Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 420-422] ORSON GAGE, who will form the subject of this review, is the present recorder of Cherokee County, to which office he was elected in the autumn of 1884 by a unanimous vote, there hav- ing been 2,522 votes cast for him, and 2,561 was the total vote cast at that election. He served one term of two years, and was re-elected in the fall of 1886, and again in 1888, at which time his majority was 913 over J. W. DWYER, the Democratic opponent. None but a faithful and capable officer could possibly sustain such a reputation within a county where so many able and available men are to be found for such offices. Mr. GAGE has been a resident of Cherokee County since November 9, 1870. He is a na- tive of Michigan, born September 29,1 843, in Branch County. He is the second son and third child of a family of seven children of ELIAS and ELIZA (VANAKEN) GAGE, natives of the State of New York. ELIAS GAGE was born July 13, 1804, in Albany County, and was the son of WILLIAM GAGE, who was from New England, and of Puritan ancestry. The mother of ORSON GAGE is a native of Onon- dagoa County, New York, and is the daughter of CORNELIUS VANAKEN. ELIAS GAGE was a farmer in New York until 1835, when he came to Michigan. It was there he married, in Lenawee County. He after- ward settled in Branch County, Michigan, entering a Government tract at an early day. It was a timber land, and it was no light task to clear it and improve it. He remained there until his children grew to the age at which they needed better school facil- ities, when he sold his place and located near Coldwater, Michigan, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died December 25, 1875. He was a hard-working man, who served his county by filling numerous offices of trust and responsibility. He was the first assessor of Girard and Butler townships, Branch County, Michigan. In politics he was of the Free-Soil party, and later aided in organizing the Republican party. His widow remains upon the old homestead, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. The son, ORSON GAGE, was reared to the life of a farmer, and attended the schools common to that day. He remained with his parents until the dark war cloud of the Rebellion hovered between the North and South, threatening the destruction of our free institutions, when he said farewell to home and friends, and enlisted in Com- pany C, Nineteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was attached to the Third Division of the Twentieth Army Corps in the Army of the Cumberland. On January 1, 1863, the regiment was stationed at Danville, and belonged to Colonel COBURN'S brigade. As a reserve corps they moved to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving there February 7. On March 4, with 600 cavalry and 200 additional infantry, they took part in a reconnoissance in force. Skirmishing soon commenced. The Nineteenth fought against fearful odds; attack after attack was repulsed. They took the colors belonging to the Fourth Mississippi, and several prisoners, but at last were com- pelled to surrender. The rebel officer refused to take the Col- onel's sword, saying, "An officer so brave and gallant deserves his sword." The Nineteenth entered this action with 412 men, and lost 113 of the number. At the time the command was taken priso- ners of war, Mr. GAGE was ill, hence escaped. The regiment was reorganized at Camp Chase, Ohio, June 1, 1863, and from that date had an eventful history, taking part in the great march to the sea with General SHERMAN, and back by way of Richmond to Washington, participating in the grandest display of military forces ever congregated in America, the grand review at Washington in June, 1865. The 10th of that month he was mustered out of the service, and June 25, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Detroit, Michi- gan. He then returned to a fairly won home in the land of the free. Mr. GAGE worked at the millwright business until May, 1868, when he came to Iowa and settled in Butler County. In November, 1870, he removed to Cherokee County, and there engaged in the mill- wright business and in milling. He assisted in the construction of a mill at Sac City, and at Greene, Butler County. He then worked at plain carpenter work for a time. After having done faithful work at the bench, he was called in 1884, without opposition either in convention or at the polls, to fill the office of recorder, as be- fore stated, and is now serving his third term. Mr. GAGE was married October 7, 1872, to Miss KITTIE F. BLISS, a native of the city of Chicago, and a daughter of J. W. BLISS. Her father was a native of New York, and was for a time a resident of Eastern Iowa. He removed to Cherokee County in October, 1870. He was a miller by occupation. He died in Nebraska, July 24, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. GAGE are the par- ents of four children: MINNIE E., CHARLES E., MORGEANNA and EMMA. Politically Mr. GAGE has always been a firm believer in the princi- ples of the Republican party. He is an acceptable member of Specu- lative Lodge, No. 307, A.F. & A.M.; of Burning Bush chapter, No. 90, R.A.M., and of Crusade Commandery, No. 39, K.T. He served as High Priest of the chapter for two years. He also belongs to the A.O.U.W., Lodge No. 197, and is an honored member of Custer Post, No. 25, G.A.R. ===========================================================================