Jane Ann 'Jenny' Clark was born in Rochester, Minnesota in July 1874. She was raised in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Her mother died in 1893 when she was 19 years old.

Two years later she married Dr. Joseph A Gates, on June 10, 1896. Over the next twenty years, they had six children and they settled in Kenyon, Minnesota. Jenny and Dr. Gate took in several of her siblings.

Jenny was a member and officer of the Eastern Star Lodge, being elected the Worthy Matron in 1917.

Dr Gates died when his vehicle was hit by a train in 1922 leaving Jenny a widow.

Jenny died on November 23, 1942 in Faribault, Rice County, Minnesota at the age of 68. All of her children survived her.