The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-10-01
At Rest.

Last Friday afternoon about t o'clock
Mr.. l. w. Gates, who for five long wears
has been a patient sufferer, fell asleep,
not to wakcn again IN this life.
Mr.. Gates was born at Hancock, y. II
February LIST, 1892, and was educated in
the common schools and academies OF
that state, later moving to Ohio and then
to Indiana. In 1888 he became inter
es;ed in the head of the lake country,
and removed here, where he has since
resided, teaching almost continuously
until 1887. Mr.. Gates was a public
spirited man. Scarcely move for the
betterment of humanity has been made
but what he has been prominently iden.
titled with it. He was one of the first
members of our free library board and
did much to secure the service We have
now in that line. All church work was
literally supported by him, and for
forty wears lie was an elder in the Pres
byterian church. TO those who knew
Mr.. Gates our words will fail to express
the sorrow felt at his loss, or to appro-
priately eulogize his character. He
was a true Christian man in the highest,
broadcast and best sense of the term,
and what more can be added. The
funeral was held from the family resi-
dence, Sunday afternoon, and was
largely attended. Rev. Allison and DR..
Brown, a life long friend of Mr.. Gates,
officiating. Messrs. John Bertrand
Roselle Coburn, John Bardon, Theodore
Smith, Pear Benson and Irvine Len
root, all former pupils of the deceased
were the pallbearers. The many ex-
quisite and dainty floral offerings spoke
works OF love and comfort to the mourn
ing ones, who appreciate more than
words can tell the many kindnesses of
friends and neighbors throughout all
the trouble.
We reproduce the tribute to Judge
Gates which appeared IN the Sunday
Leader, from the pen of a former pupil
which SO beautifully depicts the work
and life of Mr.. Gates that there remains
no word for us to add:
There has gone from us man who
deserves more than passing mention,
by reason of the wide and lasting in
fuence which he exerted in this com
munlty In years gone by. Confined +"
his home for the last five years bya dis
trassipr illness known ~ vpry tpu of
our new population on that account, /.
". Gates has undoubtedly been the in
strument of more real and lasting BEN
eft to the older settlers, especially to
those residing in that part of the town
now known as Central Park, where his
home Is, than any other one man. As
a citizen, church member, Sunday
School superintendent, as a friend and
neighbor, he was man TO be depend
ed upon but IT is of his work as a
teacher in our public schools that the
writer wishes particularly to speak.
Teaching first in the East End, then
called Old Town. and for many consec-
utiye years in Central Park, formerly
known as UppertoWn, a large number
of the old residents or their children
have received their schooling from HIM.
His noble and inspiring influence up
on the homes which he reached In that
way is simply incalculabie. \ man Of
strict integrity, filed with unusual love
and devotion for his work, inspiring
the admiration, respect and love of ev-
cry one of his pupils, his ennobling in
huence permcated the entire commun-
ity like leayen, and no boy or girl eyer
went to school to him long enough to
feel his power without being made bet
ter by it for all time. He was a school
master OF the same rare type as was
"Domsie" of The Bonnie Briar Bush
and loved every boy and girl that came
under his tuition even as Domsie loved
the BARNS of Drumtochty.
The career of "Geordie Hoo" was not
followed with more enthusiastic and
loving interest by his master than was
the progress of each bow and girl SO for
tulalc as 10 DC I4cHiDcis VI WI. oateS
school.
In hls school we received the eQuiva-
lent Of liberal High school education
in most particulars. In the sciences we
studied physiology, natural phyiloso,
ply, chemistry, and botany, and in
mathematics some Of lis obtained 4
practical knowledge of surveying and a
smattering of astronomy, and became
proficient IN algebra and geometry.
Progressive in his ideas, he reached
far ahead of his time in his methods OF
teaching, many of his ideas being en-
bodied in the best of the sO-called mod
ern methods of today, and that at a
time when Superior was practically lsO-
lated from the outside world, when
there were no inspiring conventions to
attend, few educational journals finer
1t and when his inspiration must come
from the resources of his own soul. So
strong was bis personality that there
was little or no need of the rod in his
school; look or a word from him was
enough TO make any who were guilty OF
small meanuesses wish TO sink away
from the scorn of his glance. Although
his words of praise were few, he had a
way of letting LIS know that he took
pride and delight in all honest endea-
vor and good work, and the happy
sense that he relied upon us spurred US
on to higher ambition.
Those were the good old DAYS when
the Bible and the voice Of prayer were
not prohibited in our public schools
and the clear, confident tone with
which the daily passage of scripture
was read to US, the few earnest words
of prayer committing us and our work
unto God each day, sohered and Gained
us for the task before us. In those
DAYS there were no musical directors in
our public schools, but every child il