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''History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson counties, Illinois'', Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1887, pp. 698–700. He was the fourth son of Stephen Gates and Jerusha (Perry) Gates. He was raised on a farm in
''History of the Bench and Bar of Oregon'', Historical Publishing Company, Portland, Oregon, 1910, p. 266. As a young man, Gates worked as a carpenter while he prepared for his
"William H. Gates"
''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties'', Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, p. 687.
''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 132–133. Members of the community also selected Gates as their delegate in the territorial House of Representatives and directed him to introduce a bill to incorporate Dalles City. He won his seat by a comfortable margin, 80 votes to 7 for his opponent, W. C. Laughlin.Shaver, Frederic Ambrose, Arthur P. Rose, Richard F. Steele, and A. E. Adams
''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 196–200.
After returning to the Fort Dalles area Gate wrote the original city charter for Dalles City. The Dalles City community elected their first city council before the city was officially incorporated. Gates was one of the councilmen elected in 1856. He served three consecutive one-year terms, including one term as council president in 1857.Shaver, Frederic Ambrose, Arthur P. Rose, Richard F. Steele, and A. E. Adams
''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 155–156. At that time, legislative terms were for one year only. Gates ran for reelection 1856 and retained his seat. In that election, he received 130 votes; his opponent, A. G. Tripp, received 30 votes. Gates returned to the Oregon territorial House, representing Wasco County, in 1856. The 1856 legislative session began on December 1 and lasted through January 29, 1857. After the session adjourned, Gates attended the Wasco County Democratic convention that nominated delegates to attend Oregon's Constitutional Convention. In the 1857 election, Gates was unopposed for the Wasco County House seat. The 1857 legislative session began on December 7 and lasted two months, adjourning on February 5, 1858. In 1858, Oregon voters elected two legislatures: a state legislature, which would be seated if statehood was approved in 1858, and a separate territorial legislature, which would convene if admission to the
''Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide'', 1858 Regular Session (1st Pre-Admission): July 5–9, September 13–14, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 5, 2022. The Wasco County Democratic convention nominated Gates to run for a fourth term in the territorial House of Representatives as the official Democratic candidate. No other candidates ran for the territorial representative position, since it was hoped that statehood would be achieved prior to the next regular legislative session. The state representatives assembled in July and September but quickly adjourned when it became clear that the
"Oregon Becomes a State, 1856–1859"
Chapter 17, ''The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft: Volume20: History of Oregon'', Volume 2, 1848–1888; San Francisco, California: The History Company, p. 434 (see note 38). During the session, legislators discussed changing the location of Oregon's capital. However, none of the rival cities to Salem could gather enough votes to advance a bill to move the capital. At the close of the session, Speaker Gates noted that the conflict regarding the capital's location divided the legislature but that the discussion on the issue was conducted with courtesy that reflected credit on the members of the House. The legislature finished its business and adjourned on January 22, 1859. Oregon was officially admitted to the Union three weeks later, on February 14, 1859.
Nathaniel Holly Gates, also known as Colonel Gates for most of his life, (1811–1889) was an American pioneer lawyer and
during the 1858 legislative session. After Oregon became a state in 1859, he served one two-year term in the Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
state legislator. He was an active Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
throughout his life. He served four terms in Oregon's territorial legislature. This included one term as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives #REDIRECT List of speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives #REDIRECT List of speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives {{R from other capitalisation ...
{{R from other capitalisation ...Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 65,000. The House meets in the west wing of the ...
and one four-year term in the Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the statewide legislature for the US state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the state Sena ...
. Before immigrating to Oregon, Gates lived and worked as a lawyer in Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
and Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...
. After moving to Oregon, he settled in The Dalles
The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,010 at the 2020 census, and it is the largest city on the Oregon side of the Columbia River between the Portland Metropolitan Area, and Hermiston ...
and opened a law practice there. He helped develop that community and served as the city's mayor five times in non-consecutive terms.
Early life
Gates was probably born on February 17, 1811, inWashington County, Ohio
Washington County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,711. Its county seat is Marietta. The county, the oldest in the state, is named for George Washington. Was ...
."Samuel E. Gates"''History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson counties, Illinois'', Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1887, pp. 698–700. He was the fourth son of Stephen Gates and Jerusha (Perry) Gates. He was raised on a farm in
Gallia County, Ohio
Gallia County (pronunciation: ''GAL-yuh'') is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,220. Its county seat is Gallipolis.
Named after the French people who originally settled there, its name “ ...
, where he attended local public schools. Gates probably attended college at Muskingum Academy (now Marietta College
Marietta College (MC) is a private liberal arts college in Marietta, Ohio. It offers more than 50 undergraduate majors across the arts, sciences, and engineering, as well as Physician Assistant, Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, an ...
