Frederick Tate was born around 1825 in Alabama. He married Mary B. Fletcher on October 11, 1848, and their son Irwin was born around 1849. They lived in Huntsville, Alabama, and he worked as a lawyer. By 1850, he owned $2,000 of real estate. His wife probably died in the early 1850s, and he married Lucy Croom on January 20, 1855. He moved to La Grange, Texas, in the late 1850s, and by 1860, he owned $34,500 of real estate and $34,100 of personal property.

 

In October 1861, he received a commission as a captain in Company A of the 9^th Texas Infantry. He eventually earned a promotion to major. In 1862, he declared, “I shall never lay down my arms so long as one inch of southern soil is occupied by the foot of the Hessians.” He remained in the army until at least August 1863.

 

He returned to La Grange after leaving the army, and he resumed his work as a lawyer. In January 1867, he reportedly killed a banker in New Orleans, Louisiana, after a disputed related to a forged check. A jury, however, concluded that he had acted in self-defense and found him not guilty. He died sometime after 1867.  

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