John William Gates was born in the early 1880s in Iowa. Before the 1900's he moved to Colorado and worked as a farm laborer. In 1903 he married his wife. By 1910 his occupation was listed as a teamster in the transfer. His family claimed that it means that he delivered supplies to miners in the mountains.
On April 23, 1916, 34-year-old John left him home in Longmont, Colorado. It was believed he may have had an accident when he left. It may have been a mining accident or the wagon he used for movement of mining supplies fell off the mountain. At the time in Colorado, there were several mines open due to the need of tungsten for WWI. It's possible his remains were found on the mountain and they never identified as him. His fate is unknown though. It isn't believed he left on his own. He was said to be a good provider and a good husband and a wonderful father.
When his wife in May of 1917 filed for "Mother's Compensation in Boulder county she had to explain why she needed help and her husband's disappearance. The Mother's Compensation Act was a way for mothers to provide for their children. This was long before social services.
John William Gates was 34 at the time of his disappearance. He was 5'7 to 6'0 and weighed around 160 to 180 lbs. He had brown receding hair and his eye color is unknown.
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