William Norwood Gates - Texas Pioneer

Birth: Feb. 20, 1818    Jackson, Tennessee
Death: Sep. 19, 1903    Atascosa County, Texas
Married (1) Elizabeth Jane "Jane" Stacy on Feb. 18, 1841 in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
             (2) Mary Jane "Mollie" Petty on Dec. 27, 1883 in Atascosa County, Texas

William Norwood Gates, affectionately known as Billy by his family and friend,  was my paternal 3rd great grandfather. He married Elizabeth Jane Stacy and they had six sons and six daughters together between 1842 and 1867. He died on September 19, 1903, in Atascosa County, Texas, having lived a long life of 85 years, and was buried in Lytle, Texas.

Jackson, Tennessee — When Billy was born on February 20, 1818, in Jackson, Tennessee, his father, John Valentine Gates, was 23 and his mother, Martha Jane Hampton, was 29. At the time of Billy's birth, Jackson was a raw frontier. Formerly part of the Chickasaw Indian hunting grounds, the area was opened for settlement in 1818 and experienced rapid population growth. Billy's father like most residents was a farmer. 

Most of the settler's time was devoted to raising or making goods necessary to survive; most farmers worked simply to supply the food needs of their families. Income could be made from selling certain “cash crops” such as cotton and tobacco. Tennessee farmers also converted corn, into meal, whiskey, or (by feeding it to hogs) cured pork

The raw frontier settlement at Jackson was named the county seat in 1921, but Billy's family was not there to witness the event. Sometime between 1818 and 1820 the Gates family moved to Russellville, Alabama.

Panic of 1819 — When Billy was still an infant, his family lived through the first major financial crisis of the United States. After the War of 1812, U.S. imports and exports surged. European demand for American goods, especially agricultural staples like cotton, tobacco, and flour, increased. The federal government offered vast tracts of lands for sale, fueling real estate speculation.

When the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, swelling crop yields in Europe reduced the demand for American farm products. Prices plunged. Sales of public lands plummeted. People were forced off their farms and out of their homes due to bank failures and foreclosures. Prisons became overcrowded with debtors who were locked up after failing to pay their bills. It was during this time that the Gates family moved to Russellville where many of their extended family were residents.

Russellville, Alabama — Russellville at that time was a raw frontier settlement. Following the war of 1812, Congress appropriated funds for the construction of a military road from Florence, Alabama to New Orleans. Russellville, first known as Russell's Valley, was named after Major William Russell, an army scout, who after completion of the road, returned as one of the area's first settlers. He built a pioneer cabin and a trading post. 

Russellville is located in Franklin County in the northwestern part of the state. It was once was home by several Indian Tribes, including the Chickasaws, Creeks and Cherokees. The county was established by the Alabama Territorial legislature in 1818 following the Cherokee and Chickasaw Cession of 1816.  At that time there were only two towns in the county, Russellville and Big Springs (now known as Tuscumbia). Russellville was named the first county seat.

The County is noted for the fertility of its soils; native trees include oak, dogwood, chestnut hickory, black locust, cedar, walnut and cherry. Principal crops include corn, cotton, wheat, oats, rye, tobacco, sorghum, potatoes and the usual field crops. Early farmers also engaged in wool production for their cash crop.

1820 census — Although the 1820 Federal census for Alabama was lost, the 1820 Alabama state census for Franklin County exists. It documents that John Gates and his extended family were living in Franklin County. Six Gates families were listed on the Census:

     Gates, Bartholomew — 1,1,1,1,0,0,4

     Gates, John — 1,2,1,2,0,0,6

     Gates, Phillip — 1,0,1,1,0,0,3

     Gates, Phillip — 1,1,1,5,0,0,8

     Gates, Valentine — 1,2,1,3,0,0,7   

     Gates, Wm — 1,0,1,1,0,0,3

Billy's family (John Gates) was enumerated as follows: (names and ages added by author)

