James P. Gage, Lyons

JAMES P. GAGE was born on the 10th of June, 1810, at Stony Creek, Canada, a few miles east of Hamilton. His father, James Gage, was a farmer, and among the very first settlers in that section of country, then a wilderness. His paternal grandfather served as a soldier in the war for independence, and was killed, on the Hudson river, some forty miles above New York city. He was a man highly esteemed and respected for his sterling integrity and patriotism. His mother, an estimable and worthy lady, was a native of North Carolina; and his maternal grandfather, sympathizing with the local prejudices of his neighborhood, espoused the cause of the tories during the American revolution. At the close of the war he settled in Canada, regretting sincerely his error of judgment that induced him to commit this political blunder, the great folly of his life. He died at an advanced age. His mother's maiden name was Mary Davis, and the middle letter in the name of the subject of this sketch is derived from the maternal grandmother, whose name was Phillips.

His parents were worthy and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and being wealthy and liberal, contributed largely to its support and welfare. In his parental home, the early ministry of that denomination always found a hearty welcome and christian hospitality. The children of the family consisted of four sons and six daugliters, all of whom arrived to maturity. The subject of this sketch recently assisted in celebrating the "golden wedding" of one of the surviving sisters, Mrs. L. D. Birely, residing in Canada.

In the schools of the neighborhood he received the rudiments of an English education, and was always first in his class among his school-fellows. In these early years he obtained the elements of a sound and practical education.

The children were early taught that industry is essential to success in life, and hence the boys and girls of the family were always engaged in some household duty, or useful employment on the farm. Hunting, trapping and field sports generally have always been very attractive to him. Through life his gun has afforded him the highest enjoyment and greatest amusement.

In a biographical sketch of this nature, the trifling incidents that enter into the life of an individual should be briefly noticed, as essential to the full and faithful delineation of character.

At the age of twenty-two, having been generously endowed by a gift from his father of a deed of seventy acres of good land, together with a horse and fifteen hundred dollars in cash, he left the parental mansion, and, in company with his brother, entered into the mercantile business in Wellington Square, some ten miles distant. The enterprise was conducted with prudence, and proved profitable. The brother having withdrawn, the business was continued by Mr. Gage with ability and success. Making his purchases principally in New York and Montreal, his business increased, and, to a limited extent, became the center of commercial transaction for that locality.

In his various business relations he soon acquired a reputation for financial ability and thoroughness in business, having no recollection of ever contracting an obligation that was not paid at maturity.

He has never sought nor accepted office, and belongs to no society. When a boy he joined the temperance movement, and, during the southern difficulties, the "Union League." His travels have been limited. Some thirty years since, however, he visited England, principally to improve his health. In 1836 he rode from Schenectady to Albany, a distance of sixteen miles, on the only railway at the time in America.

His first visit to Iowa was in 1853, with a view to land investments. Having made a large investment of some twenty-two hundred acres, near London, at one dollar per acre, he returned in the following year and made another large purchase in the same vicinity. He found the country attractive, and in 1855 settled on a farm of half a section (three hundred and twenty acres) in Jackson county. His experience, however, as a farmer, was not gratifying. To use his own expression, "he found the sun very hot, the acres very large, and good help very scarce."

About this time he established a grocery store in the city of Lyons, with Wm. Lyall as manager. He also invested in other property in the same vicinity, and finally, in 1858, moved hither with his family.

This enterprise is still in successful operation, doing business in a commodious edifice erected by himself. Associating himself principally with Messrs. Rands, he entered into the banking business, and early, with few associates, established the first national bank at Lyons, O. McMahon and he being the principal owners. He has been the president of the bank since its organization. In 1873 he erected in Clinton, Iowa, the building known as the Farmers and Citizens' Savings Bank. He is the owner of the building and nearly the entire stock of the institution. It enjoys a fair business, and is increasing in usefulness.

The extent and variety of his business relations, and the admirable manner in which they have been managed, furnish sufficient proof of his comprehensive intellect and thorough business capacity. His reputation for financial ability and integrity is so extensive that he is made the custodian of important trusts, not only in his own, but also in neighboring communities. His financial career has been characterized by remarkable success. He has proved what a man can do who depends upon himself, and is resolved to trust himself to the end. He did not believe that man is the creature, but the lord, of his circumstances. Those who hope for his success must adopt his means.

His religious views are peculiar and somewhat indefinite. He is neither a sceptic nor a sectarian; he believes all religion relates to life, and that the life of religion is to do good.

In politics, Mr. Gage is decidedly an independent thinker and actor, and has no sympathy with the party hacks who make politics a trade. Although not a partisan in politics, yet he is a firm believer in the science of self-government, and entertaining an abiding faith in the Demos-Krotos principle.

He was married on the 24th of November, 1836, to Mary Jane Davis, of Wellington Square, Canada. This lady died on the 7th of February, 1857. In 1858 was again united in matrimony, to Helen Julia Buck, of Palermo, Canada West. One son and two daughters are the result of the latter marriage. Mr. Bidwell Gage, the very efficient and gentlemanly cashier of the Farmers and Citizens' Savings Bank, is the only surviving issue of the former marriage.

Mr. Gage is a man of pleasing address; his manners are affable and courteous, yet manly and dignified. He has been highly favored by nature, being endowed with an active and comprehensive mind, singularly keen perceptions, and the most untiring energy. He is one of the most prominent and influential men in that region of Iowa where he resides, and, as a business man, has the confidence of a wide circle of merchants and capitalists, who find in him a prompt and trustworthy associate.

Source:

The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men. Iowa Volume.

Chicago and New York: American Biographical Publishing Company, 1878