My Genealogy Hound

David Gage, one of the representative men, of Novi township, Oakland County, and a worthy member of one of the old pioneer families of this section, was born in 1839 on his present farm in section 7, where he owns 13 acres and has his residence, owning also 80 acres in section 18, the two adjoining tracts making a fine farm of 93 acres. He is a son of Stephen L. and Mary (Aldrich) Gage, both of whom were born in the State of New York.

Both Stephen L. Gage and his father-in-law, Mr. Aldrich, came to Novi township, Oakland County, in 1830. Mr. Aldrich took up 160 acres of government land and Mr. Gage secured a fine tract of 13 acres adjoining, -80 acres of Mr. Aldrichs 160 and Stephen L. Gage’s 13 acres comprise the present farm of our subject. Stephen L. Gage was a man adapted to several lines. During his younger years he took up the practice of law, and had many cases of importance entrusted to him. He was a mechanic of a high order and built one of the first school houses in this section, which is still standing in a good state of preservation. In this school he taught for several terms; in turn, our subject taught the school for several terms, and he was followed by a daughter who has also taught there. Mr. Gage was a Whig and was called upon to fill many positions of trust in his township. He died in 1846, being survived by his widow, whose life continued for 40 years more. They were the parents of four children, namely: Isaac Newton, who resides near Hubbardston, Michigan; David, the subject of this sketch; Cornelia; and Stephen L., who married Lucretia Burlingame, has one son, Harold, and resides near Chelsea, Michigan.

Although our subject is one of the practical and successful farmers of Novi township, the greater part of his life has been devoted to the profession of teaching, and few educators in Oakland County are better or more favorably known. He began to teach in 1856 and was not permitted to lay aside his duties of an educational nature until 1896. During his 40 years of service in the profession he has had the satisfaction of seeing young men and women go from his care, and instruction and capably assume great responsibilities and take prominent parts in the world’s great activities. Mr. Gage has served in a number of township offices and probably was the most efficient school superintendent that Novi has ever had. He also dispensed justice as a justice of the peace for two terms, during which time his education and good judgment assisted materially in the amicable settlement of many local differences. Mr. Gage’s position in the community has long made him very prominent and he is held in the highest esteem by those who have known him from boyhood. His hospitable home is one often visited by those who have found in him a wise teacher, a willing counselor and a good neighbor.

In 1861 Mr. Gage was united in marriage with Emeline Clark, who was born in the State of New York, and is a daughter of James and Nancy (Patten) Clark. The Clarks came to Michigan in 1843 and located in Novi township, where James Clark died in 1871, leaving a widow and these children: Emeline (Mrs. Gage); Margaret who married James Ellis and died in the State of Washington, in 1901, leaving three children, — Dora, Claud and Ivy; Julia, who married Nathan Shores, resides in Kansas and has five children, — Burt, Dorr, Florence, Katie and Edward; Philo, who is a resident of Novi township, Oakland County; Alvina, who married James Shaw and lives in Northville, Wayne County; Mary, who married Mortimer Phelps of West Bloomfield township, Oakland County, and has four children, — Earl, Vina, James and Charles; Libby, who married Theodore Moore and lives at Walled Lake, Oakland County, their one daughter, Blanche, being the wife of Park Barrett of Novi township, Oakland County; Silas, who resides in Novi township, Oakland County; and Stephen, who lives on the homestead farm. All are people of established character in their sections. Mr. and Mrs. Gage have had a family of four children born to them, as follows: Clement, born in 1862, who was married to Mamie Hughes, and is now a prominent citizen of Saginaw, Michigan, the superintendent of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company’s office of that city; Clayton, born in 1865, residing at Marlette, Michigan, where he is agent for the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, who married Alma Winsor and has two children, — Kathleen and Gladys; Agnes, born in 1871, who married Frank Thompson, resides in the village of Farmington and has one daughter, Ailene; and Stephen, born in 1875, who is connected with the Saginaw Evening News, — he married Mina Putnam of that city.

In politics, Mr. Gage is a Prohibitionist. He is one of the most progressive and public spirited citizens of Novi township and is active in all movements looking to the advancement of his section.