MESSINGER E. GATES

Sacramento County

Biographies

MESSINGER E. GATES

MESSINGER E. GATES.—A resident of Sacramento since early days, Messinger E. Gates was born in New London, N. H., July 6, 1842. He spent the first score of his years in the East, but in 1861 came out to California, via the Isthmus, and for a while clerked in a store at Drytown, Amador County. On October 8, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, in Company A, 7^th California Volunteers, attained the rank of sergeant, and also saw service in Indian warfare, fighting the Apaches in Arizona, and after serving his country faithfully and well, was mustered out in San Francisco, April 12, 1866.

On returning to civil life, Mr. Gates started work for the Sacramento Valley Railway, later the Central Pacific, in Sacramento, April 20, 1866; he was freight platform man, clerk, and later, agent at Sacramento, and sold the first ticket to San Francisco, in 1869, a happening which marks him as a pioneer railroad man in the state. He later became agent of the freight and passenger department, at the company‘s depot at K and L Streets, remaining in that capacity until 1881, when he engaged as clerk in the freight department. He held that position until 1907, when he requested his own retirement, after rounding out forty-one years and four months continuous service with the railroad in Sacramento, a record for stability, for "sticking to his last" which shows the strength of his purpose. In his early days in the state, before the war, he followed mining in Eldorado County, and still has mining interests there.

The marriage of Mr. Gates united him with Jennie Messinger, a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., who came to California, also via the Isthmus, in 1850; one son was born to this pioneer couple, Harry E., residing in San Francisco, in which city Mr. Gates now makes his home, though he makes frequent trips to Sacramento to visit, and renew old-time friendships, made during nearly half a century of residence here. He joined Sumner Post No. 3, G. A. R., in 1868, and has gone through all the chairs of the order, making him past commander.

Transcribed 5-17-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 806-809. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.