Dorsie M. Pinnell

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's the story of Dorsie M. Pinnell, and I'm just the one passing it along. Now, the name Dorsie M.

Pinnell might not ring a bell when you're rolling through Andrews County, but pull over a minute, because this man's story reaches back a long way. All the way back, in fact, to the American Revolution, where a Virginian ancestor of his took up arms. That blood ran in Dorsie's veins when he came into the world on June 25, 1875.

He was just seventeen years old when Texas called to him. Called to him for his health, specifically, and he answered. A young man, not yet fully grown into himself, crossing into this wide, dry, sunbaked country on something like a doctor's advice and something like a leap of faith.

And Texas, to its credit, did not let him sit still for long. By 1898, Dorsie Pinnell was in uniform. He served in the Spanish-American War, Company K, 1st Texas Infantry Volunteer Regiment, from 1898 into 1899.

Think about what that meant. A man who came to Texas for his health ended up marching off to war for his country. When he came back, he did what a lot of men who've seen enough commotion tend to do.

He found land. He took up ranching, right here in Andrews County. He married Jessie Whitten.

They had four sons. Dorsie M. Pinnell died on July 23, 1939.

A descendant of a Revolutionary soldier, a veteran of a foreign war, a rancher, a husband, a father of four. Andrews County, Texas, was where he put down roots, and Andrews County is where his story stays.

What the marker says

(June 25, 1875-July 23, 1939) Descendant of a Virginian who fought in the American Revolution. Came to Texas at 17 for health. Served (1898-1899) in Spanish-American War, Co. K, 1st Texas Inf. Vol. Regt. Later took up ranching in Andrews County. Married Jessie Whitten; had 4 sons. Recorded - 1968