"From History of Scott County, Iowa 1882 Chicago: Interstate Publishing Co."

Don C. Gates, the leading merchant of Big Rock, is a native of Castleton, Rutland Co., Vt., and was born Aug. 18, 1824; his parents were Elisha and Betsey (Kingsley) Gates, also natives of Vermont. Mr. Gates received his education in the common schools and in the Troy Conference Academy, at Poultney, Vt., a Methodist school. He came to Big Rock in 1854; the first 15 years he spent in farming, and also kept a hotel a portion of the time. He was the second postmaster at Big Rock, having received the appointment in 1856; he served two years, and was reappointed and has served in that capacity for 16 years. He was married March 22, 1849, to Cornelia Hawkins, daughter of Joseph and Laura Hawkins; the latter is now living, and is over 80 years old, in De Witt, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Gates have had 11 children - Velma, Albert Peter, Nellie, Mary, Charles, Emma, Edgar and Don; two are deceased, viz.: Frederick and Harriet. Peter is resident superintendent of the Eureka silver mines at Gunnison Col.; Charles is in Texas; Albert is manager of H. M. Gilehrist's store at Rapids City, Ill. Mr. Gates held the offices of justices of the peace, township clerk and assessor for many years and that of county supervisor two years. He has been a member of the Sons of Temperance for the past 34 years.