Cary Allen Gates

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, this is the life of Cary Allen Gates, and here's my telling of what it says. Born October 14, 1836, near the town of Paint Lick, Kentucky, Cary Allen Gates came into a world that had no idea what it was about to put him through. He made his way to Collin County, Texas, in 1858, and for a few years, life must have settled into something like ordinary.

Then October 1861 rolled around, and at McKinney, he joined the Confederate army as a private in the Army of Tennessee. Just a private. One man among many.

But what came next was anything but ordinary. Cary Allen Gates served in five divisions. Five.

He was at the battle of Chickamauga. He was hurt at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. And at Spanish Fort, Alabama, he was shot through the wrist.

Now, some men would have called that a reason to stop. Cary Allen Gates served till the end of the war. He married twice, and with his first wife, Mary Jane Sadler, he had ten children.

Ten. When 1906 came around, he packed up and moved to Coke County, Texas, and that's where he stayed. Spent the rest of his life right here.

He died July 27, 1927. Born near Paint Lick, Kentucky, shot through the wrist at Spanish Fort, Alabama, and laid to rest in Coke County, Texas. Some lives cover a lot of ground.

What the marker says

(October 14, 1836-July 27, 1927) Born near town of Paint Lick, Kentucky. Came to Collin County, Texas, 1858. Joined Confederate army at McKinney, October, 1861, as private in army of Tennessee. Served in five divisions. Was in battle of Chickamauga; hurt at Murfreesboro, Tennessee; shot through wrist at Spanish Fort, Alabama. Served till end of war. Married twice, he and first wife Mary Jane Sadler had ten children. Moved to Coke county, 1906. Spent rest of life here. Recorded -- 1968