Cortes J. and Jane A. (Kimball) Gates

Christie, Weston, Clark Co., Wisconsin

Cortes was born about 1843 in NY, the son of Aaron C. and Maria Gates, farmers who moved from the Empire State to claim a homestead in Vernon Co., WI at the land office in LaCrosse, 10 Sep 1860.  That year, Cortes was recorded as a 17 yr. old resident of Minerva, Essex, NY.  His father, Aaron was a veteran of the War of 1812 who lived to the ripe old age of 89 yrs. and he is buried in the Neillsville, WI City Cemetery.  He and Maria had three sons, Cortes J., Sylvanus (b. 1852) and George (b. 1856).

When the Civil War broke out, Cortes fought with three successive units: 16th NY H.A. (mustered in Sep 1863 at Troy, Buffalo, NY and transferred May 1864), Co. H, 1st NY Mounted Rifles and Co. A, 4th NY Prov. Cav. (a consolidation of the 3rd Cav. and the 1st Mounted Rifles, 6 Sep 1865, with an honorable discharge 29 Nov 1865).  Shortly after the war 5 Dec 1866, Cortez applied for an invalid's pension.

At the time of the 1870 Census, Cortes was listed as 29 yrs. of age, farming with his aunt and uncle, Daniel and Jane (Hewett) Gates in Clark Co., WI.  "Dan" and Jane had located at the mouth of Wedges' Creek where he kept a well known and popular log tavern, resort and resting place in Levis Twp. until about 1861.  The horse team with which Mr. Gates hauled his freight from Sparta, Wis., were among the first horses seen in the county, he and his family traveling by stage. In 1861 he purchased 20 acres of land on a site adjoining the suburbs of Neillsville where he erected a log house, sided over, and a large frame barn.  The land was all wild but the help of Cortes, it was not only cleared, but other land was added as well.

Cortes married Jane A. Kimball 21 Jun 1874, in Clark Co., WI.  She was born during 1844.  They were the parents of a daughter, Elsie Frances (b. 13 Apr 1875).  By 1880, the family had settled on a farm in Sec. 32 of present day Eaton Twp. Cortes' parents and his brother George, lived with them.  Extended family members also settled in sec. 11, Eaton and some in sec. 15 of Weston Twp.  During the winter of 1884, Cortes was "putting in logs" for James Reddan in Eaton Twp. and made the local news when he reported hauling a log to the Black River, measuring 18 ft. long, four ft. across its sap at the top and scaled at 1860 ft.

Cortes died before 28 Jan 1895, and is buried in the G.A.R. section of the Neillsville City Cemetery.  Jane died at the age of 53 yrs., 19 Mar 1897 in Merrillan, WI.

Census Records

Military

[Widow's Pension Card]
 

Genealogy

Sylvanus L GATES; Birth: 28 Aug 1851, of section 34, Eaton Township, Clark County, was born in Essex County, the son of Aaron (deceased) and Maria (Sawyer) Gates the former was a native of Washington County, New York and the mother, Margaret (Red lived with Sylvanus and Margaret in her old age. They were the parents of three children: Cortez, Sylvanus and George.
Marriage: 18 Aug 1884 , Clark, Wisconsin

Wife: Margaret Redman
Father: Richard Redman

Children

1. Harland A Gates: Birth: 16 Jul 1886 , Clark, Wisconsin

2. Irvin Edward Gates: Birth: 6 Jun 1889 , Clark, Wisconsin, died: 20 Apr 1939; married Helen Boyce in 1921.

Family Timelines

Cortes J. Gates is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."

Contributors

Paul Forster, Marsha Hosfeld, Janet Schwarze & The Clark Co. History Buffs