) in Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Ohio, United States. It is located in southeastern Ohio at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, northeast of Parkersburg, West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, Mar ...
. Several of his brothers and cousins also attended college in Marietta."N. H. Gates"''History of the Bench and Bar of Oregon'', Historical Publishing Company, Portland, Oregon, 1910, p. 266. As a young man, Gates worked as a carpenter while he prepared for his
bar
Bar or BAR may refer to:
Food and drink
* Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages
* Candy bar
* Chocolate bar
Science and technology
* Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment
* Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud
* Bar (u ...
examination. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1834 and then began practicing law in the state. Gates married Mary Koontz, known as Polly, on May 29, 1834, in Gallia, Ohio. Gates and his family migrated to Iowa in 1841.Shaver, Frederic Ambrose, Arthur P. Rose, Richard F. Steele, and A. E. Adams"William H. Gates"
''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties'', Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, p. 687.
Oregon pioneer
In 1850, Gates moved to California while his family remained in Iowa. At that time, theCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California fro ...
was underway and he spent the next two years mining and working in trade jobs. In 1852, his family crossed the North American plains in an ox-drawn wagon to join Gates on the west coast. The family spent the winter in Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, before moving to an area on the north side of the Columbia River
The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...
near the Cascades (across the river from modern-day Cascade Locks
Cascade Locks is a city in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. The city took its name from a set of locks built to improve navigation past the Cascades Rapids of the Columbia River. The U.S. federal government approved the plan for the l ...
). In 1854, Gates and his family moved to the south side of the river to avoid an Indian uprising in their area. The family settled near Fort Dalles
Fort Dalles was a United States Army outpost located on the Columbia River at the present site of The Dalles, Oregon, in the United States. Built when Oregon was a territory, the post was used mainly for dealing with wars with Native Americans. Th ...
.
Once he was settled in the Fort Dalles area, Gates became involved in both Oregon territorial politics and local government affairs. Gates was appointed to the rank of colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
in the Oregon militia by the territorial governor. From that time on, he was commonly known as "Colonel Gates". He helped develop the region around Fort Dalles, opening a hotel in the area.
He also helped plan and construct the area's first courthouse and public jail.
On September 15, 1855, Gates was selected as chairman of a meeting of local residents held to discuss organizing a city government for the community around Fort Dalles. It was decided that the community would hold an election to select trustees to oversee the town's development. The election was held on April 7, 1856. Gates was elected as one of the town's three trustees.Shaver, Frederic Ambrose, Arthur P. Rose, Richard F. Steele, and A. E. Adams''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 132–133. Members of the community also selected Gates as their delegate in the territorial House of Representatives and directed him to introduce a bill to incorporate Dalles City. He won his seat by a comfortable margin, 80 votes to 7 for his opponent, W. C. Laughlin.Shaver, Frederic Ambrose, Arthur P. Rose, Richard F. Steele, and A. E. Adams
''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 196–200.
Territorial legislator
Gates took his seat in the Oregon House on December 1, 1855. He representedWasco County
Wasco County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,213. Its county seat is The Dalles. The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe w ...
, which had been created during the previous legislative session. At that time, Wasco County included all of eastern Oregon and southern Idaho
Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...
from the crest of the Cascade Range
The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, ...
to the summit of the Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...
, a total of about . The 1855 session ended on January 31, 1856. During the session, Gates introduced a bill to incorporate the Fort Dalles community, as instructed by his constituents. The bill passed and was signed by Governor George Curry. The following year, Dalles City was officially incorporated.
