My Family Tree

Carpenter in 1860. "Hotel 8th Class" in 1863, "Retail Liquor Dealer" in 1864, "Saloon Keeper" in 1865. Farmer in 1870, 1880.
Kept Saloon in Seneca, Nemaha Co

See S0005 text. "A Genealogy of the Vermont Gages" by Porter Matteson
This is biography from there:
"Died in Ottawa, KS and was buried in Woodlawn Kansas Cemetery. He was one of the earliest settlers in that section and had come from Pennsylvania, driving all of the way with teams. In 1858, two years after the arrival of his brother Walter, he developed several good large-sized farms and lived there the rest of his life.
"He was a staunch advocate of the Free State Principles wen he came to Kansas and though he was regularly enlisted as a soldier he was one of the Kansans who went to the defense of Lawrence at the time of the Quantrill raid.
"He had voted for John C Fremont for President in 1856, the first year that the Republican party contested the entry.
"Orange Gage was a fine type of the original settler of Kansas. He was well read and a well informed man of positive character and conviction. He enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors and fellow citizens and trained his children in the way of uprightness and honor.
"Orange Gage was a man of sterling worth and possessed the spirit of determination to an unusual degree. He created a home and reared a family on the frontier of Canada when it required courage to battle against the adversity of the seasons and elements, and the political conditions and strife to be met on every hand. He was one who improved the opportunities as the country developed; and with good business management and close application held the esteem and friendliness of his neighbors. He was a modest man but his square dealings and high-minded manliness attracted others, and in the early days no person was better known throughout the country with his scope than Orange M Gage.
"Mr. Gage kept pace with the times and events and moved along with the advance column in agricultural pursuits and his farm was a guide post on the trackless highway of the prairie for the traveler coming through the port. His genial smile and friendly words always made one feel welcome and realize that he had met a friend in a sparsely settled region dotted with the primitive home of the pioneer. To this day his old homestead and the school house that stands nearby, that bears his name, are landmarks designated as the traveller inquiring his way is directed through that particular part of the country. He reared a family that is a honor to the memory of himself, and the ones who shared his hardships, Joys and victories in the sphere in which they moved."

The Nemaha Kansan (Seneca, Kansas), 15 Aug 1901, 2
"Orange M. Gage, one of the earliest settlers of this county, was born Nov. 18, 1831 in Cambridge, Penn. In 1852 he was married in Crawford county, Penn. to Elvira Smith. They moved in 1858 to Nemaha county and settled in Adams Township. Mr. Gage was one of the most enterprising men among the early settlers and laid out on his farm a town which was called Pacific City. This place, however, was destined to be out of line of the travel and lapsed into a farm again. Seven children were born of the marriage with Elvira Smith. The mother died in 1866. In 1868 Mr. Gage married Susan McElroy, of Pennsylvania. There were seven children of this marriage. The second wife died in 1885. Mr. Gage in 1889 married Alice Mauville, also of Pennsylvania, to whom was born two children. A manly struggle was made by Mr. Gage and his family. They passed through all of the trials of pioneer life. In 1890 Mr. Gage removed to Ottawa, Kansas, where he now lives enjoying peacefully his old age."

Ottawa Paper, Oct. 23, 1912:
"Ottawan, Father of Sixteen Children made a visit"
"O. M. Gage of S Main St was an honored guest at his former home in Pennsylvania"
"O. M. Gage, who lives at 15th and Main in Ottawa, has just returned from a visit of a few days at his old home at Cambridge Springs, PA, near Erie. It has been nineteen years since he was there, and he says things have changed considerably in that time. Mr. Gage, although 81 years old is not very gray, there being an abundance of black in the heavy beard. His sight is very good, and he does a considerable amount of work on his 12-acre place on South Main.
"A clipping from the Cambride Springs News tells of his trip home as follows:
"The recent arrival of Mr. O. M. Gage, aged 81, from Ottawa, Kansas, at the home of Squire John D Gage, McClellan street, was the occasion of much rejoicing. The former used to live in Cambridge, but left here 54 years ago for the West. He has paid several visits here from time to time. He is the father of sixteen children -- seven each from his former two wives and two from the latter. His present wife was Miss Manville of Pennsylvania.
"A reunion was given the visitor Wednesday last at the home Mrs. Aurelia Mitchell. She is a distant releative of the elder Gage; her husband was a nephew. There were twenty-five of the Gages corralled to do him honor. The banquet was a triumph of art. There were reminescing and visiting for several hours. The whole party wound up by visiting the photographer's and having a group picture taken.
"We admire and like our uncle," said 'Squire Gage, "because he is a plain, humble farmer, with no frills. Just a good and respected citizen who serves the Lord."
The distinguished guest will return home next week."

The Evening Herald from Ottawa, Kansas October 7, 1914, page 1:
"0. M. GAGE WED LAST NIGHT CAME TO KANSAS IN 1858, SETTLING AT SENECA. Eleven Children Survive Him Funeral Services Here Tomorrow and Burial at Sabetha.'' O. M. Gage, a prominent Ottawa and Franklin County man, died at 12:30 o'clock this morning at his home, Fifteenth and Main streets. General complications caused his death. He had been in ill health for several years. Mr. Gage settled in Kansas in 1858 near Seneca and had been here since 1900. He was a retired farmer. Orange Montgomery Gage wan born November 18. 1831 in Vermont. He is survived by his wife and eleven children. The children are Forest Gage of Falls City, Neb, Mrs. Viola Shiffer of Oklahoma, Mrs. Ada Myers. Dr. Richard Gage of Hutchinson, who is here now, Oliver Gage of Ottawa, Mrs. Bessie Walters and Mrs. Leona Brink-worth of Nemeha County, Mrs. Elvira Barr of Hebron, Neb., Mrs. Caraminta Allen who is a missionary in China. Glen Gage of California who is now here and Loren Gage of Ottawa.' The funeral will be held at the home tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock and the Rev. W. A. Elliott of the First Baptist Church will have charge. The body will be taken to Sabetha Friday morning for burial. Several of the children who live away from Ottawa will go to Sabetha from their homes."

The Seneca Tribune, February 4, 1915
"FOR SALE O. M. Gage farm S miles west of Woodlawn. For further Information Inquire of O. N. Gage, Fomosa, Kansas,"