H. H. Gates, one of the pioneer physicians of Carroll County, is a native of Vermont, born at Castleton, in Rutland County, November 2, 1827, a son of Elisha and Betsey (Kingsley) Gates. His father was a cousin of General Gates, of Revolutionary fame. The parents of our subject had a family of eleven children, he being the fifth child. His early life was spent in his native county, where he received a fair common-school education. On arriving at the age of twenty-two years he went to Genesee Station, Allegany County, New York, having learned telegraphy under Professor Morse. He was the forty-sixth telegraph operator in the United States. He followed telegraphy many years, and held many important positions, and for some time was division operator. Dr. Gates has been twice married. He was first united in marriage December 25, 1849, to Miss Sarah J. Gray, a daughter of Hon. Henry Gray, of Bennington County, Vermont, and to this union were born two children — Harley and Jennie. Mrs. Gates died in 1853, and in May, 1857, the doctor was married to Miss Mary J. Conway, of Jackson County, Iowa. This union has been blessed with six children — Albert C., Alice V., Frank V., Charles, Fred and Ray. Dr. Gates came to Iowa in 1855, when he located at Wheatland, in Clinton County. June 1, 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry, and shortly afterward was appointed Hospital Steward, and later was commissioned Assistant Surgeon. In December, 1863, he was promoted to Surgeon, which position he filled till the close of the war, and June 28, 1865, he received an honorable discharge. In 1869 he came to Glidden, Carroll County, when the surrounding country was mostly in a state of nature, Glidden at that time having but five houses. In those pioneer days he frequently rode a distance of twenty miles to visit patients, he going to attend the sick in Guthrie, Greene and Calhoun counties, as well as in Carroll County. He is a man of strict integrity and honorable in all his dealings, and during his residence in the county has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him.

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