Daniel Gage
Encyclopedia
Daniel Gage IV known as the "Ice King of Lowell", started the Daniel Gage Ice Company in April 1870, but was dealing in ice as early as 1854.
of Sir John Gage, Daniel Gage was born in Pelham, New Hampshire
on June 4, 1828, to father Nathan Gage and mother Mehitable (Woodbury) Gage. He spent the first 25 years of his life on the family-owned Gage Hill Farm and attended the local school. He died February 9, 1901.
As a descendent of the Gage family who went to England in 1066 with William the Conqueror at the time of the Norman Conquest, his great, great, great, great grandfather, John Gage, second son of Sir John Gage of Stoneham, England
was the first of the Gage family to migrate to the New World
as one of the first proprietors of Ipswich, Massachusetts
in the summer of 1630. They then migrated to Salem
, where Daniel Gage I was born in 1639, and then to Bradford
, where in the early 18th century Daniel Gage II established the Gage's Ferry on the banks of the Merrimack River
.
Captain Daniel Gage III born April 22, 1708, was at the Battle of Lexington, and his two sons fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill
. He moved his family to a southeast section of Dunstable, New Hampshire
, now known as the Gage Hill section of Pelham, New Hampshire
.
In 1746, five years after the New Hampshire/Massachusetts boundary
was settled, Thomas Gage, along with John Butler, Ephram Cummings and other citizens, successfully petitioned to establish Pelham, carved out of the towns of Dunstable and Londonderry, New Hampshire
. The town was named for the first Duke of Newcastle
, Thomas Pelham Holles. The five sections of the new town were known as Center, Gumpas, North Pelham, Gage Hill, and Currier Highland.
came, and the harvesting of ice became a dead industry. The Gage family began to sell off their land, as well as donate tracts to municipalities, such as a 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) parcel to the city of Lowell
for a park dedicated for the exclusive use of children, now known as Gage Field in the Centerville section of Lowell.
In Chelmsford, Massachusetts
, his company harvested ice from Hearts Pond.
By the late 1880s he was the largest taxpayer in Pelham, New Hampshire
, because he owned all the land around the major lakes and ponds where he harvested the ice. His son Nathan Gage was the 7th highest taxpayer. Between the two, they paid over $415/year.
He set up large ice houses along the south bank of the Merrimack River
, above the Pawtucket Falls
in the Pawtucketville section of Lowell
.
Personal life
A direct descendantLineal descendant
A lineal descendant, in legal usage, refers to a blood relative in the direct line of descent. The children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc...
of Sir John Gage, Daniel Gage was born in Pelham, New Hampshire
Pelham, New Hampshire
The earliest census data shows the town of Pelham having a population of 543 residents in 1767.As of the census of 2000, there were 10,914 people, 3,606 households, and 2,982 families residing in the town. The population density was 412.9 people per square mile . There were 3,740 housing units at...
on June 4, 1828, to father Nathan Gage and mother Mehitable (Woodbury) Gage. He spent the first 25 years of his life on the family-owned Gage Hill Farm and attended the local school. He died February 9, 1901.
As a descendent of the Gage family who went to England in 1066 with William the Conqueror at the time of the Norman Conquest, his great, great, great, great grandfather, John Gage, second son of Sir John Gage of Stoneham, England
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
was the first of the Gage family to migrate to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
as one of the first proprietors of Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
in the summer of 1630. They then migrated to Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, where Daniel Gage I was born in 1639, and then to Bradford
Bradford, Massachusetts
Bradford is a former town in Essex County, Massachusetts. The name currently refers to the area on the south side of the Merrimack River in Haverhill, Massachusetts that was once Bradford...
, where in the early 18th century Daniel Gage II established the Gage's Ferry on the banks of the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
.
Captain Daniel Gage III born April 22, 1708, was at the Battle of Lexington, and his two sons fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
. He moved his family to a southeast section of Dunstable, New Hampshire
Dunstable, New Hampshire
Dunstable, New Hampshire was a town located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, that is now the city of Nashua.The town was originally part of Dunstable, Massachusetts, which was incorporated in 1673...
, now known as the Gage Hill section of Pelham, New Hampshire
Pelham, New Hampshire
The earliest census data shows the town of Pelham having a population of 543 residents in 1767.As of the census of 2000, there were 10,914 people, 3,606 households, and 2,982 families residing in the town. The population density was 412.9 people per square mile . There were 3,740 housing units at...
.
In 1746, five years after the New Hampshire/Massachusetts boundary
Northern boundary of Massachusetts
The northern boundary of the U.S. state of Massachusetts adjoins two other states - Vermont and New Hampshire. The majority of the line is roughly a straight line from the northwest corner of the state east to a point north of Lowell...
was settled, Thomas Gage, along with John Butler, Ephram Cummings and other citizens, successfully petitioned to establish Pelham, carved out of the towns of Dunstable and Londonderry, New Hampshire
Londonderry, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,236 people, 7,623 households, and 6,319 families residing in the town. The population density was 555.8 people per square mile . There were 7,718 housing units at an average density of 184.6 per square mile...
. The town was named for the first Duke of Newcastle
Duke of Newcastle
Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a title which has been created three times in British history while the title of Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne has been created once. The title was created for the first time in the Peerage of England in 1664 when William Cavendish, 1st Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
, Thomas Pelham Holles. The five sections of the new town were known as Center, Gumpas, North Pelham, Gage Hill, and Currier Highland.
Public contributions
Just like what the auto industry did to the buggy whip, the age of refrigerationRefrigeration
Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means...
came, and the harvesting of ice became a dead industry. The Gage family began to sell off their land, as well as donate tracts to municipalities, such as a 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) parcel to the city of Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
for a park dedicated for the exclusive use of children, now known as Gage Field in the Centerville section of Lowell.
Harvesting and storing ice
Daniel Gage owned the majority of ponds and lakes in the Greater Lowell area.In Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 33,802. The Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate for the town was 34,409, ranking it 14th in population among the 54 municipalities in...
, his company harvested ice from Hearts Pond.
By the late 1880s he was the largest taxpayer in Pelham, New Hampshire
Pelham, New Hampshire
The earliest census data shows the town of Pelham having a population of 543 residents in 1767.As of the census of 2000, there were 10,914 people, 3,606 households, and 2,982 families residing in the town. The population density was 412.9 people per square mile . There were 3,740 housing units at...
, because he owned all the land around the major lakes and ponds where he harvested the ice. His son Nathan Gage was the 7th highest taxpayer. Between the two, they paid over $415/year.
He set up large ice houses along the south bank of the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
, above the Pawtucket Falls
Pawtucket Falls (Massachusetts)
Pawtucket Falls is the name of a waterfall on the Merrimack River at Lowell, Massachusetts. The waterfall and rapids below it drop a total of 32 feet in a little under a mile., and was an important fishing ground for the Pennacook Indians in pre-colonial times.This location was used as a benchmark...
in the Pawtucketville section of Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
.