Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-01-24

a true helpmate. he reared his large
family in habits of thrift and industry
and so successful was he and SO
happy was the home life that all the
sons are following the honored
fathers vocation and all the six
daughters married farmers, and all
settled near the old homestead. Mrs.
Knotwell residing two and a half
miles west of Lancaster, living
farthest away. Up to the time of
his release, his greatest joy was
the frequent home coming of the
children and the children's children.
There was always great Christmas
gathering until this year, so sad a
time for all, with the revered father
breathing in slow agony mis- life away.
"Grandpa's'' gift to every grandchlld.
a habit begun with the first, was a
new dollar, and with what delight
did he put them by for the Christmas
! JOY He was great man for his
home and most generous provider.
relieving the wife of nearly all care
of buying For mnay years Mr..
Gates was NUN bered among Ian
casters successful stock buyers,
driving back and forth from his home.
He was man of powerful endurance,
physically very strong until about
three years ago, when, attacked by
disease, the signs of age rapidly in.
creased. Morally, he was man of
sterling integrity. He was of positive
and strong conviction as to right and
| wrong, and fearless in his expressions
of those convictions. These charac-
teristics made successful life. His
generosity did not end in the home.
He was generous with his help, and
this hospitality was extended ito all
who entered his threshold.
Mr.. Gates was undou bUedly the
largest contributor to his church
Probably without his ample aid the
pretty and commodious Dodge church
would not have been built. Certain
we are that the organ and nearly all
of the conveniences to the social
apartments were provided without
solicitation by Mr.. Gates quiet,
undemonstrative generosity. He was
a regular attendant as long as health
would permit
What a glorious thing to rear so
many sons and daughters to mature.
upright living. and to be honored
even unto the end, by their loyal.
untiring love and attention And to
be mourned by them as he is mourned
This simple tribute would be in
complete indeed without the mention
of beautiful incident that occurred
at the very beginning of our old
neighbours last sickness. He had been
in great agony Of body when suddenly
he looked tenderly at the loving wife
who was giving her most devoted
care, and said, Ma. I have seen my
mother. She has been here and laid
her hand upon my shoulder. And she
had on a most beautiful white robe
And when I looked down, I too. was
wearing a beautiful white rob3 -
The dear old mother had been many.
many years in Paradise, and Mr.
Gates was never a man expressive of
sentiment But who shall say the
white winged messenger whom we
call Death did not come in the sweet
| c,y,;co Of %bn 1oothar xrbO had +ou0b4
him at her knees the truths that made
his dying bed at eighty three soft
as downy pillows are. - and gave the
sweet assurance of a meeting in the
home not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens? A mothers love 1t
lives and lasts through all eternity.
Notwithstanding the awful weather
of Friday, the 9TH, d very large crowd
paid the last tribute at the Dodge
church at O'Clock p II. Rev. D..
Witherbee. former pastor, came by
request Of Mr.. Gates from Hazel
Green to conduct the service. All
the immediate relatives except Ora
Gillies and Archie Marshall, both
living near Ismay, Mont, were
present. Edna Marshall, who was
living on her claim near there. came
to be with the beloved grandpa in his
last days Relativ1s from Shullsburg
and Apple River, ILL.,, were also in
attendance.
The pail of death was softened by
many beautiful floral tributes. among
them a sheaf of grain ripe for the
harvest, fitting offering, For these
and the many acts of kindness, many
expressions of sympathy. expressed to
their loved one and themselves, Mrs.
Gates and all the sons and daughters
will ever mold in appreciative and
tender memory the donors.
''When we shall see the dear, familiar faces
| Which cheered our fre-side in the long ago,
! When we behold, instead of vacant places.
/ The friends whose tender love once blessed