WGNS Radio (www.wgnsradio.com), March 19, 2014
An important part of preserving details of local history is to keep the markers in area cemeteries in good repair. Local historian Steve Cates updated WGNS on recent work at a burial ground on the Cripple Creek farm.
He noted that the rural burial ground has never had a tombstone. Cates explained that Issac McGill, originally purchased the Cripple Creek Farm – that’s where Cates grew up. But the story gets even closer to home, because the farm is now owned by Steve and his brother, Ben Cates.
Cates added a marker for William James Becton and his second wife, Elizabeth McCrary. This cemetery was the burying place for Elizabeth’s family. Her parents are buried here (Ibba Hamilton McCrary, Jan. 15, 1801 – Mar. 31, 1885; Author McCrary, Mar. 20, 1801 – Jan. 7, 1867) and lived on the property. The only child of Elizabeth McCrary and Issac McGill, Mary I. McGill Becton(Aug. 2, 1842 – May 22, 1886).
The Rest of the Story
He shared with us some of the unique history that’s preserved there, “Following his return from the Confederate Army, Benjamin May Becton, the son of William James and his first wife, Mary Robb, married Mary I. McGill, the daughter of Elizabeth McCrary and Issac McGill. This made William James Becton the stepfather of Mary I., as well as her father-in-law. This made Elizabeth McCrary the stepmother of Benjamin, as well as his mother-in-law. Mary I. McGill Becton was the mother of Mary Frances Becton Carnahan(1869-1894), who was the mother of Bessie May Carnahan Cates(1888-1973), who was the mother of Joe V. Cates, Jr. (1914-1987), who was the father of Ben and Steve Cates.”
Issac’s mother is buried in the Youree Cemetery, just off the Murray-Kittrell Road. His father, David, is buried at Mt. Tabor, on the Manchester Road. Cates concluded, “Since his daughter is buried here, and it is closest to where he died, I figured his widow would have put him here with their daughter and her relatives and later she and her second husband, whose third wife was Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, would have been placed here, too.”
WGNS encourages you to share your local history findings, so that others can learn about this community’s great heritage.