ABEL GATES -
December 11, 1905
Abel Gates was born
at “Whitney Crossings, NY, Dec 24, 1833. His father was Abel Gates, a native of Connecticut, who settled near the Gates home, about one hundred years ago. His mother was Emma
Tilden, who as a girl, lived in Massachusetts. Abel Gates Jr. as he was called was the youngest of six children. He spend his boyhood days helping clear up the land and
worked in his father’s saw mill, a portion of the dam and a few old timbers still mark the old mill site on the creek opposite the house. Nov. 9, 1858 he was married to Miss
Mary McCray. Later on he bought his father’s farm and devoted himself to farming.
In 1864 he enlisted
in Co G., 188 NY Vol. and served his country as a soldier, until discharged on account of wounds received in battle Apr 1, 1865, at the battle of Five Forks. He fought in
seven other battles during a year in the service, viz: Hatchers’ Run Oct 27, 1864, Welden Raid Dec 6, to Dec 15, 1864, Second Hatchers’s Run Feb 6, 1865, Attack on Fort Meigs
March 26, 1865, Charge on the Sawdust Fort, Lewis Farm, March 29, 1865, Supporting a battery against a rebel charge on Boynton Plank Road, March 30, 1865, and Battle of
Gravelly Run, March 31, 1865. The following day occurred the battle of Five Forks. Mr. Gates was twice wounded during the battle, once just above the knee of the left leg,
causing a severe flesh wound. He refused to leave the field, but kept his place on the firing line until shot in the right hip, the bullet passed nearly through the body…he
was carried off the field and suffered all the hardships common to the thousands of wounded.
After those great
battles of the civil war his strong constitution and general good health enabled him to recover his health and strength to a large extent. After the war he returned to his
home and continued farming. Later he gave up farming and for a number of years was mail carrier on a star route from Swain and Whitney Crossing to Bennetts and Angelica. For
a number of years past he has lived a pleasant retired life at his pleasant comfortable home. Mr. Gates was a life long republican and was pleased to tell that he cast his
first vote for John C. Freemont for president. He was a devout consistent Christian and never swerved from what he believed to be right. At the age of 14 he joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church and ever since has been an active member of that church. His kindly acts and upright honest character have made him loved by those near and dear to
him and honored and respected by all who knew him.
He leaves to mourn
his loss, a widow, one son, G.P. Gates, and one daughter, Mrs. H. J. Davis, four little grandchildren, one sister Mrs. Sarah Veley, of Hammondsport, NY and one brother
Philander Gates of Red Wing, Minn. The funeral took place from house Wednesday at two o’clock, Rev J. W. Allatt officiating and the body was interred in Canaseraga cemetery.
Weed Post, G.A.R. of which deceased was a member, attended the funeral in a body.
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