Looking South from the historical marker.

A pioneer leader of North Texas and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Collin McKinney, was born in New jersey, a son of Scottish immigrant parents. In 1780, the family moved to Kentucky, and in 1824, McKinney migrated across the Red River and settled near present Texarkana. In January, 1836, he was elected a delegate to the general convention at Wahington-on-the-Brazos and there served on a committee of five that drafted Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico. On March 2, he signed the document. He also served on the committee which prepared the Constitution for the Republic of Texas. Later he served in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Congresses of the Republic. In private life, McKinney was a leader in establishing the first Disciples of Christ Church in Texas. In 1846, he settled near the Grayson-Collin County line: this became his permanent residence. In 1792, he married Amy Moore; they had four children. He and his second wife, Betsy Leake (Coleman), by whom he had six children are both buried in this cemetery. Collin County and its seat, McKinney, were named in his honor. In 1986, the Texas Centennial Commission had his house moved to Finch Park in McKinney.

Collin McKinney

Taken from near the podium.