He was elected sheriff in 1838 because of his thorough fitness for the position; there was much public excitement in that year--banks suspending specie payment, and counterfeiters springing up in every section--and it was undoubtedly due to Sheriff Gates' indomitable courage and determination that Lorain county was rid of all kinds of nefarious characters.
In 1840 Col. Gates was an ardent Whig, and took an active part in the memorable campaign of that year. Mounted on his famous black horse, "Bucephalus," he led the delegation in the procession from Lorain county to the imposing grand convention held upon the banks of the Maumee river on June 11, that year. In Elyria he built a sawmill, sash, door and blind factory, and in 1843 he put up an ashery, which he operated for many years. In 1843 he was elected mayor of Elyria for the first time, and served many succeeding terms, though not consecutively. In 1844 he embarked in general mercantile business in Elyria, but at the end of a year he sold out. In 1850 he was a director of the Lorain Plank Road Company, and for many years was its superintendent. In 1852 he was elected president of Lorain County Agricultural Society, and gave it its first permanent footing. In 1862 he was active in the Republican party, and a member of the" Wide-awake Club." Same year he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourteenth District of Ohio, in which office he remained till removed by President Johnson.
In 1840 Col. Gates was an ardent Whig, and took an active part in the memorable campaign of that year. Mounted on his famous black horse, "Bucephalus," he led the delegation in the procession from Lorain county to the imposing grand convention held upon the banks of the Maumee river on June 11, that year. In Elyria he built a sawmill, sash, door and blind factory, and in 1843 he put up an ashery, which he operated for many years. In 1843 he was elected mayor of Elyria for the first time, and served many succeeding terms, though not consecutively. In 1844 he embarked in general mercantile business in Elyria, but at the end of a year he sold out. In 1850 he was a director of the Lorain Plank Road Company, and for many years was its superintendent. In 1852 he was elected president of Lorain County Agricultural Society, and gave it its first permanent footing. In 1862 he was active in the Republican party, and a member of the" Wide-awake Club." Same year he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourteenth District of Ohio, in which office he remained till removed by President Johnson.
He was elected sheriff in 1838 because of his thorough fitness for the position; there was much public excitement in that year--banks suspending specie payment, and counterfeiters springing up in every section--and it was undoubtedly due to Sheriff Gates' indomitable courage and determination that Lorain county was rid of all kinds of nefarious characters.
In 1840 Col. Gates was an ardent Whig, and took an active part in the memorable campaign of that year. Mounted on his famous black horse, "Bucephalus," he led the delegation in the procession from Lorain county to the imposing grand convention held upon the banks of the Maumee river on June 11, that year. In Elyria he built a sawmill, sash, door and blind factory, and in 1843 he put up an ashery, which he operated for many years. In 1843 he was elected mayor of Elyria for the first time, and served many succeeding terms, though not consecutively. In 1844 he embarked in general mercantile business in Elyria, but at the end of a year he sold out. In 1850 he was a director of the Lorain Plank Road Company, and for many years was its superintendent. In 1852 he was elected president of Lorain County Agricultural Society, and gave it its first permanent footing. In 1862 he was active in the Republican party, and a member of the" Wide-awake Club." Same year he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourteenth District of Ohio, in which office he remained till removed by President Johnson.
In 1840 Col. Gates was an ardent Whig, and took an active part in the memorable campaign of that year. Mounted on his famous black horse, "Bucephalus," he led the delegation in the procession from Lorain county to the imposing grand convention held upon the banks of the Maumee river on June 11, that year. In Elyria he built a sawmill, sash, door and blind factory, and in 1843 he put up an ashery, which he operated for many years. In 1843 he was elected mayor of Elyria for the first time, and served many succeeding terms, though not consecutively. In 1844 he embarked in general mercantile business in Elyria, but at the end of a year he sold out. In 1850 he was a director of the Lorain Plank Road Company, and for many years was its superintendent. In 1852 he was elected president of Lorain County Agricultural Society, and gave it its first permanent footing. In 1862 he was active in the Republican party, and a member of the" Wide-awake Club." Same year he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourteenth District of Ohio, in which office he remained till removed by President Johnson.
Gravesite Details
headstone inscription & burial plot provided courtesy of Ian McGuire from Sept. 2003 Eagle Scout Project
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