Edward Franklin Gage was born August 30, 1917, the third child of Wells Herbert Gage, Sr. (1884-1974) (nee Minnie Peter - 1890) on the Gage farmstead, Section 31 NWY4 - 143-55 (Rodchester Township, Cass County). His formal education included the years 19231931 at the Walden School # 101, Walden, North Dakota, located on the "Fargo-Surrey Cut-off", Section 30 €“ Northeast ¼ 143-55. The re-situated Walden School, formerly the McCellan School, was constructed twenty years previously by Ed's father. Ed has ten brothers and sisters.
Edward started farming in 1935 on the Burson place, Section 14, Northeast ¼ - 142-56, in partnership with his older brother Charles. This farmstead is one of the early homesteads which has been in continuous occupation since 1880. Presently, Ed and his three brothers, Charles, Paul and Fred, actively farm in Minnie Lake Twp. They represent the remaining resident-relation of the Gurden Town family in Minnie Lake Township, which once numbered forty-five residents.
On June 25, 1942, Ed married Katherine Pahl, born July 25, 1918, the daughter of Jacob Pahl (nee Odelia Kempf) of Timber Lake, South Dakota. Her brothers are Wilhelm and Reinhold. Spending her childhood near Forbes, North Dakota, and Fredrick, South Dakota, "Katie" moved to the "West River Country", the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, in 1930. Kay's formal education was accomplished at the Chapel School (McLaughlin District), the rural Bader School (McIntosh District), and McIntosh High School. She was well acquainted with the life of cattle and sheep ranching.
Their children are: Jay Lee Gage, born 1946, a ceramics-fiber artist and art educator, Moorhead, Minnesota; Edna Fay born 1949, (Mrs. Dennis Jensen) an instructor in voice and instrumental music, Hibbing, Minnesota; Erna Kay born 1949, (Mrs. Allan Johnson Jr.), musician and library science consultant for seminaries and church schools, Wayzata, Minnesota; and Ruth Ann born 1954, registered nurse, Fargo, North Dakota.
Ed served on the (Little) Minnie Lake # 89 school board from 1951-1957. Kay is active in the Minnie Lake Lutheran Ladies Aide.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 76