Males > 21           1   John 32

Males < 21           2   John Hampton 4, William Norwood 2

Female > 21          1   Martha Jane 31 

Females < 21         2   Mary Ann 7, Martha Polly 6

Free people of color 0
Slaves               0 
 Total                6

Missouri Compromise of 1820 — Slavery had become a very divisive issue. Representatives of the North looked to prevent pro-slavery regions from gaining statehood, while many Southerners sought to expand the slave trade further west. In 1820 the Missouri Compromise was passed by Congress. In this agreement, Missouri was granted statehood with slavery declared legal within its borders. But as a trade-off, Maine joined the Union as a free state, and slavery was forbidden in all other land north of the 36°30' parallel. Even though Billy and his father were southern gentlemen, the slave schedules on the above census records to not show the family as owning slaves.

Childhood — Work and education shaped Billy's childhood. Society expected children to help with basic cooking, cleaning, farming, or any other task that needed doing. Billy had many siblings to help with the chores:
            Name                  Birth               
     Martha Polly (Dean)       1814 GA
     Joseph Hampton             1816 TN
     Mary Ann(Hawkins)    1817 TN
     William Norwood            1818 TN
     Francis Caroline(Sanders)  1820 AL
     Bartholomew James         1823 AL
     Abner Valentine            1825 AL
     John, Jr.                 1827 AL
     Samuel                   1830 AL
     Sarah                    1831 TX 
     Susan                    1833 TX 
     Martha Emaline(Parsons)     1837 LA

It appears that Billy's family valued education. Even though the family lived in frontier settlements during much of their formative years, later census records indicate that the children were literate. Billy probably attended a one-room schoolhouse which was common in small towns.

Mexican Texas — Around 1829, Billy's father John was recruited by empresario Joseph Vehlein to immigrate to Mexican Texas. The family packed up their belongings and moved to East Texas. They settled near Nacogdoches or San Augustine.  Billy was about 11 years old.

The immigration paperwork for John Gates stated the family migrated to Texas in 1829. As a resident of Mexico, John Gates was not listed on the 1830 US census. However Billy's brother Samuel, born Aug. 30th, 1830 would list his birth location as Alabama. It is possible that Jane stayed behind with family and migrated to Texas after the birth of Samuel.

In the 1820's the Republic of Mexico encouraged immigration into Texas. In April 1830, the immigration law was changed to restrict Anglo American immigration. Undocumented immigrants crossed the river and entered Texas in defiance of the law. We do know that in 1835 the Gates family was living in the Tenaha district (near current day Shelby County, Texas). See the Texas Land Office for additional information on the History of Texas Public Lands.

Billy's father John farmed his land. According to the "Guide to Texas Emigrants", the crops most congenial to the soil and climate in Vehlein's grant were sugar, cotton, indigo, rice, tobacco, oranges, lemons, grapes, olives, prunes, figs, wheat, oats, barley, and Indian corn. Wild honey was plentiful and native grapes were cultivated.  Many settlers also raised animal stock including horses, mules, cattle, hogs, and sheep.

As immigrants to Mexico, the Gates family was required to "convert" to Catholicism. It is likely the family was also learning Spanish, the official language of Mexican Texas.

1835 Mexican Census — The Gates family was enumerated in the 1835 Mexican Census of Tenaha (now Shelby County, TX) as follows:

     Gates, John       Farmer 47

     Gates, Jane       Wife 46
     Gates, Hampton    Son 19
     Gates, William    Son 17   
     Gates, Fanny      Daughter 15
     Gates, James      Son 12
     Gates, Valentine  Son 10
     Gates, John, Jr.  Son 8
     Gates, Samuel     Son 6
     Gates, Sarah      Daughter 4
     Gates, Susan      Daughter 2

Texas Revolution —  In 1832, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, became Mexico's president. Colonists hoped he would make Texas a self-governing state within the Mexican republic. But once in power, Santa Anna overthrew Mexico's constitutional government, and made himself dictator. 

Santa Anna ordered the Mexican military to begin disarming the Texans. Open warfare began on October 2, 1835, with the Battle of Gonzales. Mexican soldiers attempting to take a small cannon from the village of Gonzales encountered stiff resistance from a hastily assembled militia of Texans. After a brief fight, the Mexicans retreated and the Texans kept their cannon.

