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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
WELLS E. GAGE, a business man
of Lind, Washington, was born in Weaver, Minnesota, on July 19, 1867. John
Gage, his father, was a native of Vermont and descended from the old Gage
family which has been prominent in the professions and in public life,
since colonial days. Lyman Gage was one of the well known men of
this family. Our subject's mother, Eleanor (Probosco) Gage, was born
in New Jersey, of a prominent colonial family. The father of our
subject was many years a railroad contractor and then owned an eleven-hundred-acre
farm in Minnesota, where this son was reared and educated. When twenty
years of age, Wells E. went to North Dakota and operated a warehouse and
elevator for two years. Next we find him in Latah county, Idaho,
in the same business and for twelve years he followed it at Genesee.
In April, 1898, Mr. Gage was mustered in with Company D, Idaho Volunteers,
as first lieutenant, having been in the company for three years previous.
His regiment sailed from San Francisco for the Philippines on June 27,
1898. Upon entering Manila, they had an engagement with the Spanish
and on February 5, 1899, were under fire from the insurgents. He
was in service for eighteen months and although frequently under fire,
never received a wound and kept his health. On July 31, 1899, his
regiment sailed for San Francisco, and after being honorably discharged
our subject went to the Coeur d' Alene country and wrought in the mines
for a few months. Then he returned to the warehouse business, locating
at Lind, Washington, in July, 1901. With three associates, he purchased
a township of land and he now owns seventeen hundred acres in Adams and
Franklin counties.
On July 15, 1891, at Colton, Washington, Mr.
Gage married Kittie Maynard, who was born in McMinnville, Oregon, the daughter
of John and Mary (Merchant) Maynard, natives of Indiana and Oregon, respectively,
and now living in Colton, Washington. The father came to the Pacific
coast in 1861 with his parents. To this union, four children have
been born: Zetta, aged twelve; Gertrude, ten; Eleanor, four; and Eugene
W., who died when eighteen months old. Mr. Gage has four brothers,
James E., Charles A., Warren, and Herbert, and two sisters, Mrs. J. B.
Schaffer and Mrs. Frank S. Towner. Mrs. Gage has two brothers, Thaddeus
and Jay.
Mr. Gage is a Republican and a substantial
and highly esteemed citizen.
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