The following 1914 news article may be of interest- R.C. Pate Dead "Gambling King" Lost Big Fortune Made thousands in St. Louis in day when "lid was off," but luck changed! Robert C. Pate, who made and lost a fortune in St. Louis as a horse owner, racetrack promoter, bookmaker, and gambling house proprietor, died at his home, 1908 La Salle Street yesterday. Though he had long been suffering from cancer of the tongue, said to have been caused by excessive cigar smoking, the immediate cause of death was bronchitis. He was 75 years old. In recent years his main financial dependence has been a pension paid to him by the Government in recognition of his service as a Union officer in the Civil War. He was Captain of the thirty-seventh Indiana Infantry. An operation performed a year ago had impaired Pate's speech to such an extent that what he said was understood only by his wife, who nursed him through his long illness and was at his bedside when he died. KNOWN AS "GAMBLING KING" In the old wide-open days of St. Louis prior to the early 80's, Pate was known throughout the Southwest, and South as the "Gambling King of St. Louis." Laws were not stringent in those days and the privilege of running gambling games was purchasable. To further his interests along this line Pate became active in politics and became so influential that it was common gossip that he controlled many public officials. In consequence his gambling ventures were seldom molested. He was a power in the days of Pool Alley, when the bookmakers infested the narrow by-ways between Seventh and Eighth streets, Olive and Pine streets. For many years one of the largest of the pool rooms there had a flamboyant sign over the door proclaiming it "Pate's Turf Exchange." LOST FORTUNE IN RACE VENTURES At one time Pate was reputed to have several hundred thousand dollars, but he lost most of the money in racetrack ventures in St. Louis and Mexico after gambling houses, which he controlled, were closed by the Johnson anti-gambling law in 1882. There were nearly 60 indictments against him when he gave up the fight in St. Louis and went to Mexico to open a racetrack. For several years after this he continued to operate racetracks and poolrooms in St. Louis. He was financially interested in the Kinloch and Union racetracks, which were put out of business by the repeal of the Breeder's law when Joseph W. Folk was Governor. When Pate went to Mexico after being put out of business in St. Louis he obtained from President Dias a concession to operate a racetrack. He afterwards told friends he lost several hundred thousand dollars there. CAME HERE IN 1867 As an added attraction at his Mexican track he once pitted an African lion against a fighting bull. The animals fought to a finish in a steel cage in view of a large audience. The bull won. Pate had bet heavily on the lion. Pate was the son of a wealthy farmer. He ran away from home at Dillsboro, Ind. when 10 years old and never returned. Until about 20 years old he lived with an uncle at Lawrenceville, Ind. He came to St. Louis in 1867. After conducting gambling games on steamboats he opened houses in St. Louis. He married Miss Lollie Faudree at Hamilton, Ohio in 1868. She died two years later. In 1875 he married Miss Mary A. Cullinane of St. Louis. Robert Pate, a son by the first marriage, and Mrs. Shellie Turner, a daughter by the second, are living. Three other children died. WANTED TO MEET OLD FRIENDS Shortly before the opening of the World's Fair, Pate returned to St. Louis from Mexico and planned to open a gambling house, thinking the city would be wide-open during the fair. He guessed wrong. After he had fitted up luxurious gaming rooms at 112 South Fourth Street the police backed up a battery of moving vans and carted away the gorgeous furniture. Pate's guess had been as wrong as when he backed the African lion against the Mexican bull. Pate and his wife in recent years have lived in rooming houses in various parts of town. Mrs. Pate today told a Post-Dispatch reporter that in his last illness Pate expressed two desires. One was to go back to Mexico and again enter the horseracing game there and the other was to go to the Laclede Hotel and meet friends of other days who once gathered there. She had been planning to hire an automobile and take him to the Laclede. Twenty-five years ago Pate and his family lived in what was considered one of the finest St. Louis suburban homes. It was on the Baden bluffs overlooking the river, north of the city limits. This home, originally built by D. A. January, was said to have cost more than $100,000.00, with the furnishings. Pate was a lavish entertainer there in the days of his prosperity. PAID $30,000 FOR HOME Maj. Charles G. Gonter, 89 years old, who knew Pate in the gambler's prosperous days was one of the old acquaintances whom Pate longed to meet at the Laclede Hotel. Major Gonter today told a Post-Dispatch reporter of Pate's purchase of the January farm in Baden. Jim Robinson, a famous circus man and noted bareback rider owned the estate and had transformed it into a training ground for his horses. Pate visited the place as Robinson's guest. He bought it from Robinson for $30,000 in cash. A few days later Pate took his wife to the Robinson estate. After a tour of inspection Mrs. Pate sighed and expressed a wish that she could have such a home. "You have, my dear," said Pate. "This place is ours" and he showed her the deed of sale. Later he mortgaged the place and lost it in financing his Mexican racing venture. - St. Louis Post Dispatch, September 5, 1914

