Bill Gates (frontiersman)

Bill Gates (frontiersman)

"Swiftwater" Bill Gates (? - 1935) was an American frontiersman and fortune hunter, and a fixture in stories of the Klondike Gold Rush. He made and lost several fortunes, and died in Peru in 1935 pursuing a silver strike.

In one famous Klondike story he presented Dawson dance hall girl Gussie Lamore her weight in gold.

Gates was married briefly to Grace Lamore in 1898; he later married Bera Beebe, with whom he fathered two sons, Fredrick and Clifford. Gates subsequently abandoned her for 15-year-old Kitty Brandon, his niece.

His biography "The True Life Story of Swiftwater Bill Gates" (c. 1908) was authored by Iola Beebe, his mother-in-law.

Swiftwater Bill was known to be at the gold fields of Nome, Alaska at the same time as William H Gates I, grandfather of the Microsoft founder. However, despite the similarity in name and coincidences of geography, there is no apparent family relationship between "Swiftwater Bill" and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

External links

  • Seattle Times "The Dawson City gold rush had its own Bill Gates," July 16, 1997



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bill Gates (disambiguation) — * Bill Gates (William Henry Gates III, born 1955) is the co founder of Microsoft CorporationBill or William Gates is also the name of:* William Henry Gates, Sr, (born 1925) philanthropist and father of Bill Gates III * Bill Gates (frontiersman),… …   Wikipedia

  • Gates (surname) — Gates is a surname, and may refer to:PeopleThe Gates family of Seattle, Washington, is prominent due to the financial success of Bill Gates and his company, Microsoft. Members of this family include:* Bill Gates (born 1955), Chairman of Microsoft …   Wikipedia

  • Daniel Boone — This article is about the American pioneer. For other uses, see Daniel Boone (disambiguation). Daniel Boone This 1820 painting by Chester Harding is the only portrait of Daniel Boone made from life …   Wikipedia

  • Davy Crockett — For other uses, see Davy Crockett (disambiguation). David Davy Crockett Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee s 12th district In office March 4, 18 …   Wikipedia

  • Frontier myth — The frontier myth or frontier tall tales is a term given to the popular romanticization of the Wild West frontier. Origins In the United States, the frontier was the term applied to the zone of unsettled land outside the region of existing… …   Wikipedia

  • Jedediah Smith — For the United States Representative from New Hampshire, see Jedediah K. Smith. Jedediah Smith Jedediah Smith Born January 6, 1799 (1799 01 0 …   Wikipedia

  • List of people from West Virginia — This is a list of prominent people from the U.S. state of West Virginia.Athletics*Randy Barnes (b. 1966), professional shot putter, born in Charleston *Larry Barnett (b. 1945), professional baseball umpire, born in Nitro *Clair Bee, college… …   Wikipedia

  • American literature — Introduction       the body of written works produced in the English language in the United States.       Like other national literatures, American literature was shaped by the history of the country that produced it. For almost a century and a… …   Universalium

  • Art Acord — Infobox actor name = Art Acord birthname = Arthemus Ward Acord birthdate = April 17, 1890 birthplace = Prattsville, Utah deathdate = death date and age|1931|1|4|1890|4|17 deathplace = Chihuahua, Mexico othername = Buck Parvin occupation = Silent… …   Wikipedia

  • 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (United States) — 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment coat of arms Active 1846–present Country U …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”