Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-26

reception in honor of the golden an- niversar- was held at their home on the Lebanon road about two miles from this city. Invitations had been sent to some S5 relatives and intimate friends, and nearly all called to ten- der congratulate
 Mrs. Gates is a native of Lebanon, being the daughter of Ezekiel and Sally (Burnnam) Ford and direct descendant of one of the first families to settle in the historic town of Leb- anon.. She was born April Is, 1888, her maiden name belag Ellen Maria Ford The couple were married in Lebanon by Rev. Alfred Gates of that town. Mrs. Gates counts among her greatest treasures a finely preserved daguerreotype taken by Brady of New York while they were on their honey moon.
 Four children were born to MT. and Mrs. Gates. Fred. born in March, 1861, died at his home in this city Decem- ,ber IS, 1902, leaving a widow and son. There are two other sons and a daugh- ter living, Andrew F. Gates of Hart ford one of the three railroad com missioners of Connecticut; Arthur w Gates of this city overseeF of the bleaching department of the Ameri- can Thread company plant in WlIll- mantle. and Julia Maria, wife Of Sec ond SeIectman Charles Larra bee. Jr-, of Windham. There are five grand children
 For many years AIr. Gates has been a leader in the town affairs of Leb- anon and has also been influential in state affairs He was born in Wind ham August 8, 1S36, a descendant of Thomas Gates, Esq. of Essex Eng land. The family took an important part in affairs there during the mid de of the seventeenth century. Sir John Gates, then the head of the fam fly, was chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster and a member of the prlvy council that ruled England under the r-T. .5- poused the cause of Lady Jane Grey and as result lost his title ana eS- tates and in July, 1653,- was executed Horatio Gates. who commanded at the battle of Saratoga, was of this same stock The first member of the fam ilv to join the English colonists was Stephen Gates, who came from Hing ham England to Hingham, Mass, in the good ship Diligent in 1898.
 Pitt Gates, who was born in Pres ton, this state, was the father of Will jam F. Gates, and represented the town of Windham in the legislature during the session of 1S66 and lS67- William F. Gates received his school ing in the common schools of Wind ham and also in a private school, taught by Jalbez Frink, at South Wind ham. He enlisted for service in the civil war with Company G, Twenty sixth regiment, Connecticut volunteers and was detailed as orderly to Gen eral Banks at headquarters of the de- partment of the gulf. Six members of CSompany H. Twenty sixth regiment, including MT. Gates, have occupied seats in the Connecticut legislature. MT Gates received an honorable dis charge from the army at Norwich in August 1863.
 He has ever been a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1876 he was elected a member of the board of se- lectmen for Lebanon and for a num- Der of years filled the office with cred it two years al chairman of the board. In 1885 he was again elected to the board and served for two more years. He has also held various other minor town offices In 1877 he was sent to the legislature from Lebanon In 1895 and 1896 he was in the house as senator from the old "Shoestring district
 MT. Gates has always been inter ested in agricultural pursuits and has present farm comprises something like coo acres, was purchased in 1885, and has since been conducted with great success.
 He was vice president of the Adams Nickel Plating and Manufacturing company, a concern that used to do business in South Windham, and is a m member of Francis $. Long post, No 30, G. A. R., of this city. the Army and Navy club of Connecticut, and of the Connecticut Pomological society.
 His service as a member of the leg