Rock Island Prison was built on 12 acres of swampland to hold Confederate soldiers. “Fate” was one of the first captured soldiers remanded to the prison, which eventually would contain more than 12,000 prisoners. More than 2,000 of them would die from small pox, pneumonia and other medical problems before the end of the conflict.

“Fate” spent 19 months at Rock Island before being released in June 1865. He signed an oath of allegiance to the United States of America and began an arduous walk from Illinois to South Carolina, since virtually all railroads coming south had been heavily damaged.

Once back in Highland Township, “Fate” returned to farming and being a millwright, while starting a family of nine with first wife, Mary Jane McMakin.

He later became a preacher and pastored the nearby Ebenezer-Welcome Baptist Church. His second wife was Phurby Pearl Queen, a widow with five children. They had seven children together, including two sets of twins.