Acerca de
Franklin L. Tate
Historical interment in Sowers Cemetery in Irving, Texas:
Franklin L. ‘Frank’ Tate was born on September 28, 1858, in Illinois.
Frank was the fifth of 6 known children to parents William Tate, born about 1818, and Irene Tate, born about 1824, both born in Tennessee. William and Irene Tate married about 1844. In 1860 the Tate family was living in Pulaski County, Illinois. The 1860 census shows that their first two children were born in Illinois, the second two children were born in Tennessee, and they returned to Illinois by 1858 for the birth of their fifth child Frank and sixth child Sarah.
As of this writing there are no documents, nor does an 1870 census list the Tate family to confirm their location or members of their household between 1860 and 1880.
Frank’s sister Mary Elizabeth Tate met Isaac ‘Ike’ Story while living in Illinois. Ike Story was born in 1839 in Illinois. He came to Texas with his father Marmaduke Story and his 12 brothers and sisters in 1855. In 1860 Ike moves back to Illinois with his first wife Mary M. Duncan. Mary Duncan dies in 1863. Ike and Mary Elizabeth Tate marry about 1868, and their first two children were born in Illinois.
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Per Story family history, in 1873 the Ike Story family moves back to Texas from Illinois to the Kit community, which later becomes the city of Irving.
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In the 1880 census William and Irene Tate and at least 4 of their 6 children are living in the Sowers area.
Frank Tate marries Rebecca Ann Lucas February 12, 1880, in Dallas County, Texas. Rebecca was born in Texas and was the daughter of Hezekiah H. and Barbara Duke Lucas. Sadly, Frank dies less than a year later January 20, 1881, at age 22. Per FindAGrave.org he may have been kicked in the head by a horse which caused his death. Frank died just two months before his daughter Isabell Jane Tate was born in March of 1881.
Frank Tate marries Rebecca Ann Lucas February 12, 1880, in Dallas County, Texas. Rebecca was born in Texas and was the daughter of Hezekiah H. and Barbara Duke Lucas. Sadly, Frank dies less than a year later January 20, 1881, at age 22. Per FindAGrave.org he may have been kicked in the head by a horse which caused his death. Frank died just two months before his daughter Isabell Jane Tate was born in March of 1881.
Frank died just two months before his daughter Isabell Jane Tate was born in March of 1881.Frank’s headstone reads:
F.L. Tate
BORN
Sep. 29. 1858
DIED
Jan. 20, 1881
William Tate is listed as a Tenant Farmer in the 1881 Sowers Community city directory. That is last known paper document that mentions William Tate.
The interment location of Frank Tate’s parents William and Irene Tate are unknown as of this writing as are his sisters Georgia A. Tate and Sarah Tate.
Frank’s sister Mary Elizabeth Story and husband Ike operated the Kit Store and Post Office. Mary Elizabeth Tate Story passed away August 3, 1894, at age 47 and is interred at Sowers cemetery.
Frank’s brother John W. Tate bought a lot in block 5 of the original land sales for the town of Irving in 1903. Block 5 is located between 1st street (Irving Blvd) and 2nd and Jefferson and Delaware streets. John passed in 1926 and is buried at Kit Cemetery.
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Franklin L. Tate’s plot is on the far northern edge of Sowers cemetery. About 80 feet west of the rainwater collection system. The tablet stone is close to a driveway and is believed it encountered a car or mowing equipment and was damaged. The stone has lain on the ground in 6 pieces for many years getting more damaged.
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It was restored by the Sowers Cemetery Association in August of 2024. Special thanks to Gerald Farris for his restoration skills and time to properly honor Frank Tate’s headstone. The Tate monument is yet to be placed in its final location in Sowers Cemetery. A solid base needs to be built, and a barrier created to prevent any damage in the future.​
Historical information about Franklin L. Tate, Isaac Story and their family members was found on Findagrave.com, familysearch.org and the Irving History publications ‘Irving: A Texas Odyssey’ by Joseph Rice and ‘From Rails to Wings’ by Norma Stanton.