The Mexican soldiers retreated to their garrison in San Antonio followed by angry colonists who laid siege to the town. For nearly 2 months the Texas volunteers camped outside the town. When Col. Ben Milam learned the volunteers planned to withdraw to Goliad he appealed to the Texans “Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?”

17-year-old Billy Gates was among the 300 volunteers who attack the town at daybreak on December 5th. After a bloody five-day, house-to-house fight, Mexican General Cos surrendered the town and the public property it held. During the Siege of Bexar the Texans lost four including Ben Milan who was killed by a sniper on Dec. 7th. According to his application for Veteran Land Bounty, Billy served from October 1835 until January 1836 when he returned to his home in East Texas. He described his service as follows:

Courtesy of the Texas General Land Office (GLO)

“I was at San Antonio with Col. Milum when he fel and then after whiping Coss out of the Alamo I returnd home I belonged to Baly Anderson Company I got home in January 36 I was in the battle of San Antonio yours truly, W.N. Gates ...”

After losing San Antonio to the Texans, General Santa Anna was determined to retake the city. The Mexican army arrived in San Antonio in February 1836. On March 6th after a 13-day siege, the Mexicans storm the Alamo. During the battle, all of the Texan defenders were killed. 

On a second front, Santa Anna sent General José Urrea marching north along the coast of Texas. On March 20th, the Mexican Army overwhelmed the Texans during the Battle of Goliad. Believing that they would be eventually paroled, 400 Texans surrendered. They were escorted back to Goliad as prisoners. When news of their capture reached Santa Anna, he sent orders to execute the Goliad prisoners. On Palm Sunday, the 27th of March, the prisoners were divided into three groups, marched onto open prairie, and shot. 

The news of the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad massacre instilled fear in the population and resulted in the mass exodus of the civilian population. According to the Texas State Handbook, the area around Nacogdoches and San Augustine where the Gates family lived was abandoned just prior to April 13th, 1836.  The Gates family fled to Louisiana. Billy's father John must not have lost everything in Texas; on Feb. 5, 1839 he purchased 160 acres of land in Natchitoches Parish for $199.90.

Natchitoches, Louisiana — Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-A-Tish) is located in Central Louisiana adjacent to I-49. Its largest claim to fame is being the location for the filming of the movie Steel Magnolias. It sits along the historic El Camino Real trail, a hard beaten path that ran from the banks of the Red River in Louisiana to San Antonio connecting settlements along its path. Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in Louisiana.

Natchitoches was the center of Creole plantation homes that flourished along the Cane River. Large plantation owners used slave labor to cultivate cotton. Other cash crops were tobacco, sugar cane and indigo. We don't know what John and his sons grew on their farm land, but it is doubtful it was cotton plantation; there is no record of the Gates family owning slaves. 

Land records for Billy's father John show the family was living in Natchitoches parish as early as 1839. But the family was not found on the 1840 Federal Census for Natchitoches Parish. Billy's father John died sometime between 1837 and 1842. Billy's mother Martha married James Maxwell sometime before December 1842. Sometime before 1850 the Maxwell's moved to Texas.

Feb. 18th, 1841, Billy, age 23, married 17 year old Elizabeth Jane Stacy. Jane, as she was called by her family, was the daughter of Rebecca Hathcock and Alexander Franklin Stacy. She was born in New Market, Alabama and moved to Natchitoches Parish with her family around 1835.

Billy and Jane homesteaded 80 acres of Louisiana wilderness near Marthaville, (about 20 miles west of Natchitoches). They purchased the land for $1.25 an acre. The sale for the first 40 acres was recorded on Dec. 4th, 1848, and the second 40 acre parcel was recorded on Feb. 16, 1854. Billy was the first recorded land owner in both sections. His ownership predates the Rains family who are credited with founding the town of Marthaville in 1851. The first school in Marthaville was built in 1853 and the post office opened in 1855. 

