According to the "Investigator's Report for Mother's Compensation of the Boulder County Court," in May 1917: "John W. Gates, husband of Applicant and father of children. He left home April 23, 1916 for no reason known to Applicant who does not know of his whereabouts now and has had no word from him since leaving, previous to leaving he was a good provider, and good husband, and kind father. Applicant fears he met with an accident." Family stories include the theory that his wagon ran off a mountain road while hauling supplies to a mining company. The rumors also include a story that he was murdered.