Gates, Gideon W.

Born in Illinois. The family lived in Iowa for 9 years before moving to David City, NE, in June of 1876, where his father started one of the earliest bakeries in Nebraska. Gid worked for his father in the bakery business in downtown David City most of his life. He became a partner and eventually sole owner of Gates Bakery after the death of his father. He married Jennie Gibson, April 13, 1878. Gid was also an inventor and secured a patent on a candy dispensing machine, August 26, 1902. The dispenser was in the shape of a man's head (Happy Jap) and dispensed a stick of gum from his mouth when a coin was inserted. Gideon was active in many civic organizations. He was a member of I.O.O.F. Lodge for 43 years and the Knights of Pythias for 42 years.