Louisiana Land Patents

Name	Date	Doc #	Meridian	Twp Range	Aliquots	Section	County
GATES, WILLIAM N	9/1/1849	4729	Louisiana	009N - 010W	SW¼SW¼	21	Natchitoches
GATES, WILLIAM N	9/15/1854	10268	Louisiana	009N - 009W	SE¼SE¼	5	Natchitoches

Jane and Billy started a family. The two first born children John born in Jan. 1842 and Sarah Ann born in Dec. 1842 died young. According to census records, in January 1844 their daughter Lavana was born in Arkansas. This is the only known record of the family being in Arkansas. The purpose and duration of the stay are unknown. After her birth, the family returned to Natchitoches where four additional children were born, Alexander Franklin (named after his maternal grandfather) in 1846, James Valentine in 1848, Martha Emaline in 1851 and John Columbus in April 1853.

Courtesy of the Texas GLO

According to their daughter Lavana, the family had a nice home in Louisiana and owned slaves. She told her descendants about her Negro "mammy" and how much she loved her. A search of the 1850 US census Slave Schedule failed to find Billy listed as a slave owner. Natchitoches had a sizable free black population; it is likely "mammy" was an emancipated black working for wages.

As a veteran of the Texas war of Independence, Billy was entitled to claim 320 acres of Texas land. On January 5, 1847, Billy was issued bounty certificate #179. As he wasn't ready to leave Louisiana, he decided to sell the claim to Robert Hodge. The sale was made prior to August 1851.

 1850 census — On November 13th, 1850 when the Federal census was taken, the Gates family was living in Natchitoches Parrish. The three eldest children of Billy’s sister Francis Caroline Gates Sanders, namely nieces Eudora, and Salina, and nephew Erby were living with Billy and Jane. The family was enumerated as follows: (Note: enumerator switched the given names of Elizabeth and daughter Lavana) 

1850 US Census, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Household	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Real Estate	Attended School?	Over 20  can’t read/write
William Gates	M	30	Alabama	Farmer	$200
Levina Gates	F	26	Alabama				x
Elizabeth Gates	F	6	Arkansas			x
Alex Gates	M	4	Louisiana
Jas Gates	M	2	Louisiana
Algora Sanders	F	10	Louisiana			x
Urba Sanders	M	7	Louisiana			x
Salina Sanders	F	5	Louisiana

Move to Texas — Jane's sister and brother-in-law Martha and Joe Gardner lived near the Gates family. Billy and Joe discussed the opportunities that moving to Texas would bring. Finally in 1853, the families decided to move to Texas. The Gates and the Gardner families sold their property in Louisiana.  According to John Edmond Gardner, second son of Martha and Joe, there were two families with 5 children in each family. Their meager belongings were placed into a single wagon pulled by a “yoke of oxen whose names were Buck and Brandy.”

Billy's sister Lavana was around ten when the families made the journey. According to Lavana her father sold his home and property in Louisiana. He loaded his supplies and family in a covered wagon and headed to Texas. They arrived in Atascosa County Oct. 4, 1854. Their mother Jane was always in "delicate" health and was sick in bed all the way to Texas. Jane had recently given birth to son John Columbus born April 1853 in Natchitoches. Niece Nancy Jane Gardner was born in Goliad County, Texas on September 3rd. Family tradition states the families spent the winter in Goliad County before moving on.

Atascosa County, Texas — On Oct. 4th, 1854, the 420 mile journey was complete; the family settled in then Bexar County south of San Antonio.  With the exception of a few old Hispanic farms and ranches, the land was Texas wilderness. The area was covered by cactus, grasses, thorny shrubs, mesquite and oak trees. Wildlife was abundant; white-tailed deer, javelina, turkey, squirrels, jackrabbits, foxes, ring-tailed cats, skunks, and opossum. Ducks, cranes, and geese migrated across the county. Billy's brother Abner Valentine Gates also settled nearby. The settlement was called Gates Valley and is near the present day town of Poteet. Other settlers of Gates Valley were the Rutledge, Gardner, and Williams families. 

