My Genealogy Hound

David A. Gates, attorney, Arkansas City, Ark. Mr. Gates, one of the eminent young attorneys of Arkansas City, and one of the proprietors and editor-in-chief of the Arkansas City Journal, was reared in Drew County, Ark., where he received a good common school education. In 1879, at the age of eighteen years, he entered the State University, at Fayetteville, Ark., and graduated from that far-famed institution of learning in 1884, being valedictorian of his class. He then engaged in teaching school, which occupation he continued successfully until June, 1885, then, having a natural inclination to engage in legal practice, he took up the study of law, reading under Wells & Williamson, of Monticello, and was admitted in the Supreme Court, in October, 1886, by Chief Justice Cockran. Since that time he has practiced in this city, and in June, 1888, he formed a partnership with James Murphy in the law department. He is a young man of brilliant attainments, and is foremost in the ranks of the legal luminaries of this city. He, with W. F. Bessellieu, are the proprietors and owners of the Arkansas City Journal, which is Democratic in its tendencies, and has a large circulation in this and surrounding counties. Mr. Gates was married in June, 1888, to Miss Kate Matthews, of Monticello, Ark. She is the daughter of S. J. Matthews, the ex-county judge, and ex-county and circuit clerk of Drew County. In 1888 Mr. Gates was appointed by President Cleveland to select a reservation for the Umatilla Indians, in Northeastern Oregon, on which he was engaged from February to June, 1888. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 26 K. of H., Tillar Lodge, No. 3215, and K. of P., Valley Lodge. His parents, David A. and Sarah (Howell) Gates, were natives of Tennessee. The father moved to Texas, in 1854, and was there interested in merchandising until 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate army, was made captain of a company, and was killed in the battle of Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864. He and wife were the parents of six children, only two now living: Mrs. A. C. Stanly (of Drew County), and David A., Jr. The mother of these children died in 1861; she was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The elder Gates was a member of the A. F. & A. M.