Alameda County
Biographies
EDMUND GATES
EDMUND GATES. Settling in
Fruitvale in 1870, when the town was in its infancy, Mr. Gates has been a
resident of that place for nearly thirty-five years, and during the time has ever
evinced a warm interest in local progress and improvements, heartily endorsing
all enterprises calculated to benefit that section of Alameda county. A man of industry and energy, he has established
himself among the substantial business men of the place, and as a skillful
blacksmith has won an extensive and lucrative patronage. A son of
Thomas C. Gates, he was born December 22, 1840, in Canada,
near the city of Montreal, being one of a family of ten children, six sons and
four daughters.
A native of Ireland, Thomas C. Gates was born and reared
in County Armagh. In early life he became a
manufacturer of potash, and in connection with that business emigrated
to America, locating in Canada, not far from Montreal, in 1839. He subsequently
engaged in business as a general merchant and a real estate agent. Moving with
his family to Illinois in 1877, he was there engaged as a dealer in real estate
until his death. He married Mary Ann Dawson, who was born in Ireland
and died in Canada. Of the ten children that blessed their union, Edmund was
the firstborn.
After leaving the common schools, in which he acquired a
practical education, Edmund Gates traveled through Canada for a few years
as a peddler. He afterward embarked in the lumber business on his own account,
getting the timber off from one hundred acres of land, lying in Clinton county, N. Y., which his father had given to him when
he was but sixteen years of age. Leaving New York state
January 26, 1870, Mr. Gates came directly to Alameda county,
Cal., locating in Fruitvale district, on Seminary avenue, where he has since
resided. For two years he carried on general farming, and was then employed for
eight years as a butcher in the Mills College district. In 1881 Mr. Gates
opened a blacksmith’s shop on his home place, and soon found himself master of
a large and rapidly increasing business, his patronage being so great that in
order to accommodate his customers he built, in 1892, his present smithy, at
the corner of High and Fourteenth streets, Fruitvale. Possessing much
mechanical talent and ingenuity, he has proved himself an adept at his trade.
March 17, 1867, at Rouse’s Point, Clinton county, N. Y., Mr. Gates married
Augusta E. Brown, who was born in Clinton county, N. Y., and died
December 4, 1903, in Fruitvale, Cal. Of the union of Mr. and
Mrs. Gates six children were born, namely: Ida May, wife of
R. G. Hamilton, of San Francisco; Clarence N., deceased;
Addie Louise, deceased; Edwin W., general manager and president of
the Cavaharno Wholesale Liquor Company, of San
Francisco; Harold N., with the Wells-Fargo Express Company in San
Francisco; and Leslie E., a carpenter by trade, working with his father. A
stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Gates has
served as a delegate to county conventions, and for three years was deputy
sheriff for Alameda county. He takes especial interest in educational matters, and from 1875
until 1897 was one of the trustees of the Lockwood School. Fraternally he
belongs to Fruitvale Lodge No. 336, F. & A. M. He is a
member of the Eighth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 03 April 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
1070. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.
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