Ernest A. Gage

As printed in 1910

ERNEST A. GAGE (1884), ex-president of the First National Bank of Lakefield, is engaged in the insurance business in that village. He is the son of the late Solomon and Marion (King) Gage and descends from colonial stock, one distinguished member of the family being Lyman J. Gage, former secretary of the Uruted States treasury.

Our subject's grandfather, Solomon Gage, Sr., was born in New Hampshire in 1788 and immigrated to Kane county, Illinois, in 1846. Our subject's father, Solomon Gage, Jr., was born in Arcade, New York, June 15, 1827, and accompanied his father to Rutland township, Kane county, in 1846. There he grew to manhood, bought property and spent practically all the rest of his life. In the fifties he made two trips overland to California, driving ox teams. From the first trip he returned in 1852 by way of Cape Horn; the second return trip was made by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He came to Jackson county in 1884, bought a section of land in Belmont and Hunter townships, but did not make his home here. Solomon Gage was married three times. His first wife, Susan Hogeboom, died in California March 15, 1857. His second wife and the mother of our subject was Mary E. King, whom he married July 1, 1858. She was born in New Haven, Connecticut, October 4, 1840, and died January 4, 1871. She was the daughter of Madison King and was of English descent. Nine children were born to them, of whom the subject of this biography and John G. Gage, of Lakefield, are the only surviving ones. Solomon Gage was married the third time in 1872 to Mrs. Sylvia Brisbin, a native of Canada. Mr. Gage died in Kane county, Illinois, November 7, 1886.

Ernest A. Gage was born in Rutland township, Kane county, Illinois, February 1, 1866, and grew to young manhood there, attending the district schools and working on his fathers farm. His education was completed with one term in the preparatory department of Beloit college in 1888. As before mentioned, the elder Gage came to Jackson county in 1884 and purchased land. One of these tracts was the south half of section 31, Belmont township, and upon that farm our subject located in January, 1884. He conducted the farm two years and then returned to his old home. He bought the old homestead and engaged in farming until the year 1901. Then he sold out and again came to Jackson county. Locating in Lakefield, he engaged in the implement business four years, selling out March 6, 1905, to his brother, John G. Gage. On the first day of the year 1905 he bought out the interests of N. J. Scott in the First National Bank of Lakefield, became president of the bank, conducted it until the next year, and then sold out to J. W. Daubney. After his retirement from the bank Mr. Gage lived a retired life until January, 1908; then he opened an insurance business, in wliich he has since been engaged. He writes policies in the New York Life, the Connecticut and the Williamsburg City Insurance company.

Mr. Gage owns a half interest in the implement buildings occupied by his brother and has his own home in the village. He takes an active interest in lodge matters and holds membership in many worthy orders. Of the Masonic orders he is a charter member of Lakefield Lodge No. 250, A. F. & A. M., and was master in 1905; he is a charter member of lodge No. 73, R. A. M., of Jackson; of the Fairmont Commandry No. 27; and of Osman Temple of St. Paul. He holds membership in the Lakefield lodge No. 178 I. O. O. F.; in the Lakefield chapter No. 185, O. E. S., and in the Knights of the Globe at Hampshire, Illinois.

Mr. Gage was married March 31, 1890, to Emma C. Hemrick, a native of Kane county, Illinois, and a daughter of Philip H. and Caroline M. (Maupton) Hemrick, both born in Kane county, Hlinois. The former was born September 25, 1848, and now resides in Flagler, Colorado; the latter was born July 3*2, 1850, and died January 8, 1898.

fury. He devotes his time principally to the management of his farms and city property, but is also engaged in buying and shipping furs. He owns 148 acres of land in section 3, Hunter township, a half section in Ransom county, North Dakota, a drug store building in Lakefield, a residence and other property in that village.

L. J. Britsch was born May 26, 1858, in Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, the son of Christian and Catherine (Schofer) Britsch. His father was born in Bretten Bathen, Germany, and his mother at Hessen, in the same country. They came to America when young and were married in Ohio. For many years the family lived at Niles, where Mr. Britsch was engaged as a puddler In the iron mills. Later he engaged in farming \a Winneshiek county, Iowa, and later still farmer near Spirit Lake, Iowa, where he died October 23, 1886, aged 56 years. Mrs. Britsch is 77 years of age and resides in Lakefield. Louis is one of a family of ten children, of whom seven are living.

Louis Britsch resided with his parents in Niles, Ohio, until six years old, and then accompanied them to Winneshiek county, Iowa. It was seven years later when the family moved to Spirit Lake. Louis was educated in the district schools, and after securing his education learned the harnessmaker's trade at Spencer, Iowa. Later he worked at his trade in Chicago, Youngstown, Ohio, New Castle, Pennsylvania, and at Spirit Lake. He located in Lakefield in 1885 and opened a harness shop, which he conducted nine years. Selling out then he has since devoted his time as mentioned above.

At Hamilton, Minnesota, on May 26, 1887, Mr. Britsch was married to Miss Ida Hinze, who was born in Cook county, Illinois, January 27, 1869, the daughter of Adolph and Caroline Hinze. To Mr. and Mrs. Britsch have been born four children, as follows: Lillian, a state university student and school teacher, born April 16, 1889; Arthur, a high school student, born November 7, 1892; Elsie, born September 9, 1895; Ludie, born March 15,

As printed in An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.