Where did you find this! I had heard stories. A small note for your amusement, the name of my company is Lion enterprises llc. Good thing I don't Gamble I continue to appreciate your dedication Thanks hon. Michael S. Pate ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Pate" <patej@nettally.com> To: <PATE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 8:55 PM Subject: [PATE GENEALOGY] Robert C Pate - St Louis, MO > The following 1914 news article may be of interest- > > R.C. Pate Dead > "Gambling King" Lost Big Fortune Made thousands in St. Louis in day when "lid was off," but luck changed! > > Robert C. Pate, who made and lost a fortune in St. Louis as a horse owner, racetrack promoter, > bookmaker, and gambling house proprietor, died at his home, 1908 La Salle Street yesterday. > Though he had long been suffering from cancer of the tongue, said to have been caused by excessive > cigar smoking, the immediate cause of death was bronchitis. He was 75 years old. > > In recent years his main financial dependence has been a pension paid to him by the Government in recognition of his service as a Union officer in the Civil War. He was Captain of the thirty-seventh Indiana Infantry. > > An operation performed a year ago had impaired Pate's speech to such an extent that what he said was understood only by his wife, who nursed him through his long illness and was at his bedside when he died. > > KNOWN AS "GAMBLING KING" > > In the old wide-open days of St. Louis prior to the early 80's, Pate was known throughout the Southwest, and South as the "Gambling King of St. Louis." Laws were not stringent in those days and the privilege of running gambling games was > purchasable. To further his interests along this line Pate became active in politics and became so influential that it was common gossip that he controlled many public officials. In consequence his gambling ventures were seldom molested. > > He was a power in the days of Pool Alley, when the bookmakers infested the narrow by-ways between Seventh and Eighth streets, Olive and Pine streets. For many years one of the largest of the pool rooms there had a flamboyant sign > over the door proclaiming it "Pate's Turf Exchange." > > LOST FORTUNE IN RACE VENTURES > > At one time Pate was reputed to have several hundred thousand dollars, but he lost most of the money in racetrack ventures in St. Louis and Mexico after gambling houses, which he controlled, were closed by the Johnson anti-gambling law in 1882. There were nearly 60 indictments against him when he gave up the fight in St. Louis and went to Mexico to open a > racetrack. > > For several years after this he continued to operate racetracks and poolrooms in St. Louis. He was financially interested in the Kinloch and Union racetracks, which were put out of business by the repeal of the Breeder's law when Joseph W. > Folk was Governor. > > When Pate went to Mexico after being put out of business in St. Louis he obtained from President > Dias a concession to operate a racetrack. He afterwards told friends he lost several hundred thousand dollars there. > > CAME HERE IN 1867 > > As an added attraction at his Mexican track he once pitted an African lion against a fighting bull. The animals fought to a finish in a steel cage in view of a large audience. The bull won. Pate had bet heavily on the lion. > > Pate was the son of a wealthy farmer. He ran away from home at Dillsboro, Ind. when 10 years old and never returned. Until about 20 years old he lived with an uncle at Lawrenceville, Ind. He came to St. Louis in 1867. After conducting > gambling games on steamboats he opened houses in St. Louis. > > He married Miss Lollie Faudree at Hamilton, Ohio in 1868. She died two years later. In 1875 he married Miss Mary A. Cullinane of St. Louis. Robert Pate, a son by the first marriage, and Mrs. Shellie Turner, a daughter by the second, > are living. Three other children died. > > WANTED TO MEET OLD FRIENDS > > Shortly before the opening of the World's Fair, Pate returned to St. Louis from Mexico and planned to open a gambling house, thinking the city would be wide-open during the fair. He guessed wrong. After he had fitted up luxurious > gaming rooms at 112 South Fourth Street the police backed up a battery of moving vans and carted away the gorgeous furniture. Pate's guess had been as wrong as when he backed the African lion against the Mexican bull. > > Pate and his wife in recent years have lived in rooming houses in various parts of town. Mrs. Pate today told a Post-Dispatch reporter that in his last illness Pate expressed two desires. One was to go back to Mexico and again enter the horseracing game there and the other was to go to the Laclede Hotel and meet friends of other days who once gathered there. She had > been planning to hire an automobile and take him to the Laclede. > > Twenty-five years ago Pate and his family lived in what was considered one of the finest St. Louis suburban homes. It was on the Baden bluffs overlooking the river, north of the city limits. This home, originally built by D. A. January, was said to have cost more than $100,000.00, with the furnishings. Pate was a lavish entertainer there in the days of his prosperity. > > PAID $30,000 FOR HOME > > Maj. Charles G. Gonter, 89 years old, who knew Pate in the gambler's prosperous days was one of the old acquaintances whom Pate longed to meet at the Laclede Hotel. Major Gonter today told a Post-Dispatch reporter of Pate's purchase of the January farm in Baden. Jim Robinson, a famous circus man and noted bareback rider owned the estate and had transformed it into a training ground for his horses. > > Pate visited the place as Robinson's guest. He bought it from Robinson for $30,000 in cash. A few days later Pate took his wife to the Robinson estate. After a tour of inspection Mrs. Pate sighed and expressed a wish that she could have such a home. "You have, my dear," said Pate. "This place is ours" and he showed her the deed of sale. Later he mortgaged the place and lost it in financing his Mexican racing venture. > > - St. Louis Post Dispatch, September 5, 1914 > >