestor of whom the writer has 
positive information, was Elisha Gates, of Massachusetts, who died Dec. 9, 1803.  His son, Elisha Jr., was born 
Sept. 30, 1765, and died Dec. 12, 1820.  He was married at Acton, Mass., Aug. 21, 1791, to Miss Elizabeth M. 
Robbins, and after her death wedded Betsy Gates on the 21st of August, 1806.
 
The father of our subject was a son of Elisha and Elizabeth (Robbins) Gates.  He was born in Stow, Feb. 6, 1804, 
and died Jan. 16, 1880.  His marriage with Miss Conant was celebrated Dec. 23, 1828.  The lady was born Feb. 1, 
1808, and was a daughter of John and Maria (Houghton) Conant.  Mrs. Conant was the fourth child of Elijah and 
Mercy Houghton.  She was born Nov. 7, 1772, and died May 21, 1864.  Elijah Houghton, son of Thomas and Marie 
Houghton was born in Harvard, Mass., Jan. 2, 1740, and from that fact it is thought his parents were natives 
of America.  At all events the family were residents of Massachusetts as early as 1715.
 
The father of our subject has been dead several years but his mother is still living and makes her home with him 
in Berlin.  She is now almost eighty-three years of age, yet is bright and active and in full enjoyment of her 
faculties.  She is still a great worker and is also an extensive traveler, having traversed the route between 
Acton, Mass., and Berlin, Wis., twenty-one times.  She was eighty-one years of age at the time of the last journey.
 
Albert Gates, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on a farm and received a common school education.  When 
about twenty years of age he conceived the idea of going to California and after overcoming the natural objection 
of his parents set out for the Pacific Slope, March 1, 1852, going by way of the Panama route.  On arriving in 
California he engaged in mining and later turned his attention to farming.  Three years satisfied him that the 
rough life of the West was not to his taste, and in the spring of 1855 he returned to Massachusetts.  The following 
fall he led to the marriage altar Miss Maria W. Willis, the union being celebrated in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Mass., 
on the 18th day of November, 1855.  Mrs. Gates was born in Harvard, Mass., June 10, 1831, and was the second in the 
family of fourteen children, whose parents were Daniel and Maria (Whitney) Willis.  Her father was born in Marlborough, 
Vt., Dec. 25, 1805, of Scotch parentage and died in the spring of 1865.  Her mother was born in Harvard, Mass., Nov. 
15, 1807, and is descended from English ancestors.  She survives her husband and at this writing resides in South 
Acton, Mass., at the age of eighty-two years.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Gates have a family of three children:  Albert A., who was born in Stow, Mass., Oct. 8, 1856, was married 
in Markesan, Wis., to Miss Marietta Warren, and resides in Berlin; they have a son, named Frank Warren, born Aug. 6, 
1881.  George E., born in Stow, May 4, 1862, was married in Berlin, March 29, 1883, to Miss Mabel Rose, and is engaged 
in the paper business in Berlin; Alice M., the youngest, was born in Acton, Mass., Oct. 12, 1867, and resides with her 
parents.  
 
Mr. Gates, accompanied by his family, came to Wisconsin in 1870, and after spending a short time in Berlin, engaged in 
farming near Princeton, Green Lake County, doing a successful business in that line until February, 1882, when he removed 
to Berlin and in the following year embarked in the grocery business.  He still owns a farm of 100 acres adjoining 
Princeton, together with other property.  Since 1886 he has lived a retired life, having spent only three years in the 
grocery business.  Mrs. Gates is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and though now in the decline of life, is 
still a beautiful woman, and charms all by her cheerful and genial manner.  In politics, Mr. Gates is a Republican, but 
has never sought or desired public office.  He is a practical, common sense man who has led an industrious, useful life, 
and by untiring efforts has acquired a good property.  In all transactions he has endeavored to do to others as he would 
have them do to him, and enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens as a man of the strictest integrity and correct habits.

 





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