Born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, May 23, 1838, where he passed his boyhood. He received good common school training and finished with an academic course at the Institute at Chester, Ohio. In 1860 he was married to Miss Mary L. Jones, of Mayfield, Ohio, and shortly afterwards started West, taking up his residence near Spring Branch. He carried on a general, farming business, gradually adding to his original purchase. Mr. Gates served is representative from Delaware County in the state legislature during the Twenty-first session of the General Assembly, 1886. He was a pioneer in the creamery industry of this state. The first creamery in the state was established near his farm. As president of the Delaware County Agricultural society, he did good service for the farming interests of his community and the state. He was largely instrumental in forming the State Dairymen's association in 1875, and was its president in 1838 when the state and national associations met in joint session in Manchester.