Courtesy of the Texas GLO

Billy built a home and settled his growing family on the land he chose to homestead. Since Texas was a republic prior to joining the United States, the unclaimed land was owned by the State of Texas. In 1854, the State legislature amended the Texas Preemption Act to allow settlers to claim a 160 acre parcel of land for free, this was at a time when land in other states was going for $1.25 an acre. Billy claimed 160 acres along Palo Alto creek. According to the Pleasanton Express About Oldtimers of Atascosa County dated April 12, 1961, "Uncle Billy chose that site because of the natural water supply and because it was a very pretty valley..."

Courtesy of the Texas GLO

File 004680 in the Texas General Land Office documents his claim. The file shows that Billy paid $1.30 in taxes in 1858 to Atascosa County for 160 acres of land, 2 horses, and 1 yoke of oxen. The file contains a affidavit stating "William N Gates" ...

•  was a resident of the state on Feb. 13th, 1854
•  had a 160 acre parcel surveyed of April 23rd, 1855
•  had resided and cultivated the tract for 3 consecutive years

After moving to Texas the family continued to grow as well: Mary Jane born in 1855, Nancy Caroline in 1858, William Wright in 1861, Edmond Jackson in 1864 and Mason Elizabeth in 1867. Billy and Jane ensured their children were educated. Family tradition is that Billy and Jane donated land for the "Gates Valley Public School” and the "Gates Valley Baptist Church." 

Gates Valley was originally part of Bexar County. In 1855 "W. N. Gates" and around a hundred of his neighbors petitioned the Texas legislature for the creation of a separate County. In 1856 the land separated from Bexar to the newly created Atascosa County.  In the spring of 1857 "William Gates" was among the 16 men appointed to the first Grand Jury of Atascosa County. Tradition has it the first session was held under a live oak tree as the courthouse had yet to be built. New settlers continued to trickle in, but the threat of Indian attack, poor roads, and the area's general isolation kept the population low.

Billy paid taxes in Atascosa County. The first year found was 1857 when his assets were listed as 160 acres valued at $120, 2 horses worth $120, Oxen worth $140. His assets totaled $380 and did not include any slaves.

Billy and his siblings pursued obtaining benefits their father would have been entitled too if he had lived. They petitioned the Texas State Legislature for assistance in obtaining these rights. On February 3rd, 1860 "An Act for the Relief of the Heirs of John Gates" was enacted into law which authorized the heirs (namely W.N. Gates, A.V. Gates, Mary Hawkins, Avarilla Gates, Caroline Sanders, and Joseph Gates) to patent one league (4428.4 acres) of land. They were able to obtain the following land patents:

Grantee           Patentee        Patent Date  Acres County   File Patent Class
John Gates(dec'd) Hrs. John Gates  8 Apr 1868 632  Atascosa 1458 Bexar 1st
John Gates(dec'd) Hrs. John Gates 10 Jul 1871 160  Bexar    1471 Bexar 1st
John Gates(dec'd) Hrs. John Gates 21 Sep 1878 3636  Hemphill 1900 Bexar 1st

1860 census — On August 14th, 1860, six years after arriving in Atascosa County, a record of the family was captured in the 1860 census.

United States Census, 1860 for Atascosa County, Texas

Household	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Real Estate Personal Estate	Attended School?	Over 20 & can’t read/write
W N Gates	M	42	Tennessee	Farmer	$320 / $660
Elizabeth Gates	F	36	Alabama				x
A F Gates	M	14	Louisiana			x
James Gates	M	12	Louisiana			x
Martha E Gates	F	10	Louisiana			x
John C Gates	M	8	Louisiana			x
Mary J Gates	F	4	Texas
Nancy J Gates	F	2	Texas

Picture found at Longhorn 
Museum Pleasanton Texas

The agriculture scheduled stated W.N. Gates owned 300 acres of land (22 acres improved) worth $320, $10 worth of agriculture equipment. The livestock valued at $888 were listed as 10 horses, 0 mules, 16 milk cows, 2 oxen, 32 other cattle, 0 sheep, and 80 pigs.

Billy was elected the fourth sheriff of Atascosa County August 4, 1862 and served two terms during the civil war. He was replaced in 1864 when he served as a County Commissioner. He was later reelected as the sixth sheriff and served during reconstruction (1865 - 1866). In August 1866 W.N. Gates was elected County Commissioner. Billy served as a County commissioner for many years including 1876, 1883. 

Billy was a cattleman; a profession he passed down to his descendants for many generations. In the 1860's, rancher was the leading occupation for the county. Atascosa County was full of free grazing land; wild mustangs and longhorn cattle roamed the grass lands waiting for an enterprising man to claim them by burning his brand on their flesh.

William Norwood Gates' brand and ear marks

Great-grandson Terrell Franklin Gates wrote that Billy "was an extensive landholder who owned great herds of cattle and horses which roamed the prairies and grazing lands from a few miles south of the city of San Antonio to the Rio Grande River bordering Mexico. It is alleged that thieving bands of Mexicans stole his livestock between the years 1868 to 1878 and drove them to Mexico. This loss was estimated at $35,000 to him at a value of $10 per head on cattle." 

Tax records for Atascosa County show Billy and Jane’s personal wealth (land, horses, cattle and other miscellaneous taxable item) were steadily increasing.  Their tax base peaked in 1884 when their estate was valued at $3110.  Compared to many of their neighbors, the Gates family was well off.  He likely owned land and property in other Texas Counties.  Tax records show William and Jane did not own slaves. (Texas, Country Tax Rolls, 1846-1910" at FamilySearch)  

              Land    Horses   Cattle      Total

    Year      acres    qty      qty        Value     Other if listed

    1857       160       2        -       $   380    2 oxen

    1858       160       2        -       $   320    2 oxen

    1859       160       6       30       $   320    2 oxen, 55 hogs 

    1860       160       7       40       $   720     

    1861       320      10       70       $ 1,010     

    1864       320       ?        ?       $ 1,870     

    1866       160      19      120       $ 1,710 

    1867       160      22      140       $ 2,018     13 sheep 

    1868       160      29      175       $ 2,395

    1869       160      22      208       $ 1,674

    1870       160      18      210       $ 1,575

    1871       320      25      452       $ 2,940

    1873       320      30      200       $ 1,867     10 sheep

    1876       320      53       12       $ 2,335     75 goats/hogs

    1877       320      50       17       $ 1,835     40 hogs

    1878       480      50       20       $ 2,160

    1879       480      28       15       $ 1,180     25 hogs

    1880       480      40       22       $ 1,215     30 hogs

    1881       480      30       30       $   985     30 hogs

    1882       480      30       25       $ 1,222     30 hogs

    1883       480      40       30       $ 1,875     25 hogs

    1884      1120      40       30       $ 3,110

    1885      1120      16       16       $ 2,715     75 hogs

    1886       960      20       20       $ 2,080     30 hogs

    1887       960      20       20       $ 2,010

    1888       960      20       20       $ 1,999      7 hogs

    1889       960      20       20       $ 1,982     12 hogs

    1890       320      20       12       $ 1,022     12 hogs

    1891       620      15       25       $ 1,074      8 hogs

    1892       319      18       20       $ 1,250     13 hogs

    1893       319      15       25       $ 1,277      5 hogs

    1894       319       4        7       $   570       

    1895       319      10       10       $ 1,090     20 hogs

    1896       319      12        9       $ 1,090     14 hogs

    1897       317      11        9       $   985

Billy and Jane were faithful members of the Masonic Temple and Eastern Star. Billy was a charter member of Pleasanton Lodge No. 283 which was chartered on July 30th, 1866. He served in a variety of offices. An ad in the Western Stock Journal in 1874 lists W.N. Gates as the W.M. (Worshipful Master) of Pleasanton Lodge No. 283. 

Courtesy of Atascosa County Chronicles

Billy was also a member of Atascosa Lodge No. 379. The Lodge was organized by eleven Master Masons in Benton City in 1872 and chartered June 9, 1873. The Lodge met at the second floor of the Benton City Institute, a stone building built in 1875 which housed  the Benton City Normal Institute. 

Billy is believed to be number 13 on this picture dated 1881 from the Atascosa County Chronicles blog. My 2nd great grandfather Alexander Franklin Gates is number 11, and my great grandfather Eli Fount Gates is possibly number 22.

1870 census — On June 18th, 1870 the family was enumerated on the US Census as a resident in Atascosa County,  Mottomosa Post office.

United States Census, 1870 for Atascosa County, Texas

					Real Estate	Attended	Can’t
Household	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Personal Estate	School?	read	write
Gates, W N	M	52	Tennessee	Stockraiser	$80 / $2000
Gates, E. J.	F	46	Alabama	keep'g house
Gates, J.C.	M	17	Louisiana	at  home		x
Gates, Mary J	F	15	Texas	at  home		x
Gates, Nancy C	F	13	Texas	at  home		x
Gates, W.R	M	9	Texas	at  home		x		x
Gates, John E	M	7	Texas	at  home		x	x	x
Gates, M.C.E.	F	3	Texas	at  home			x	x

Courtesy of the Texas GLO

The agriculture scheduled stated W.N. Gates owned 160 acres of land (3 acres under cultivation) worth $150 and $40 worth of farm equipment. He paid wages of $60 for the prior years farm help. His livestock valued at $1800 included 80 horses, 30 milk cows, 2 oxen, 150 other cattle, and 80 pigs. His field crops included Indian corn.

In August 1870, the Texas Legislature passed legislation to provide an annual $250 pension   for veterans of the Texas Revolution. Billy successfully applied for the pension in September 1874.

The post office of Mottomosa which opened in 1866 was discontinued in September 1875. In January 1876 the Gates Valley post office was opened with William N Gates as the postmaster. After a few changes in post masters, the office was closed in February 1880. In 1881 an application was made to reopen the Mottomosa post office. The person filing out the application wrote Ditto instead of putting ditto marks. Washington approved the application and opened the post office under the name Ditto. The post office and the community continued under the name of Ditto until 1918.

The great Texas cattle drives started after the Civil War. Between 1875 and 1885, Texas ranchers drove more than three million cattle north to the railroads in Kansas. It is likely that Billy's cattle made their way north in a trail herd. Livestock from several different owners were included in a trail herd. The trail boss obtained documentation from each rancher noting the owner's brand, earmark and number of cattle. The era of the cattle drives stopped when the railroads made their way into western Texas. 

In 1877, ranchers formed the Northwest Texas Cattle Raisers' Association with goals to improve the "spring work" and to curb cattle rustling. In 1883 an inspection system was inaugurated; inspectors were located along the trails, at shipping points, and at terminal markets. This practice resulted in recovering many cattle that by accident or design got into herds in which they did not belong. It is likely that Billy was a member.

1880 census — On June 6th, 1880 the family was enumerated on the US Census as a resident in Atascosa County,  in Precinct 2. 

United States Census, 1880 for Atascosa County, Texas

						Attended
Household	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Health Issues	School?
Gates, William N	M	62	Tennessee	Farmer
Gates, Elisabeth J	F	55	Alabama	Keep'g house	Bronchitis
Gates, William W	M	19	Texas	Farm labor
Gates, Enoch J	M	17	Texas	at  home	Kicked by horse	x
Gates, M.C.E.	F	13	Texas	at  home

The agriculture scheduled stated W.N. Gates owned 480 acres of land (60 acres under cultivation) worth $700. Billy's farm production for the previous year was estimated at $450. His livestock valued at $572 were listed as 40 horses, 2 mules, 2 oxen, 12 milk cows, 32 other cattle, 40 pigs and 40 chickens. His field crops included 40 acres of Indian corn and 18 acres of peas and beans.

On November 26, 1882, Billy's beloved wife Jane died at the age of 58. She was buried in Shiloh cemetery in the nearby community of Shiloh (now a ghost town).

Courtesy of the Texas GLO

In 1879, many veterans of the Texas Revolution were destitute; the legislature passed a veteran donation act to give 640-acres of land to veterans or their widows. Applicants had to swear they owned less than $500 in cash or property. In 1881, the donation was increased to 1,280 acres and the indigence requirement was dropped.

