CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: FRANKLIN N. GARY - Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@charter.net - 
27 January 2002
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson 
FRANKLIN N. GARY

Franklin Newman Gary, of Tyler, was born in Newberry district, 
South Carolina, Nov. 26, 1828.  His paternal grandfather, a native 
of Virginia, came to the Palmetto state about the year 1760.  Mr. 
Gary's parents dying early he generously yielded the family estate 
to his sisters, and earning money enough to school himself was 
graduated from Maryville College, Tenn., in 1852.  Locating in 
Tyler, Texas, he taught school and while thus engaged studied 
law.  He was admitted to the bar in 1856 and entered upon a 
successful practice.  Upon the outbreak of the war between the 
states he volunteered and was commissioned captain in the 22nd 
Texas Infantry, C.S.A.  He was in Gen. Walker's division, under 
Gen. E. Kirby Smith, and was in the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant 
Hill, Jenkins Ferry and other engagements.  In the latter part of 
1864, while with the army in the field, he was elected without 
his knowledge or consent, district attorney of the old East Texas 
judicial division.  After a conspicuous service he declined a 
second term, devoting himself to the law and attaining eminent 
distinction at a bar noted for ability and eloquence.  Captain 
Gary became one of the leading and most influential citizens of 
Texas, none the less honored because averse to political office.  
As scholar and educator he was widely known, and as an able and 
learned lawyer he won fame and fortune.  In his later years, his 
own business interests becoming large, he gave up active law 
practice and devoted his time to financial affairs, and aided 
largely in the material upbuilding and advancement of Tyler and 
East Texas.  His integrity was modeled upon the highest and purest 
type of honor; he filled every position in life with credit, and 
in his death every good man felt that he had lost a friend.  He 
was married April 25, 1861, to Belle, the daughter of Samuel 
Hampson Boren.  Their daughter, Frances, an honor graduate of 
Hollins Institute, Virginia, died early.  Their only living child, 
Hon. Hampson Gary, is a prominent attorney in Tyler.  Capt. F. N. 
Gary died January 30, 1886, and his wife died a year later.