DUANE
Duane's take
Here's the story as the official marker tells it — this one's for Daniel McKay, up in Bell County. Born October 16, 1814, way up in Maine. Now that's about as far from Texas as a man can get and still be on the same continent.
But in 1834, Daniel McKay made his way south and west, joining Sterling C. Robertson's Colony and settling near Nashville, Texas. He was young, he was new to this land, and Texas — well, Texas wasn't even Texas yet.
That part was still coming. And Daniel McKay would be there for it. In 1836, during the Texas War for Independence, McKay took his place in Company H of the 1st Regiment and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Let that sink in a moment. The man had barely gotten his boots muddy in this new country, and there he was, standing in one of the most consequential fights this land would ever see. Years passed the way years do after a war — quietly, mostly.
Then in 1845, Daniel McKay married Jane Bryant, daughter of one Benjamin Bryant. Now Benjamin Bryant was not just any man. He was a government Indian agent, and he too had fought at San Jacinto.
So when Daniel married into that family, he was marrying into history twice over. The McKays lived at Bryant's Station, a fort, and they stayed there until 1853, when they moved onto a land grant in Bell County. That land became home.
But Texas had one more war left to pull Daniel McKay into. When the Civil War came — 1861 through 1865 — he served in the Confederacy. He had already fought for the birth of one Texas.
Now he was caught up in its most anguished chapter. Daniel McKay lived until October 9, 1889 — just a week shy of his seventy-fifth birthday, though the marker lets those dates speak for themselves. From Maine to San Jacinto to Bell County, that is one long road.
And the marker's still out there, making sure nobody forgets he walked it.
What the marker says
(October 16, 1814-October 9, 1889) Born in Maine. Came to Texas in 1834 with Sterling C. Robertson's Colony. Settled near Nashville. Participated in Battle of San Jacinto (Co. H, 1st Regt.) during the Texas War for Independence, 1836. In 1845 he married Jane Bryant, daughter of Benjamin Bryant. The latter was a government Indian agent and a San Jacinto veteran. Lived at "Bryant's Station" fort until moving onto land grant in Bell County in 1853. Served in the Confederacy during Civil War (1861-65). Recorded - 1971