Page:One of a thousand.djvu/259

 GASTON. GATES. 245 necticut, of sterling integrity, and of re- markable force of character. He was a pupil at the Brooklyn Acade- my, in Brooklyn, Conn., and later at Plain- field Academy, Plainfield, Conn., graduat- ing at Brown University, Providence, R. I., in the class of 1840, with honors. For his life work he decided upon the legal profes- sion, first entering the office of Francis Hil- liard of Roxbury, and afterwards complet- ing his studies with the distinguished jurists, Charles P. and Benjamin R. Curtis of Boston, with whom he remained until his admission to the Norfolk bar in 1844. WILLIAM GASTON. lie first practiced law in Roxbury, in iM-l'i, continuing there until 1865, when he- removed his office lo Boston and formed a partnership with the Hon. Harvey Jewell and Hon. VValbridge A. Field, under the firm name of Jewell, Gaston & Field. In [875 he dissolved connection with this firm, and after carrying on the law business for a time alone, formed a partnership, in October, 1879, with C. I.. B. Whitney, un- der the linn name of Gaston & Whitney. Mr. Gaston's son was added to the firm in 1883, the firm name remaining unchanged. Mr. Gaston was married on May 27, 1852, at Roxbury, to Louisa A., daughter of Laban S. and Frances A. (Lines) Beecher of Roxbury, both natives of New Haven, Conn., and descendants of the first settlers of the New Haven (Conn.) colony. They have had three children : Sarah Howard, William Alexander and Theodore Beecher Gaston, the latter dying in 1869. Mr. Gaston has seen not a little of pub- lic life. For two years, i86i-'62, he was mayor of the city of Roxbury, before its incorporation with the city of Boston. In 1871 and '72 he had the honor to serve as the chief magistrate of their united for- tunes, Boston having absorbed its younger neighbor in 1867. In 1874 Mr. Gaston was the Democratic nominee for governor, and was elected by a majority of 7,033 over Thomas Talbot, the candidate of the Republican party. His administration was pre-eminently wise and acceptable. The position he occupied was a somewhat novel one, as the two houses of the Legislature were of a different political faith from the chief executive, and the State had not had a Democratic governor for many years previous. The scrutiny directed to him and his acts was critical and most trying. His success, however, in bringing his ad- ministration to a happy and honorable termination was abundant proof of the inherent ability and patriotic instincts of the man. He is a member of the Union, Central, Algonquin and St. Botolph clubs of the city 1 if Boston. Mr. Gaston enjoys an honorable and lucrative practice in his chosen profession, and has long held, in the opinion of those competent to judge, an enviable place in the front rank of that remarkable array of talent which constitutes the bar in this State. A thorough and conscientious worker, an eloquent advocate, a man of unblemished integrity and of modest mien, lie easily stands as one of Massachusetts' best known and highly respected representative men. GATES, Sa.muel Pearly, son of Pearly ami Mary (Burr) Gates, was born in Ashby, Middlesex county, June 8, 1837. lie was educated in the district schools and academy of Ashby, and Bridgewater state normal school. At twenty years of age he entered the office of Bates, Hyde ..V Co. (now Fagle Cotton Gin Co.). In April, 1863, he enlisted in the regular army, U. S., and served one year at the war department, Washington, 1 ». C. In 1X64 he returned to Bates, Hyde &: Co., and has remained with them to date. In 1877 this concern was incorporated, and Mr. Gates appointed treasurer of the com- pany, which office he still holds. He is