ZACHARIAH GAGE, a retired farmer of Stockton Township, Jo Daviess County, now a resident of Lena, was born of poor but honest parents in the town of Outwell, Cambridgeshire, England, Feb. 3, 1813. His father, Daniel, and his grandfather, Mathew Gage, were natives of Norfolk County, whence the latter removed in his young manhood to Outwell and remained there the balance of his life. He was a laboring man and married Miss Esther Harris, who became the mother of eleven children, and passed from earth in the same town where she had lived so many years with her husband and where our subject was born.

Mr. Gage grew to manhood in his native town, receiving but a limited education, as at fifteen years of age he went out to work, receiving but very small pay for his services. His first year's wages amounted to £3, the second to £4 and the third to £5. When eighteen years old he left Outwell and engaged to work on the railroad in process of construction from London to Birmingham, the first steam-car road ever built in England. He remained with the company for three or four years, in the meantime gaining a good insight into the various duties required, and was afterward employed on public works continuously until 1851.

Although laboring incessantly and living economically our subject saw little in his native England to encourage him, and determined to seek his fortunes in the New World. He had in the meantime been married, and in the spring of the year mentioned, accompanied by his young wife, embarked from Liverpool on a sailing-vessel the 1st day of April, landing in New York City after a voyage of thirty days. Going directly to Middleport, where he arrived with the sum of $15 in his pocket, his entire worldly wealth, he and his wife both engaged to work on a farm eleven miles out. For their combined services they received $16 and board per month. They saved all that they possibly could of their limited salaries, and in six months rented a house and thus had a place which they could call home. Mr. Gage, then leaving his wife to look after their domestic affairs, continued his labors as a farm hand and for seven months' work received $100. During the winter season he was employed in cutting wood for thirty-one cents per cord, walking three miles back and forth morning and evening. The summer following he worked in the harvest field at $1.25 per day.

The spring of 1853 found Mr. Gage with his wife prepared for a journey to the Prairie State, within the borders of which he first stopped at LaSalle in LaSalle County, where he secured employment as a salesman at the coal banks. He remained there until the fall of 1855, and then took up his abode in Jo Daviess County, where he commenced his career as an independent farmer upon 160 acres of leased land which he had engaged for a term of five years. After two years, however, the owner sold the land, paying Mr. Gage $100 for the lease. The latter devoted his cash capital toward the purchase of eighty-five acres in Stockton Township, the purchase price of which was $1,300. By the time he was out of debt he had paid the principal and interest of $1,240. He was successful in his farming operations, however, and bought additional land until he became the owner of 259 acres. Upon this he erected a fine frame house and two barns, planted fruit and shade trees, laid off the fields with neat fences, provided himself with first-class implements and machinery, and in due time was the possessor of one of the finest farms in that section. In 1882 he retired from active labor, sold out and took up his abode in Lena, where he built the residence which he now owns and occupies. He has here a body of land which if laid out would include twenty good building lots, but which as it stands forms a roomy and commodious homestead.

The lady who has been the faithful and affectionate companion of our subject for a period of over forty years was formerly Miss Mary A. Benton, born in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, England, and the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Collins) Benton, who spent all their lives in their native England. She became the wife of Mr. Gage in 1845.

Mr. Gage and his brother, Harrison, were the only members of the parental family who emigrated to the United States. The latter came in the fall of 1851, and proceeded directly to the Prairie State, where he engaged as a laborer on the Illinois Central Railroad, then in process of construction between Decatur and Clinton. A few months later he made his way into LaSalle County, where he laid track for a time on the same road, and then with the assistance of his brother Zachariah bought a team and transported coal from the mines near LaSalle to the city of LaSalle. He was thus employed until 1855, when he went into Jo Daviess County, and in company with his brother engaged in farming two years. In 1857 he was married in LaSalle County to Miss H. Kidd, who was also a native of England. Soon afterward he returned with his bride to Jo Daviess County and farmed on rented land until 1862. His wife, after becoming the mother of two children, departed this life on the farm in Stockton Township, in 1860. The children, Cyrus R. and Howard F., went to live with their uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Z. Gage, by whom they were reared. Upon the outbreak of the late war, Harrison Gage enlisted as a Union soldier in the 96th Illinois Infantry, served until the close, and with the comrades who were left, received his honorable discharge June 10, 1865. While in Chicago waiting for the Paymaster he was taken violently ill and died on the 24th of June. Mr. Z. Gage was sent for and succeeded in reaching him a few hours before his death.

The subject of this sketch is a forcible illustration of what may be accomplished from a small beginning by the exercise of resolution, perseverance, and the assistance of a sensible and economical helpmeet. Mr. Gage started in life practically penniless and debarred from the advantages of education. He is now in possession of a competency, and by his upright life and honest dealings has secured the profound respect and friendship of his fellow-citizens. He has contributed his full quota toward the building up of his township and has been the encourager of every enterprise calculated for the good of its people. Mr. and Mrs. Gage early in life identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they have been upright and consistent members for over forty years. Politically, Mr. Gage supports the principles of the Republican party.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888) Pg 741