West Chicago's most famous son made a fortune in barbed wire, helped found Texaco, and became one of the wealthiest men in America — then spent it all on a town that wasn't his hometown.

Join us for an evening with author Archie L. Bentz Jr. as he tells the story of John Warne Gates: born in Turner in 1855, raised on a farm just south of Route 59, and launched into history from a hardware store on Main Street. Bentz will present from his book Bet-A-Million Gates: The Man History Forgot, followed by a book signing.

📅 Wednesday, May 13, 2026

🕡 6:30 PM

📍 Fox Community Center

🎟️ Free — no registration required

Questions? Contact us at wegohistory@gmail.com.