Page 199. NATHANIEL CAVIS GAULT is the senior member of the firm of Gault & Co., manufacturers of the Schonnmaker Lightning Cable, and is a prominent business man, who labors earnestly for the best interests of Winona. He was born near Concord, N. H., June 30, 1822, and is a son of Obed and Mary (Cavis) Gault, the former of Scotch descent, and the latter of Welsh lineage. The paternal grandfather emigrated from Scotland to New Hampshire in early Colonial days. N. C. Gault was reared on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-eight married Miss Martha E. Blood, of Lowell, Mass. He devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until April, 1856, when he emigrated to the West, becoming a resident of Winona. Here, in connection with Moses Gordon, he opened a hardware store, which they carried on until the failing health of Mr. Gordon compelled them to close out their business, in 1863. He had a commission from Governor Miller to enroll recruits for the army for Companies K and I, of the Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, and he himself joined the former company. On reaching Ft. Snelling he received word to call upon Governor Miller, who said to him, "You are too old to carry a musket or act on guard duty, so I will appoint you Quartermaster of the Eleventh Regiment," handing him a commission. In later life he learned that William Windham and Judge Thomas Wilson had been instrumental in securing for him this appointment. Mr. Gault then went to the front with his regiment, and served as Quartermaster until after the close of the war.
When the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Gault was mustered out, and after spending one year in Alabama he returned to Winona, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick. He was appointed to the Internal Revenue service, with which he was connected for some years, and was Oil Inspector for the county for four years. From 1875 until 1881 he was connected with no business enterprise, but on the 28th of June of the latter year he established the manufactory of which he is now the head. They manufacture the Schonnmaker Lightning Cable, which is formed of a galvanized steel wire, overlaid with copper tubes, made from sheet copper and twisted into a continuous flexible cable; they also manufacture copper wire cables. The business has constantly increased, until it has assumed extensive proportions, and become one of the leading industries of Winona. The factory is 20x70 feet, and has a capacity of about five thousand feet of cable per day. They manufacture cables in two sizes, of from two hundred and fifty to five hundred feet in length, and also manufacture gold and silver plated points, arrows and vanes, as well as the necessary standards. The manufacture is exclusively for wholesale trade, and they sell direct to the salesmen. When seventeen years of age, Mr. Gault united with the Baptist Church in his native town. In the fall preceding his arrival in Winona the first
Page 200. Baptist Church was organized in this place, and he assisted in raising the funds for the building of the house of worship. He has served as Deacon during his entire existence, and has been one of its most prominent members. He aided in organizing the first Sunday-school, and has been a leader in Sunday-school circles. His wife also shares with him in the good work, and is likewise prominent in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Mr. Gault was active in organizing the Old Settlers’ Society, and feels a commendable interest in everything that tends to perpetuate the early history of his adopted county. He possesses the confidence of his fellow-townsmen in an unusual degree, for he has lived an honorable, upright life, well deserving the respect of all. (Portrait and Biographical Record of Winona County, Minnesota, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, 1895)