From History of Walworth County Wisconsin, Vol. 1, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 726 - 727
 
CHARLES MONROE GATES.  Earnest labor, unabating perseverance and good 
management are the elements which have brought prosperity to Charles Monroe 
GATES, who was born on the farm where he still resides in the southwestern part 
of Geneva township, Walworth county, September 24, 1861.  Every locality needs 
such men - of genuine worth of unquestioned integrity and honor.
 
Mr. GATES has been content to spend his life in his home community and he is 
widely known throughout the same.  He is the son of Irwin Franklin GATES and 
Charlotte Dewey (SPENCER) GATES.  The father was born in May 1817. He came from 
near Moscow, New York, in the early forties, and located in Walworth county, 
Wisconsin.  He was the son of Daniel and Betsey (FENTON) GATES.  The subject's 
maternal grandparents were Hiram and Lois (MOSLEY) SPENCER.  Their daughter 
Charlotte was born in St. Lawrence county, New York.  One of Irwin F. GATES' 
ancestors was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was wounded by a poisoned 
bullet.  The father of the subject of this sketch was about nineteen or twenty 
years old when he came west.  He was a stone mason, and he located first at 
Racine, Wisconsin, then came to Geneva, Walworth county, and upon his arrival 
he spent his last quarter for something to eat.  He worked at his trade for 
years.  Soon after he was twenty-one years of age he bought the farm where the 
subject now resides and made his home here the rest of his life.  Here he was 
married and he bought the farm of his wife's father, who came here when the 
country was first opened for settlement and entered the farm from the 
government.  Mr. SPENCER was killed by a mad bull on the farm, after which his 
widow moved to Elkhorn, where she spent her last days.
 
Charles M. GATES was the third in order of birth of a family of four children, 
namely: Hiram Franklin lives in Rock county, Wisconsin; Charlotte Sophia is the 
wife of C. J. EATON and they live in Elkhorn; Bettie Louis married H. W. WEED 
and they live in Saskatchewan, Canada.  The father of these children was a 
Democrat and active in the affairs of his community.  His death occurred on 
February 9, 1908, his wife having preceded him to the grave on July 3, 1906, 
both dying on the homestead, which they had developed through long years of 
labor, and on this farm, as before intimated, their son, Charles M., grew up 
and has spent his life, keeping it well improved and well tilled and the 
buildings in proper repair.
 
Mr. GATES is a Democrat and he has been a frequent holder of township offices, 
always discharging his duties faithfully.  For eleven years he was assessor of 
his township and this is his fifth year as chairman.
 
Mr. GATES was married on November 4, 1883, to Ida CORNWELL, and her death 
occurred on November 11, 1884.  On November 11, 1885, he was united in marriage 
with Edie Caroline KREUGER.  She was born in Germany and was brought to this 
county by her parents, Frank and Elizabeth (WALHANDT) KREUGER, who have lived 
for many years in Lafayette township.  To Mr. and Mrs. GATES three children 
have been born, namely: Edith May, wife of Burton FAIRCHILD, lived on the 
FAIRCHILD farm in the central part of Geneva township; she has one daughter, 
Edna.  Harry Monroe GATES married Mabel WHITE, and they live on a farm two and 
one-half miles north of Williams Bay, and they have two children, Edith and 
Donald.  Frank Eugene GATES is on the home farm with his father.
 
Fraternally, Mr. GATES is a Mason.  He is industrious, diligent, kind and 
straightforward in manner.  Everybody likes him.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)