Businessman. He started as a barbed wire salesman for Washburne-Moen. In San Antonio, Texas in 1876, his demonstration of the holding power of the wire against long horn cattle resulted in more orders than the company could fill. The company refused to make him a partner, and he went into business with Alfred Clifford, building Southern Wire Company into the largest manufacturer and distributor of "non-patented" barbed wire. Later he owned or controlled many steel and wire companies and invested in the building (and later controlled) the Kansas City Southern Railway. He financed the drilling at Spindletop, Texas, and oil was struck in 1901. He formed The Texas Company (later Texaco). He then aided in the construction of pipelines and refineries, as well as new docks, The Port Arthur National Bank and Port Arthur Light, Power and Ice Company. He gambled at poker, the stock market, and horse races. His "all or nothing" attitude earned him his nickname of "Bet-a-Million Gates".
Businessman. He started as a barbed wire salesman for Washburne-Moen. In San Antonio, Texas in 1876, his demonstration of the holding power of the wire against long horn cattle resulted in more orders than the company could fill. The company refused to make him a partner, and he went into business with Alfred Clifford, building Southern Wire Company into the largest manufacturer and distributor of "non-patented" barbed wire. Later he owned or controlled many steel and wire companies and invested in the building (and later controlled) the Kansas City Southern Railway. He financed the drilling at Spindletop, Texas, and oil was struck in 1901. He formed The Texas Company (later Texaco). He then aided in the construction of pipelines and refineries, as well as new docks, The Port Arthur National Bank and Port Arthur Light, Power and Ice Company. He gambled at poker, the stock market, and horse races. His "all or nothing" attitude earned him his nickname of "Bet-a-Million Gates".
Bio by: Ginny M
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