After returning to the Fort Dalles area Gate wrote the original city charter for Dalles City. The Dalles City community elected their first city council before the city was officially incorporated. Gates was one of the councilmen elected in 1856. He served three consecutive one-year terms, including one term as council president in 1857.Shaver, Frederic Ambrose, Arthur P. Rose, Richard F. Steele, and A. E. Adams''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 155–156. At that time, legislative terms were for one year only. Gates ran for reelection 1856 and retained his seat. In that election, he received 130 votes; his opponent, A. G. Tripp, received 30 votes. Gates returned to the Oregon territorial House, representing Wasco County, in 1856. The 1856 legislative session began on December 1 and lasted through January 29, 1857. After the session adjourned, Gates attended the Wasco County Democratic convention that nominated delegates to attend Oregon's Constitutional Convention. In the 1857 election, Gates was unopposed for the Wasco County House seat. The 1857 legislative session began on December 7 and lasted two months, adjourning on February 5, 1858. In 1858, Oregon voters elected two legislatures: a state legislature, which would be seated if statehood was approved in 1858, and a separate territorial legislature, which would convene if admission to the
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
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Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
were delayed."Territorial Government Legislators and Staff"''Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide'', 1858 Regular Session (1st Pre-Admission): July 5–9, September 13–14, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 5, 2022. The Wasco County Democratic convention nominated Gates to run for a fourth term in the territorial House of Representatives as the official Democratic candidate. No other candidates ran for the territorial representative position, since it was hoped that statehood would be achieved prior to the next regular legislative session. The state representatives assembled in July and September but quickly adjourned when it became clear that the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
had not yet acted on Oregon statehood. By December, no statehood decision had been made, so the territorial legislature was seated to conduct required government business. When the territorial legislature was convened on December 6, 1858, Gates served as chairman of the credential committee. The following day, the House was organized and Gates was elected speaker.Bancroft, Hubert Howe"Oregon Becomes a State, 1856–1859"
Chapter 17, ''The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft: Volume20: History of Oregon'', Volume 2, 1848–1888; San Francisco, California: The History Company, p. 434 (see note 38). During the session, legislators discussed changing the location of Oregon's capital. However, none of the rival cities to Salem could gather enough votes to advance a bill to move the capital. At the close of the session, Speaker Gates noted that the conflict regarding the capital's location divided the legislature but that the discussion on the issue was conducted with courtesy that reflected credit on the members of the House. The legislature finished its business and adjourned on January 22, 1859. Oregon was officially admitted to the Union three weeks later, on February 14, 1859.
State and local affairs
When Oregon became a state, the territorial government ceased to exist, and Gates returned to Dalles City. He remained active in state politics and continued serving in local government. In 1859, he was elected to the Oregon Democratic Party's newly formed state central committee, representing Wasco County. He remained a member of the party's state central committee into the 1880s. That same year, he left the Dalles City council and was elected city treasurer. In 1860, Dalles City was officially renamed "The Dalles". In 1862, theOregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States.Orlando Humason by a vote of 445 to 166. Two years later, he ran for Wasco County prosecutor, but lost to C. R. Meigs, 734 to 542. Despite these losses in Wasco County races, Gates remained popular in The Dalles. He was elected mayor in 1865, the first of his five non-consecutive terms in that position. The other four terms began in 1871, 1877, 1878, and 1886. He alternated service as mayor with three terms on the city council, with short breaks when he left city government. In addition, Gates served as chairman of the Wasco County Democratic Convention in 1866.
Gates was a member of the
''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 201–202. Gates took his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives on September 13, 1878, representing House District 55. The session lasted for six weeks, adjourning on October 23. During the session, Gates was appointed to the judiciary committee and a special joint committee to audit Oregon's prison operations. In 1880, Gates decided to run for the Oregon State Senate seat representing Wasco and
''Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide'', 1882 Regular Session (12th): September 11 – October 19, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 9, 2022. During the session, he was appointed to the public lands committee. The most important decision the legislature had to make in 1882 was the election of a
"Gates, Nathaniel H."
''Early Oregonian Search'', Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 5, 2022.
List of Oregon Legislators by Session
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gates, Nathaniel H. Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives Members of the Oregon Territorial Legislature Ohio lawyers Oregon state senators Oregon lawyers People from The Dalles, Oregon People from Gallia County, Ohio People from Washington County, Ohio Marietta College alumni 1811 births 1889 deaths
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a non-political and non-sectarian international fraternal order of Odd Fellowship. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Wildey in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Evolving from the Order of Odd ...
. He was active in the Odd Fellows Columbia Lodge which was located in The Dalles. The Columbia Lodge selected him to represent its members at the Grand Lodge of Oregon conclave in 1866.
Gates's first wife died in September 1868. She was buried at the Pioneer Cemetery in The Dalles. He married his second wife, Mary C. Shubnel, on November 24, 1868, in Wasco County.
In 1872, Gates was elected Wasco County judge. He won the election with 494 votes, defeating Republican Thomas Gordon, who received 378 votes. Two years later, Gates represented Wasco County at the state Democratic convention. The convention nominated him as a presidential elector for Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley (February 3, 1811 – November 29, 1872) was an American newspaper editor and publisher who was the founder and newspaper editor, editor of the ''New-York Tribune''. Long active in politics, he served briefly as a congressm ...
, who was running against Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...
that year.
