Disappearance of John William Gates

1912 photo of John Gates.

John William Gates had left his home in Longmont, Colorado on April 23, 1916. His wife had no idea of his whereabouts and had not heard from him again after he left on. When his wife in May of 1917 filed for "Mother's Compensation in Boulder county she had to explain why she needed help and her husband's disappearance. The Mother's Compensation Act was a way for mother's to provide for their children. This was long before social services. His wife believed he may have had an accident that caused his death or prevented him from coming back home. It isn't believed he left on his own. He was said to be a good provider and a good husband and wonderful father.

In the early 1880's John was born in Iowa. Before 1900 he moved to Colorado and was a farm laborer. In 1903 he married his wife and they settled in Longmont, Colorado. By 1910 his occupation was listed as teamster in transfer, his family claimed that it meant that he delivered supplies to miners in the mountains.

He may have been involved in a mining accident  or the wagon he used to move mining supplies had fallen off the mountain. Around this time in this area of Colorado there were several mines open due to the need of tungsten during WWI. It could also be possible that his remains may have been found in the mountains later, but they were never identified as him.

John William Gates was 34 at the time of his disappearance. He was 5'7 to 6'0 and weighed around 160 to 180 lbs. He had brown receding hair and his eye color is unknown.

DNA is available, but Fingerprints and Dentals are not.

SOURCES:
http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_29627109/longmont-mans-disappearance-remains-unsolved-mystery
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/24464/0