Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 1885, McLean Co.

GUERDON W. GATES, McLean County, was born September, 13, 1855, in Louisville, Ky. He is the eldest of two children, and the only one living, born to Lloyd W. and Frances E. (Ward) Gates, natives of Paris, Ky., and Susanville, Cal., respectively. Lloyd W. Gates was an attorney, was engaged in the mercantile business, and later in the tobacco trade, and was county commissioner and attorney of McLean
County. He now resides near Louisville on a farm; he is the son of Rev. Guerdon Gates, a Baptist minister of Louisville, Ky., who married a Miss Rice, a native of Connecticut, all of English origin. Subject's mother, Frances E. Ward, was a daughter of William Ward, of
California, who was engaged in mining and agriculture. G. W. Gates was reared in Calhoun, received a good English education, attended Kentucky University two years. He was deputy county clerk in 1875-76. In 1878, after returning from school, he commenced the study of law with his father, and was admitted to the bar January 15, 1879, by
Benjamin P. Cissell, circuit judge. He has followed his profession in Calhoun with much success. He was married October 25, 1883, to Lizzie D. Houston, of McLean County, a daughter of Benjamin and Attie M. (Calhoun) Houston, who were born in Daviess and McLean Counties, Ky.