Husband Hon. William Gates 1
Born: 19 Jun 1818 - Venango Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died: 1901
Buried: - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
Father: George Gates (Cir 1789-1864) 1
Mother: Mary Downing (Cir 1796-1876) 1
Marriage: 1851 3
• Residence: : Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA.
Wife Ann Martha Stanton 3
Born: 1825
Christened:
Died: 1905
Buried: - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
Children
General Notes: Husband - Hon. William Gates
He was educated at subscription schools and in the primitive log school houses. His father being a farmer he naturally pursued that calling during his early manhood. He taught four winter terms of subscription and public school, and for twenty-five consecutive years he was school treasurer of Rockland township. He served as a justice of the peace for fifteen years, and was the efficient postmaster at Rockland for twenty-five years. In 1876 he was elected to the state legislature and served with credit. He took an active interest in the repeal of the old and objectionable fence law of Pennsylvania, enacted in 1700, and much credit is due him for the final overthrow of that statute. He was employed during the earlier part of his life for three and one-half years at Slab furnace, in Cranberry township, and as manager of the Richland and Mill Creek furnaces, one year at each. After selling goods for some time for Charles Shippen, he formed a partnership with Thomas Hogue and carried on a general store at Rockland six years, becoming at the end of that time the sole owner of the business, and continued it with remarkable success until 1865. Soon after selling his store interests he purchased his father's old homestead, for twenty years gave his attention to rural pursuits, and soon became one of the most skillful farmers in Venango county. He made agriculture a study, just as he did every other undertaking, and by intelligent application widened his knowledge until he was recognized as trustworthy authority on all subjects pertaining to the farm and its products. For several years he served as a member of the state board of agriculture, held important positions in its various committees, and was recognized by that able body of Pennsylvania agriculturalists as one of their most efficient members. He belonged to the I. O. O. F., and the K. of P., was a director of the Exchange Bank of Franklin, and in politics was a Republican. In 1885 he left the farm and settled in South Oil City, retired from the cares of an active business life, enjoying a large competency, the result of individual efforts, economical living, and upright, honest dealings. Being of a somewhat retiring disposition, he would naturally shrink from notoriety, yet with that degree of natural pride possessed by every true lover of his native county, he did his part toward any enterprise that tended to build up the community in which he resided. [HVC 1890, 910]