When James Berry Gates was born on 10 May 1849, in Callao, Macon, Missouri, United States, his father, William Gates, was 38 and his mother, Christina Stanfield, was 34. He married Mary Francis Owen on 16 February 1873, in Callao, Macon, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Callao Township, Macon, Missouri, United States in 1860 and Brookfield Township, Linn, Missouri, United States in 1900. He died on 21 October 1913, in Brookfield, Linn, Missouri, United States, at the age of 64, and was buried in Brookfield, Linn, Missouri, United States.