Submitted by: Ken Gates

WILLIAM HENRY GATES

William Henry (Papa) Gates was born June 5, 1883 near Old Charter Corner, Old Harde Harrison Place, which is near Thomasville, Clarke County, Alabama & Choctaw Corner. At the age of 2 his family moved to the old Gates near Syrene (now Dickinson) Alabama. His father was John Nathaniel Gates and mother Margaret Ann White Gates. He was the 3rd child of 5 born to this union.

He farmed with his parents until the spring of 1908 when he went to work for a Livery Stable and traveled to all parts of Texas. He then went work for the Chilton, Texas Livery Stable where he met and married Minnie Bell Cooley on September 5, 1909 at the Baptist parsonage in Chilton.

William was employed by the Humble Oil Company for 29 years at the Chilton Pump Station until his retirement in 1948. The family lived in Chilton until their two youngest children entered Baylor University at which time they moved to Waco.

William died February 19, 1953 at his in Waco, McLennan County, Texas and is buried in Rosemound Cemetery, Waco, McLennan County, Texas.

Children of this union were Minnie Lucille (Gates) Mitchell, born June 17, 1910, John Wilson Gates, born September 20, 1912, Jewell Mae (Gates) Garner, born December 17, 1918, Charles Emmitt Gates born November 20, 1920 and Elmer Vincent Gates born June 17, 1916 and died February 1, 1918. As of January 2004 the only living child is Jewell Garner.