William Delbert Gann

William Delbert Gann was born June 6, 1878 in Lufkin, Texas. His father, Samuel Houston Gann, was a teacher, selling horses and cows. He also owned a small billiard club. His mother, Susan Rebecca Gann (nee Trevation), devoted all his time raising VD Gann and his younger brothers and sisters. She taught the young William to read through the Bible – the book, which later had an enormous impact on his thinking about the nature of financial markets. His family was poor. Samuel, Susan and their eight children lived in a small house, and young William to get to school every day, walked seven miles over three years. Gunn never finished high school.

In 1894, William Gunn, aged 16, he left teaching and began to look for work. He became a peddler (selling newspapers, food …) in the train, which traveled between Texarkana and Tyler, Texas. He also worked at the cotton warehouse.

In 1901, he worked at a brokerage firm in Texarkana, and married his first wife, Rena May Smith.

In 1902, the first daughter was born – Nora. 1902 was also the first year, when Gunn made his first deal in cotton.

In 1903 Gann moved to New York. He was already 25 years old.

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