Gould was born in Seneca Falls, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1899, where he was a member of the Quill and Dagger society. He was a delegate to the 1908 and 1916 Republican National Conventions. He was chairman of the Seneca County Republican committee from 1912 until 1923 and served as the eastern manager for Leonard Wood's presidential campaign in 1920. He was elected to Congress in 1915 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sereno E. Payne and served from November 2, 1915 until March 3, 1923. He died in Geneva, New York.