BIOGRAPHY: Joel A. GATES, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 124-6
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JOEL A. GATES, superintendent and bookkeeper for J. M. Troxell, a lumber dealer 
in Cambria and Clearfield counties, is a son of Isaac and Mary (Troxell) Gates, 
and was born in White township, this county, September 30, 1848. His 
grandfather, J. Caleb Gates, was born in Wittenburg, Germany, whence he 
emigrated to America, and located in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and engaged in 
farming. Later he removed with his family to Cambria county, and located in 
White township, where he purchased a tract of wood land which is now owned by 
Joseph Vance, and became a pioneer farmer in White township, where he died. 
     His marriage resulted in the birth of seven children: Margaret, who married 
Mayor John Zentmyer, of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, who was the father of 
P. R. Zentmyer, superintendent of the Novelty Works at Clearfield, Pennsylvania; 
Nathan, deceased; Levi, deceased; Isaac, deceased; Matilda, the wife of Daniel 
Louffer; Joel, late of White township; William, located at Lyson, Blair county, 
Pennsylvania
     Isaac Gates, father, was born in Berks county on September 7, 1818, and 
died on his farm in White township, September 26, 1876. He had led a very active 
life, begin engaged in farming and lumbering many years. He was quite an 
extensive farmer, and owned a tract of land containing nineteen hundred acres of 
farm and timber territory, lying in White and Chest townships. He was 
extensively engaged in the lumber business, owning and operating a saw-mill, 
besides sending large quantities of lumber by raft and floats to Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania. He was a careful and successful business man, and had accumulated 
quite a competency
     In political faith he was a republican, and in religious belief a member of 
the United Brethren church, of which he was a liberal supporter; however, he did 
not confine his liberality to this church, but was deeply interested and very 
active in everything that was for the benefit of the community in which he lived
     His union with Miss Mary, a daughter of John Troxell, a farmer of Reade 
township, this county, resulted in the birth of eight children, five sons and 
three daughters: Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. Daniel Strayer, of the United 
Brethren church of White township; John C., whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this book; Lafayette M., a farmer, of Muscatine county, Iowa, who is also a 
local minister in the United Brethren church; Joel A.; Isaac W., a farmer, 
residing in Coalport, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania; Perry C., also a farmer, 
residing in Coalport; Mary M., the wife of J. S. McKee, a farmer of White 
township, and Hannah, who died in childhood
     Joel A. Gates was reared on a farm, and received his early education in the 
local schools of Reade township and Normal schools of Blair and Centre counties, 
and prepared himself for a business career by a course in the Iron City Business 
College, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1869. After leaving school he, 
in company with his father and brother, J. C. Gates, under the firm name of 
Gates, Son & Co., opened a general store in Glendale, this county, and for a 
number of years conducted an extensive and remunerative business. He was also 
assistant postmaster of Glendale, aggregating seventeen years. On the death of 
his father the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Gates was connected with G. L. 
Glasgow, of Glasgow, this county, under the firm name of G. L. Glasgow & Co.; he 
was also a member of the firm known as Gates, Glasgow & Co., merchants, of 
Fallen Timber. During the last fifteen years he has been engaged in the lumber 
business, and has handled immense quantities of lumber. For five years he has 
been superintendent and bookkeeper for J. M. Troxell, a lumber dealer in Cambria 
and Clearfield counties
     In political circles he is prominently identified with the Republican 
party, and is at present serving his third term as justice of the peace, yet 
holding his fourth commission -- one being for but one year by appointment, and 
in 1880 was appointed census enumerator for the sub-district composed of Dean, 
Reade and White townships. Fraternally he is a member of Coalport Lodge, No. 
574, F. and A. M., of Coalport, and of Flinton Grange, No. 1129. He is a 
consistent member of the Lutheran church of Glasgow.
    March 10, 1870, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Catharine B., a 
daughter of John Glasgow, whose sketch appears elsewhere. This marriage has 
resulted in the birth of three children: Eva A., a music teacher of much 
ability; John L., of Glendale; and Frank J., at home.