Gates Family History & Genealogy

This is just a notification informing all family members that our Dad Bud Gates has when on to glory. He passed on July 08, 2010. Our Dad was born in Jonestown Mississippi in 1937 and was currently residing in Kansas City, MO. at the time of is homegoing Dates have not been determined yet for the Memorial Service.

My Grandmother Rosamond (Rose) Gates was from Ohio, I am told. Her father's name was Valentine Gates. Rosamond's Mother died when she was four years old. Rosemond traveled by wagon train down to the Kansas territory. There were many hardships along the way, including disasterous encounters with different Indian tribes. Rosamond (Rose) Gates married my Grandfather Charles Edgar McCart in 1903 in Kansas. They were parents to nine children. Two of the oldest children died soon after they were born. The third born died at 17 years of age from pheumonia. Rosamond and Charles Edgar McCart homesteaded near Circleville, KS. They lived there until the "Dust Bowl". They moved to Topeka, KS because the wind had blown all the top soil away and their crops were gone. Also, Rosamond's health had turned for worse because of consumption (TB). Their eight born child enlisted in the Army during World War II. Rosamond's health suffered from the fear of losing yet another child. Eugene Denton McCart was just 5'4" tall and about 117 lbs (soaking wet)and he was put into the Infantry. He took part in the "African Campaign", Invasion of Italy, he landed on Normandy Beach in the first wave and was under General Patton's command at the Battle of the Bulge. He received many military decorations for his service. But my Grandmother passed away in 1945. I remember from letter's that my mother had received that there was a long time there between 1943 and 1945 that we didn't know if Eugene was alive or dead. All the Army would say was that when they had something to report that we would know. I think the not knowing about her son contributed to her early death. I don't have an exact date for Rosamond Gates McCart's death, but she is buried in the Rochester Cementary in Topeka, KS. I would really appreciate knowing my Grandmother's family history. Who were these Gates???? Did my Grandmother have brothers and sisters? Who was her father - Valentine Gates??? Where was he born and were they German as we have heard from so many different sources!!! My Grandmother had a strong accent - and she often spoke in what I now believe was German. But in a letter from my Mother's sister, Becky, she relates that he, Valentine Gates, was from Scotland! My Grandmother had a beautiful voice and even when she was really ill, she would sing the old songs. And she was a deeply religious person. I would love to hear from other Gate's. Respectully, Betty in CA.

Daguerreotype Analysis
by
James A. Gates

In my father’s things there is a cased image of a man seated in a chair. He is not identified and unfortunately there is no one alive to determine who this gentleman is. This analysis is an attempt to identify the person in the image.



Invented in 1839, Daguerreotypes got to America shortly thereafter in 1840. Daguerreotypes required technical skill and artistic talent to capture a good image. They required long exposure times and it was not possible to make copies. Each image was as unique as a portrait. A Daguerreotype consists of an image, mat, cover-glass and case. By the mid-1850’s, Daguerreotypes had been replaced by the easier to use ambrotypes in 1854, and tintypes in 1856. This image is a Daguerreotype and would have been made after 1840 but before 1860.

Construction of the case gives further clues as to when the image was made. The case is wood frame, covered with embossed leather, and it has a hook and eye clasp. In 1852, Samuel Peck patented a new, more durable case called a “union case” which could be manufactured. These were molded and often had a spring-friction clasp. The wood frame and leather cases, often built by the photographer, were mostly replaced by the union cases by 1855.



The surface design of the embossed leather covering is another clue. This case has a floral design which came into fashion in the mid 1840’s.

The mat design is oval. The octagon shape was most popular in the 1840’s. It was not until the 1850’s that the more, elaborate elliptical and oval shapes were popular. This narrows the time period down to between 1850 and 1855.



This time period is confirmed by the fashion displayed by the gentleman. From 1840 to 1850 the following fashions were in vogue. Shirts were white with small collar turned up under the tie. The necktie was tied in a horizontal bowknot. The hair was ear length, parted high on one side and men were generally clean shaven with some fringe beards. The gentleman in this image displays all these fashions.

Since Daguerreotypes were unique and relative expensive they were rarely in the possession of persons outside the immediate family; therefore, I assume that this must be one of my father’s ancestors. Based on the time period the image would have been taken there are only four possibilities: Daniel H. Goodno born 1805, James C. Bane born 1814, Daniel H. Gates born 1826, and Andrew Digins born 1833. The gentleman in the image appears to be between 25 and 35 years old.

Daniel H. Goodno would have been between 45 and 50 years old in the time period that the image was taken, so it is unlikely he is the gentleman. I have a picture of James C. Bane and this image is not of him. Daniel H. Gates would have been between 24 and 29 years old. Andrew Digins would have been between 17 and 22 years old. Andrew Digins was a farmer and would not likely have the means to have a Daguerreotype taken when he was 17-22 years old. Daniel H. Gates was a blacksmith and prominent citizen of Gallipolis, Ohio, and a large land holder. He certainly would have the resources to have a picture taken. So, I conclude that Daniel H. Gates in the gentleman in the image.

