John Burns GATES

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1870, Living in Bee Branch, Chariton Co., Missouri
• Census: 1880, Living in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington

Notes:

Name:
Much that recalls times of trouble for the American Union is suggested by the life of the late John B. Gates, one of the pioneers of Skagit county and Whidby island, who died January 12, 1905, after a career full of years of activity and of good deeds. At the time of his death Mr. Gates resided on the place he had cleared of the virgin forest and that is now the home of his widow and those of his children who still surround her. Mr. Gates was a native of Missouri, born in Pike county on October 6, 1831. His father was Abel Gates, a native of Massachusetts and son of Colonel Gates of Revolutionary fame. It was in the schools of Missouri that John B. Gates gained his education, and it was there also that he imbibed the spirit of loyalty to the cause of the Southern states in their great conflict with the American Union. the year 1862 found him enlisted in the Confederate army, in which he served throughout the war, rising to a sergeancy in his company.

At the close of the conflict he returned to his native state, bringing with him a bride of South Carolina, Sarah Turner, whom he had married at hamburg in the Palmetto state in the closing days of the Lost Cause. Mr. and Mrs. Gates resided in Missouri until 1871, when they came to Washington and took up a homestead near Mount Vernon, the place now sheltering Mrs. Gates and on which she has had many unusual experiences incident to pioneer life in a new country. For five years much of Mr. Gates' time was spent on Whidby island, working for others, but during that time he cleared twenty-three acres and commenced the orchard and meadow land home which was his until death. Robert Turner, the father of Mrs. Gates, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, coming to the United States with his parents when eighteen years of age. the Turners settled in Edgefield county, South Carolina, and resided there until his death. At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Turner cast his fortunes with those of the Confederacy and during the engagement resulting in the fall of Fort Sumter, received a wound from the effects of which he died. Mrs. Turner, the mother of Mrs. Gates, was a native of Wales, but came to South Carolina with her parents when a child. Mrs. Gates was born in South Carolina and received her education there. She was twenty-four years of age when she married. To the union ten children were born: John, Robert, Edwin, Lamora, Adaline and Dortha, all deceased; David and Henry A., at home, and two married daughters, Mrs. Mary L. Moore and Lillian M. Slosson, having homes, respectively, near Mount Vernon and on Whidby island. the family generally are Methodists, though David has embraced the Catholic faith. John B. Gates' widow is still living on the land which her husband wrested from its native state to become one of the farm homes of the Puget sound country. She vividly remembers her early days on that ground, the woods alive with wild beasts and recalls with distinctness the circumstances under which many of her domestic animals were carried off under her very eyes by the bears. She has lived to see the wilderness of trees turned into human habitations, the wild creatures disappear, and to note the work done by herself and her husband in effecting the transformation from forest to family fireside.

John married Sarah A. TURNER about 1865. Sarah (daughter of Robert TURNER and Louisa ?) was born on 26 Nov 1838 in Edgefield Co., South Carolina; died on 27 Mar 1909 in Mount Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1870, Living with parents in Bee Branch, Chariton Co., Missouri
• Census: 1880, Living with parents in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living with husband in Skagit, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1910, Living in Lester, King Co., Washington
• Fact: 1910, Listed as being widowed
• Census: 1920, Living in Omak, Okanogan Co., Washington
• Census: 1930, Living in Tingley, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1940, Living in Tingley, Skagit Co., Washington

Notes:

Name:
Mary was daughter of John Burns Gates I and Sarah A. Turner, pioneers of Skagit county and Whidbey Island. Mr. and Mrs. Gates resided in Missouri until 1871, coming to Washington when Mary was only two years old. For five years much of Mr. Gates' time was spent on Whidbey Island, working for others. During that time he cleared twenty-three acres of the virgin forest and commenced the orchard and meadow land home which was his until death.

April 18, 1884 Mary was married at the age 15 to Dr. William M. Thompson. Dr. Thompson was in his second year of practice in Skagit county, having moved from Missouri just as the county was splitting off from Whatcom. The Thompson's lived in Skagit City, and the Dr. ranged all over the western part of the county from La Conner to Mount Vernon. In those days before telephones, he was often summoned by a young boy of family who would guide him overland or row him by canoe to wherever someone was sick. William was once arrested for practicing in logging camps up in the woods without a license because his license had not yet arrived from Missouri. He died in 1902 after accidentally drinking poison. Marys step-son Ned Thompson made history in early Mount Vernon when he teamed up with a partner named Davis in the original T&D card room once on Myrtle Street.

Mary was married 2nd to 'Bordy' Moore & 3rd to Charles Eck. In the 1910 Census of King County she is listed as a widow head of household, occupation Cook. 1920 Census Omak, WA indicates that Mary was a widow, & a 'Farmer.' She is remembered to be a interesting & 'pretty resourceful female.' 'Would go out fishing before daybreak and catch a batch of fish for breakfast.' Once 'taking a rifle to some intruders on the property, think they were from the local tax offices.' At one time 'her hair was very thin and had a near bald spot on the top, so she pulled her long hair up in a knot on the top to cover it.'

Posted on Find A Grave
Created by: Jackie Ableman Lara

Mary married Dr. William M. THOMPSON on 18 Apr 1884. William was born on 1 Sep 1852 in Mechanicsburg, Sangamon Co., Illinois; died on 2 Oct 1902 in Skagit City, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Charles ECK on 10 Oct 1911 in Skagit Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Brody MOORE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Living with parents in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1910, Living in Everett, Snohomish Co., Washington

Lillian married Oscar Dewitt SLOSSON on 13 Aug 1888. Oscar (son of Oscar SLOSSON and Julia TOWSLEE) was born about 1865 in Iowa; died before 1910. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lillian married Arthur Henry KING on 20 Jan 1913 in Vancouver, Canada. Arthur was born on 11 Aug 1872 in Birmingham, England; died on 22 Feb 1945 in Fort William, Thunder Bay Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Living with parents in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Living with parents in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Living with parents in Mt. Vernon, Whatcom Co., Washington
• Census: 1885, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living with husband in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington

Margaret married Joseph STROUD about 1894 in Washington. Joseph (son of Henry STROUD and Marietta TOWSLEE) was born in Aug 1869 in Iowa; died on 17 Mar 1936 in Seattle, King Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1885, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living with parents in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1885, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living with parents in Skagit Co., Washington