| John W. Gates, of Jackson, was born at Huntington, Tenn., May 11, 1841, son of W. W. and Ann McCutcheon Gates. His father, who died in 1891, was a man of prominence in western Tennessee, and in association with Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer, publisher of the first whig newspaper in that region, called "The West Tennessean." John W. Gates was educated at the West Tennessee college, Jackson, then taught school for a year and engaged in the study of law. This pursuit he abandoned to enlist for the Confederate service, becoming a private in Company H, Sixth Tennessee infantry, under Col. William H. Stephens. In December, 1861, he was honorably discharged on account of bad health, but before he had fully recovered he re-enlisted and served for about one year in the quartermaster's department. He was then transferred to Henderson's scouts, with whom he did faithful and dangerous service until, while on a mission to Memphis to discover the strength of the force that had left that city with Sherman, after he had forwarded the information by a comrade, he was captured south of the city. This ended his service, for he was held at the Old Irving block prison at Memphis, at Alton, Ill., and Fort Delaware, until the close of hostilities. Amidst the miseries of prison life he recalls an incident at Alton which caused much amusement at the time. Small-pox was prevalent, and it was noticed that when those infected were sent to the island near by, none ever returned. So Gates and several others agreed to stand by each other, and if one should be taken by the disease he should be cared for by his comrades. Bob Rutherford, of Georgia, was the first victim, and they arranged that he should take the place of the first corpse that was sent out of the camp. All went well until the colonel in command, a Kansas "jayhawker," came up and noticing the lid of the coffin loose, ordered it nailed down. This Rutherford had not bargained for, and he promptly kicked off the lid and revealed himself in a very lively condition. The colonel and drayman fled precipitately, and the Georgian was sent to the lockup. But the joke was too good to keep him long confined. Such are the humors of war, ghastly enough to recount in times of peace. On his return from prison, Mr. Gates found employment on his father's newspaper, and began a civil career full of honor and usefulness. He has been chancery clerk of Madison county eight years, mayor of Jackson four years, and is now register of the land office of west Tennessee and secretary of the Jackson board of trade. He also conducts an insurance business. Of the John Ingram bivouac, he has served as secretary. By his marriage in October, 1865, to Georgia, daughter of Isham Boyce, he has five children: H. B., J. W., Jr., Isham B., Georgia L., and Fannie P. |
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