BIO: James GATEHOUSE, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, page 381. _____________________________________________________________ JAMES GATEHOUSE, coal operator, and for the past six years supervisor of Bigler Township, Clearfield County, Pa., was born in South Wales, March 9, 1843, and is a son of John and Mary (Morgan) Gatehouse, both of whom died in Wales. The father was manager of a large farm in Wales belonging to a land company. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They had six children but four died in infancy, James and Thomas being the only survivors. The grandparents, James Gatehouse and John Morgan were both natives of Wales. James Gatehouse remained in his own land until he reached manhood. In 1865 he came to the United States and located at Beaver Meadows, in Carbon County, Pa., but in the next year moved to Center County and from there went to Maryland, and in 1883 came to Clearfield County, where he has lived ever since. For twenty-five years he has been engaged in mining and shipping coal. For six years he was superintendent for a coal mining company at Chesterfield, Pa., in 1908 opening his present mine, under the name of Port No. 1, on the New York Central Railroad, and shipped his first coal in 1910. He gives employment to some 65 men and his output is 200 tons daily. On July 31, 1862, Mr. Gatehouse was married to Miss Diana Williams, a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Davis) Williams, who also came from Wales. Of their family there are but two surviving daughters: Mrs. Gatehouse and Mary, who is the widow of Thomas Parker and lives in Australia. Mr. and Mrs. Gatehouse have had the following children: Mary, who is the wife of John H. Steckman; Louisa, who is the wife of Samuel Markley; Thomas W.; John, who is deceased; Diana, who is the wife of Frank Havely; Edith, who is deceased; James C.; Gomer; and Anna, who was the oldest of the family and died when a beautiful young woman in her eighteenth year. Not connected formally with any political party, Mr. Gatehouse casts his vote as his judgment dictates. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Coalport, the Chapter at Clearfield, and the Commandery at Phillipsburg. He belongs also to the Knights of the Golden Eagles at Brisbin, being a charter member of the lodge there, and also to the B. of A., at Chesterfield. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Gatehouse stands high in the regard of his fellow citizens who recognize in him a man of honesty of purpose, good intentions and strict integrity. He has always been a hard worker and has made his own way in the world, through industry and perseverance gaining long since a sturdy and self respecting independence.