In late 1872, Governor La Fayette Grover
La Fayette Grover (November 29, 1823May 10, 1911) was a Democratic politician and lawyer from the U.S. state of Oregon. He was the fourth Governor of Oregon, represented Oregon in the United States House of Representatives, and served one ter ...
appointed Gates to the State Board of Equalization, along with former governors John Whiteaker
John Whiteaker (May 4, 1820October 2, 1902) was an American politician, soldier, and judge. A native of Indiana, he joined the army during the Mexican–American War and then prospected during the California Gold Rush. After moving to the Orego ...
and George Curry, with Whiteaker serving as chairman. The equalization board was responsible for standardizing property tax assessments throughout the state and ensuring that county assessors applied tax laws fairly and as intended by the legislature. The following year, Gates served as the board's chairman. Governor Grover also promoted Gates to the rank of brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
in the Oregon militia.
Back in Wasco County, Gates was active in a number of business enterprises. In 1872, he became chairman of the Dalles and Sandy Wagon Road Commission. As chairman, he was responsible for overseeing a $30,000 offering of state warrants to finance construction of the road. In 1874, Gates and two partners formed the Dalles City Water Company. The company was capitalized with $20,000 of stock.
State legislator
In 1878, Gates decided to run for a seat in Oregon's House of Representatives, representing Wasco County. Gates and A. B. Webdell were nominated at the Wasco County Democratic convention for the county's two House seats. The Republican Party nominated A. Allen and E. C. Wyatt. Gates and Webdell won Wasco County's two seats. Webdell received 812 votes. Gates ran second with 793 votes, while Wyatt received 532 votes and Allen trailed with 528 votes.Shaver, Frederic Ambrose, Arthur P. Rose, Richard F. Steele, and A. E. Adams''An Illustrated History of Central Oregon: Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties''
Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, 1905, pp. 201–202. Gates took his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives on September 13, 1878, representing House District 55. The session lasted for six weeks, adjourning on October 23. During the session, Gates was appointed to the judiciary committee and a special joint committee to audit Oregon's prison operations. In 1880, Gates decided to run for the Oregon State Senate seat representing Wasco and
Lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
counties. In the general election, Gates beat Republican N. B. Sinnott in a close election. Gates received 1,082 votes, while Sinnott fell short with 1,020 votes.
Gates took his seat in the Oregon Senate on September 13, 1880, representing Senate District 27. During the session, Gates was a strong advocate for creating a new county in Wasco County's Ochoco Country. The new county was approved. It became Crook County when it was organized in 1882. The 1880 legislative session was adjourned on October 23.
Since state senators served a four-year term, Gates did not have to run for re-election prior to the 1882 legislative session. Oregon's twelfth regular legislative session began on September 11, with Gates again representing Wasco and Lake counties."Senate"''Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide'', 1882 Regular Session (12th): September 11 – October 19, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 9, 2022. During the session, he was appointed to the public lands committee. The most important decision the legislature had to make in 1882 was the election of a
United States senator
The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...
to represent Oregon. At that time, United States senators were elected by state legislatures. Gates joined four other Democrats who initially voted for Republican John H. Mitchell
John Hipple Mitchell, also known as John Mitchell Hipple, John H. Mitchell, or J. H. Mitchell (June 22, 1835December 8, 1905) was an American lawyer, politician, and convicted criminal. He served as a Republican United States Senator from Oregon ...
. This choice was very unpopular with many Oregon Democrats. However, Gates continued to vote for Mitchell through the 75 ballots that it took to elect a senator. The legislature eventually chose Republican Joseph N. Dolph to fill Oregon's open senate seat. The legislative session ended on October 19. Gates's four-year state senate term expired at the end of 1883 without any additional legislative meetings.
Later life
After the 1882 legislative session ended, Gates returned to his law practice and business interests in The Dalles. He lived and worked in The Dalles for the rest of his life. Gates served on a committee promoting a project to buildlocks
Lock(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
*Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance
*Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lock ...
at the Columbia River cascades to allow steamships to navigate around the falls and continue upstream beyond the rapids.
In 1886, Gates and two partners founded the Hood River and Miller Creek Water Ditch and Flume Company. The purpose of the company was to provide water to users in The Dalles. The company was incorporated with 250 shares of stock initially valued at $100 each. The following year, Gates joined seven partners to incorporate The Dalles Publishing Company. The company published a Wasco County newspaper, ''The Sun'', which advocated for the Democratic Party and its candidates. The business was capitalized with a $4,000 stock offering. Gates sold his interest in the paper within a year of its founding. ''The Sun'' went out of business in 1894.
Gates died in The Dalles on May 20, 1889, at the age of 78. He was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in The Dalles.''Early Oregonian Search'', Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 5, 2022.
References
External links
List of Oregon Legislators by Session
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gates, Nathaniel H. Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives Members of the Oregon Territorial Legislature Ohio lawyers Oregon state senators Oregon lawyers People from The Dalles, Oregon People from Gallia County, Ohio People from Washington County, Ohio Marietta College alumni 1811 births 1889 deaths