How sure can I be that this is correctly identifying the gentleman in the image? The fact that the image was in my father’s things, gives me a 50-50 chance that it is one of his ancestors (either he is or he is not). That Daniel H. Gates is in the correct age bracket gives me another 50-50 chance of being correct. And, that he is the most likely one that would have had the resources to have a Daguerreotype taken gives another 50-50 chance of being correct. With three items, each with a 50-50 % chance of being correct, the joint probability of this correctly identifying the gentleman is 87.5%.

Reference: Taylor, Maureen; Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs, Betterway Books, Cincinnati, OH, 2000

Paper Artical May 21 1907 Lincoln Co. News. A REMARKABLE MAN PASSES AWAY Mr. William Gates Sr. dies at the ripe old of 92
Mr. William Gate died Saterday at his home near Pisgah Church from where he was buried in the grave yard nearby Sunday afternoon at two oclock. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev,I,O,Gray
of the Weslyan Methodist church . in Long Shoals assited by Rev, R.Z. Johnston, of Lincolton, and Rev, C.R.Ross of the Lincolton circuit.
A detail of Confederate Veterians acted as pall bearers and bore the body from the residence of the deceased to the church and grave wher it sleeps almost within a stones throw of his home.
A large concourse of people attended the funiral, many going out from Lincoln and the church was totally
inadequate to accommodate the crowed .
In the begining of his remarks Mr. Gray read the following facts about the deceased;
William Gates born in Lincoln county in 1815 died the 18th day of May, 1907 his age 92 years.
Elizebeth Gates (Norman) the surviving widow was 89 on the 8th day of April,1907 .
This venerable couple were married Sepetember 29th 1839.Living Children .
Marcus Wilson Gates ,born in 1840; John L.Gates, and William C Gates, Mary E. Putnam, and
Callie Rhyne, Dead; Nancy A.Cauble , and P.Ellen Thornberg,one child died in infancy.
Living Descendants 26,Grandchildren ,66Great grandchildren and 2 Great great grandchildren.
Dead 5 Grandchildren ,22 Great grandchildren , making the total 129 descendants.
At the conclusion of the burial services the daughters of the confederacy banked the grave with flowers.
The editor of the news was privieged to attend the burial of this venerable veterian of the Civil War and Soldier of the cross.
It was an unusual sight,pathetic and interesting, to see around his grave the bereaved widow, their five living children, and the descendants of five generations.

The Gates Family William Gates and Elizebeth were married September 29th 1839 and togeather they have traveled the pathway of life sixty seven years .
Mrs. Gates will be 92 years of age the 8th day of next April.
Mr. Gates served in company A,23rd,regiment.
They have two son's that were also confederate soldiers, Wilson Gates of company I,37th regiment and John L. Gates of company C 71st, Nancy, a daughter of this venerable couple first married William White, a member of compant K, the Southern Stars.
William White was wounded at the battle of Bethel,the first blood shed in the Civil War on his return home,Mrs, Elizebeth Gates, mended the hole made in the coat sleeve where the ball pierced his arm.
White re-entered the service and died in prison of small pox.
His widow became the wife of Harrison Cauble.
(Source) Lincoln County Times 1907.
Source Researcher Greg Gates.
William Gates served in the Confederate Army, 23rd Reg, Co, b . Infantry The Hog Hill Guards, He enlisted March 15 1862 at the age of 45 and was by Occupation a farmer .
His name appears on the Honor Roll in May 1862 and later his name appears on a muster roll list of the General Hospital ,Camp Winder ,Richmond Va, in August 1864.
His discharge states that he was 5 ft 10" tall Present and accounted for until discharged as a private on March 15 ,1864 by reason of being over age .
In his application for a pension in 1901 he stated that he had never been wounded,but had been struck serveral times but never hurt.
He also related his problems with a disease of the kidneys (chronic inflamation)
the doctors call "Brights Disease" and also stated that he was almost blind in his right eye which bothered him and that he could see with his left eye only with the use of glasses but had to cover his right eye he further states that he had served in the " Senior Reserves" until the surrender .
On July 1st, 1907 his widow Elizebeth applied for his pension ( 4th Class) and she states that William had died in May 1907 the Hog Hill Guards first officers were George Washington Steal, Captain Thomas Jefferson Seagle, Lieutenant.
They were son's of General Daniel Seagle who was a General in the State Militia
for many years until the close of the Civil War.
In 1860 he was 65 years old and to old for active service.
This was the dissapointment of his life .
In 1907 Williams funeral at Pisgah M.E.Church, ex confederate veterans served as pall bearers and the United Daughters of the confederacy banked his grave with flowers he had at the time of his death a total of 129 descendants (Children
Grandchildren and GGrandchildren) in 1916 his wife Elizebeth was laid to rest at his side .