Joseph Gates came to Geneva Lake, Walworth Co.

The evidence

• “Joseph Gates' ancestors were of Scotch descent. He came to Geneva Lake, Walworth Co, September, 1841 ; was a tailor by trade ; at that time people used to bring him, in return for his work, venison, or anything useful or eatable; once a man brought him a hatful of honey. He was one of the founders of the Methodist Church ; the quarterly meetings were held in his house ; it was called the " Methodist tavern." The country was very thinly settled then ; in one direction there were only three houses in fifteen miles.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/20-bios-clinton.md, PDF p. 776 / book p. 780

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources