John W. Gates
Industrial Titan and St. Charles Benefactor
Titans, J. P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie loathed John Gates. With his boldness, shrewdness, gambling and sales personality, Gates played in the same league as Morgan & Carnegie.
Growing up in W. Chicago, Gates first business enterprise at age 15 earned him $1,000 chopping down trees and selling the lumber to home builders and the railroad.
At age 21, he made his way to Dekalb, IL and was hired to sell the newly invented barbed wire in the state of Texas which was almost a miracle as Texas in the 1870’s didn’t want any fencing. Nevertheless, he won over the Texans.
His involvement with the titans of industry are summarized by Chicago authors Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan, in their book “Bet A Million”, The Story of John W. Gates.
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Wendt and Kogan captured the essence of John Gates:
From those Texas plains through his native Midwest and into the Wall Street, he blustered, bluffed, and battled. In an age of unparalleled expansion,
fantastic risk taking, ruthless exploitation, Gates was the most daring builder,
the biggest gambler, the sharpest promoter of them all.
He challenged the kings of the wheat pits, the lords of steel, the barons of mining
and railroads, the oil and financial rulers in his heedless, slashing career.
He upset markets, precipitated panics, broke gambling dives, ruined powerful foes and
alone fought vast money combines which had successfully tried to oppose the might of
government.
He revolutionized the cattle industry, put together enormous trusts, raised up a city,
smashed monopolies and built his own, made millionaires of loyal friends
He tossed fortunes away at the gambling tables and regained them with devious stock manipulation or solid enterprise; he bought steel mills and copper mines, railroads, and
circuses.
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Although Gates shocked New York, London and Paris with his roughness, he could speak with the primness of an English professor before Congressional committees and Senatorial hearings.
Gates loved the good life which resulted in an early death. Gates, Dellora Baker his wife from St. Charles, and son died within a few years of each other.
Gates’ fortune, including millions from Texaco and various steel companies, passed to only two people: Edward Baker, Dellora’s brother and Gates’ wife’s niece Dellora Angell. Both Edward Baker and Dellora Angell were St. Charles residents.
Dellora Angell married her high school sweetheart Lester Norris. Dellora and Norris contributed millions to St. Charles as evidenced by many "DelNor" names on buildings, parks, etc.
Col. Edward Baker did the same. The name Baker is prominently displayed on many buildings in St. Charles. He also used his inheritance to buy racing horses, one of which broke 17 international records.
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