Mingo County, West Virginia Biography of Charles M. GATES ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , April 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 67 CHARLES M. GATES, the executive head of the Gates Building & Construction Company, with headquarters at Williamson, Mingo County, is one of the alert and progres- sive men who are playing a prominent part in the civic and material advancement of this section of the state, his asso- ciate in the business being his brother, Darwin R., of whom individual mention is made in a sketch immediately follow- ing this. Charles M. Gates was born at Scottdale, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1870, and is a son of William Michael and Barbara (Willson) Gates, both likewise natives of the old Keystone State, where the father was long and actively identified with coal mining. William M. Gates served as a gallant soldier of the Union during the Civil war, he having been a private in the Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was a part of the Fifth Army Corps. He took part in many engagements, including the historic battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. After the war he was engaged in burning charcoal for use in iron furnaces, and in 1872 he became a coal miner in Pennsylvania, a vocation which he followed during the rest of his active career. After the death of his first wife he married Emma B. Holt. Charles M. Gates attended the public schools of Pennsyl- vania about three years, and was but nine years old when he became a trapper in a coal mine. With the passing years he made consecutive advancement, became a skilled miner, served as mine foreman, later became mine superintendent and finally became general manager of the Crystal Black Coal Company of Mingo County, West Virginia. In 1917 he established his residence at Williamson and engaged in the real estate business, in connection with which he spe- cialized in the handling of coal mines and other coal prop- erties, besides handling improved and vacant city realty. In connection with this enterprise he found it expedient to do much building in order to sell properties to advantage, and in September, 1921, he became associated with his brother Darwin R. in the organization of the Gates Build- ing & Construction Company, of which he is president. The company, with the best of facilities and management, is developing a large and substantial business in building and general construction work in Mingo and adjoining counties. In the furtherance of the business Mr. Gates is preparing to establish headquarters in the City of Huntington, though he will continue his residence at Williamson. He is a pro- gressive and able business man and a sterling citizen who has achieved marked success, the while he has always com- manded unqualified popular esteem. He has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite of the Masonic fraternity, in which he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine, and he is affiliated also with the Elks and is a member of the Kiwanis and Coal City clubs of Williamson. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. In 1896, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Gates wedded Miss Agnes Glenn, and her death occurred in December, 1916. The children of this union are: Clark Ray, Austin J. W., Katherine A., Thomas D., Pee Jay, Bertha L. and Edith Clark. Clark R. and Thomas D. are engaged in the cattle business at Montrose, Colorado. On the 21st of May, 1920, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Gates and Mrs. Lucille Gilbert (Cox) Fitzgibbons, a widow with one son, Henry, who now bears the name of Henry Fitzgibbons Gates. Mrs. Gates was born and reared in Kentucky and is a daughter of J. P. and Catherine Cox, of Henderson, that state.