Collin McKinney
Encyclopedia
Collin McKinney was a land surveyor, merchant, politician, and lay preacher. He is best known as an important figure in the Texas Revolution
as being one of the five individuals who drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence
and the oldest person to sign it.
, the second of ten children born to Daniel and Massie (Blatchey) McKinney. The family moved to Virginia
in the 1770s, and while Daniel fought in the American Revolutionary War
Collin McKinney supported the family; thus, he had no formal schooling. After the war the family moved to an outpost in what is now Lincoln County, Kentucky
.
McKinney married twice in his lifetime, first to Annie (Amy) Moore in 1792 with whom he had four children before her death and then again in 1805 to Elizabeth Leek, with whom he had six more children.
From 1818 to 1821 McKinney managed the Tennessee estates of Senator
George W. Campbell
who was serving as minister to Russia
at the time. He also opened a trading post before giving it up and returning to Kentucky. Later, McKinney and many of his relatives moved to Hempstead County, Arkansas where he would be elected as a justice of the peace
.
In 1826 McKinney became a friend of Benjamin R. Milam, who was recruiting settlers for the Red River
Colony in Northeast Texas
of Empressario and British General Arthur G. Wavell. The land grant was an area claimed by both the United States
settlers as part of Miller County, Arkansas as well as by Mexico
.
In 1836, McKinney was one of five delegates from the Red River Colony to the Convention of 1836
which called for Texas to declare its independence from Mexico. He was one of five appointed to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and at age 70 he was the oldest to sign it. He would later be a member of the committee that drafted the Constitution of the Republic of Texas
and would also serve as a delegate from Red River District and County, Texas to the First, Second, and Fourth Congresses of the Republic of Texas
.
In 1846 at age 80 he would move one last time, as a result of one of the worst known floods on the Red River, to the northern portion of the rich blackland prairie of Collin County, Texas to be near several of his children. Although it would be several years before the exact boundary line between Collin
and Grayson Counties
would be surveyed and clearly identified. He lived just a few miles southeast Liberty, Texas
, which was soon renamed Mantua by Younger Scott McKinney who was the founder.
In about 1873, 12 years after Collin McKinney's death, the few inhabitants of Mantua moved several miles northeast to Van Alstyne, Texas
on the new Houston & Texas Central Railroad from Sherman
to McKinney
and on to Galveston
. Today Mantua, Texas is a ghost town of Collin County with just an old, unmarked cemetery.
Both Collin County and McKinney, Texas, its county seat, were named in his honor by the Texas Legislature
.
McKinney is credited with suggesting to the Texas Legislature that, as new counties were later created in North and West Texas, the boundaries should be about 30 miles square. This would allow a rider to travel to the county seat
, conduct necessary business, and return home, all in one day.
Collin McKinney died at his home in Collin County on September 9, 1861 and was buried in the nearby Van Alstyne, Texas Cemetery in the McKinney family plot which was originally the homeplace of Younger Scott McKinney. A historical marker
erected by the Texas Historical Commission
honors this Texan who lived for over 95 years under the flags of seven different nations.
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
as being one of the five individuals who drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence
Texas Declaration of Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. It was adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, and formally signed the following day after errors were noted in the...
and the oldest person to sign it.
Biography
McKinney was born in Hunterdon County, New JerseyHunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, the second of ten children born to Daniel and Massie (Blatchey) McKinney. The family moved to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the 1770s, and while Daniel fought in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
Collin McKinney supported the family; thus, he had no formal schooling. After the war the family moved to an outpost in what is now Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 24,742 in the 2010 Cesus. Its county seat is Stanford. Lincoln is a prohibition or "dry county" and is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
.
McKinney married twice in his lifetime, first to Annie (Amy) Moore in 1792 with whom he had four children before her death and then again in 1805 to Elizabeth Leek, with whom he had six more children.
From 1818 to 1821 McKinney managed the Tennessee estates of Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
George W. Campbell
George W. Campbell
George Washington Campbell was an American statesman who served as a U.S. Representative, Senator, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, U.S...
who was serving as minister to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
at the time. He also opened a trading post before giving it up and returning to Kentucky. Later, McKinney and many of his relatives moved to Hempstead County, Arkansas where he would be elected as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
In 1826 McKinney became a friend of Benjamin R. Milam, who was recruiting settlers for the Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
Colony in Northeast Texas
Northeast Texas
Northeast Texas is a region in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Texas. It is geographically centered around two metropolitan areas strung along Interstate 20: Tyler in the west and Longview/Marshall to the east...
of Empressario and British General Arthur G. Wavell. The land grant was an area claimed by both the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
settlers as part of Miller County, Arkansas as well as by Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
In 1836, McKinney was one of five delegates from the Red River Colony to the Convention of 1836
Convention of 1836
The Convention of 1836 was the meeting of elected delegates in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas in March 1836. The Texas Revolution had begun five months previously, and the interim government, known as the Consultation, had wavered over whether to declare independence from Mexico or pledge to...
which called for Texas to declare its independence from Mexico. He was one of five appointed to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and at age 70 he was the oldest to sign it. He would later be a member of the committee that drafted the Constitution of the Republic of Texas
Constitution of the Republic of Texas
The Constitution of the Republic of Texas was written in 1836 between the fall of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio and Sam Houston's stunning victory at San Jacinto. The constitution was written quickly and while on the run from Santa Anna....
and would also serve as a delegate from Red River District and County, Texas to the First, Second, and Fourth Congresses of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
In 1846 at age 80 he would move one last time, as a result of one of the worst known floods on the Red River, to the northern portion of the rich blackland prairie of Collin County, Texas to be near several of his children. Although it would be several years before the exact boundary line between Collin
Collin County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 491,675 people, 181,970 households, and 132,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 580 people per square mile . There were 194,892 housing units at an average density of 230 per square mile...
and Grayson Counties
Grayson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile . There were 48,315 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
would be surveyed and clearly identified. He lived just a few miles southeast Liberty, Texas
Liberty, Texas
Liberty is a city in and the county seat of Liberty County, Texas, United States and a part of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 8,033 at the 2000 census....
, which was soon renamed Mantua by Younger Scott McKinney who was the founder.
In about 1873, 12 years after Collin McKinney's death, the few inhabitants of Mantua moved several miles northeast to Van Alstyne, Texas
Van Alstyne, Texas
Van Alstyne is a city in Grayson Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 3,046 at the 2010 census.The Grayson County portion of Van Alstyne is part of the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area,-Geography:...
on the new Houston & Texas Central Railroad from Sherman
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to McKinney
McKinney, Texas
McKinney is a city in and the county seat of Collin County, Texas, United States, and the second in population to Plano. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 131,117 The Census Bureau listed McKinney as the nation's fastest growing city from 2000 to 2003 and again in...
and on to Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. Today Mantua, Texas is a ghost town of Collin County with just an old, unmarked cemetery.
Both Collin County and McKinney, Texas, its county seat, were named in his honor by the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
.
McKinney is credited with suggesting to the Texas Legislature that, as new counties were later created in North and West Texas, the boundaries should be about 30 miles square. This would allow a rider to travel to the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
, conduct necessary business, and return home, all in one day.
Collin McKinney died at his home in Collin County on September 9, 1861 and was buried in the nearby Van Alstyne, Texas Cemetery in the McKinney family plot which was originally the homeplace of Younger Scott McKinney. A historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
erected by the Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas....
honors this Texan who lived for over 95 years under the flags of seven different nations.
External links
- Collin McKinney in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of TexasUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...