In October 1881, W.N. Gates hired an Austin Law firm to obtain his certificate; he also authorized them to sell the certificate for 25% of the profits. In February 1883, he was issued Veteran Donation certificate 1008 which was sold for $500. A land patent for certificate 1008 was issued Jan. 27th, 1891 to Gunter & Munson for 1132 acres in Hutchinson County.

After spending 2 years alone after the death of his first wife Billy decided to marry again. On December 27th, 1884 Mr. William N Gates married Miss Mary Jane Petty in Atascosa County. Although there were several Petty families living nearby her parentage is unknown. Mary Jane died sometime prior to the 1900 US Census. The location of her grave is unknown.

Gates Cafe in Poteet

 (courtesy of Atascosa County Historical Commission)

After the war the population of Atascosa County increased rapidly. One community called Poteet arose near Gates valley. It was was named after Francis Marion Poteet, a blacksmith who had set up shop in the area and who would collect his neighbors mail when he went to town, causing the address to be written, "C/O Poteet." By 1892 the town of Poteet had a cotton gin, a gristmill, and a wagon maker. A general store opened in 1896.

In 1882 the first railroad station was opened in the northern corner of Atascosa County. A town grew up around the depot which was named after John T. Lytle, a local rancher and trail driver. When a post office was granted in 1883, it was named for the train stop. Soon the town of Lytle had a general store, a bar, and a casket maker. In 1884 it had a population of fifty, a union church, a district school, a hotel, and a physician. By 1892 the community had a population of 100, four general stores, a gin, two livestock breeders, and a Methodist church.

The area experienced a drought of the late 1880's caused many big cattlemen to "Go broke" and put area farm families on the road as migrant workers. Billy was able to survive the downturn.

As the turn on the century approached, the majority of Americans like Billy were farmers who lived in or near small agricultural based towns. The lack of radio and television led them to seek contact with their friends and neighbors in churches, grange halls and other civic organizations. As Billy's health began to fail he was unable to attend his lodge meetings regularly.

1900 census — On June 12th, 1900 when the 1900 federal census was taken, Billy was listed as father living with his son Wright and his family in Precinct 6 in Atascosa County.

United States Census, 1900 for Atascosa County, Texas

					Marital			Can	Can
Household	Relation	Sex	DOB	Age	Status	Birthplace	Occupation	Read	Write
Gates, Wright	Head	M	Jan 1861	39	M	Texas	Farmer	y	y
Gates, Laura	Wife	F	Mar 1865	35	M	Texas		y	y
Gates, Bullah	Daughter	F	May 1889	11	S	Texas	At school	y	y
Gates, Rubby	Daughter	F	Jun 1891	8	S	Texas
Gates, Carrol	Son	M	Aug 1894	5	S	Texas
Williams, Ansy	Lodger	M	Feb 1864	36	S	Texas	Jockey	y	y
William, Ples M	Lodger	M	July 1871	28	S	Texas	Day laborer	y	y
Gates, William	Father	M	Feb 1818	62	Wd	Tennessee		y	y

Death — On September 19, 1903, Billy died in Somerset, Texas of bronchitis. Billy (William Norwood Gates) was buried next to his beloved wife Jane, Elizabeth Jane Stacy in Shiloh Cemetery, Gates Valley, Texas.

Death certificate

Known children of Elizabeth Jane Stacy and William Norwood Gates:

		Birth	Death
1	John Gates	1841	bef. 1850
2	Sarah Ann Gates	1842	bef. 1850
3	Lavana Ann Gates Williams Cockrell	1844	1921
4	Alexander Franklin Gates	1846	1918	my 2nd great grandfather
5	James Valentine Gates	1848	1907
6	Martha Emaline Gates Rutledge	1851	1921
7	John Columbus Gates	1853	1939
8	Mary Jane Gates Wilkins	1855	1924
9	Nancy Caroline Gates Petty	1858	1940
10	William Wright Gates	1861	1952
11	Edmond Jackson Gates	1864	1913
12	Mason Elizabeth Gates Pickett Gates	1867	1894