James S. and Augusta Hillier Gates lived in this beautiful home near the bridge in Cooperstown. James, the son of George and Eliza Cross Gates served in the Civil War. James and his brother-in-law, Clyde C. Hillier were partners in the hardware business and had a large store that fronted on Sugar Creek just above the bridge. A fire in 1894 destroyed the original structure housing the hardware store and because James was Secretary of the Borough Council at that time, all the early records and maps were lost in that disaster. The rebuilt store is still in use today as a hardware store and is shown in this recent photo of the business area.

Mr. Gates was killed in September 1929 after a 20 foot fall from his roof. Mrs. Gates died in 1935 and they are buried in the Cooperstown Cemetery.

Transcribed by Penny Haylett Minnick

minnick862@verizon.net

Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription of information from both early and late (current contributors) work.