Thomas F. McKinney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas F. McKinney
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Thomas Freeman McKinney
November 1, 1801 Lincoln County, Kentucky
|
| Died | October 2, 1873 (aged 71) Travis County, Texas
|
| Citizenship | American, Mexican, Texan |
| Occupation | Trader, merchant, rancher |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy Watts (divorced in 1843), Anna Gibbs (from 1843) |
Thomas Freeman McKinney (born November 1, 1801 – died October 2, 1873) was an important figure in early Texas history. He was a successful trader and merchant. He also helped create the city of Galveston, Texas.
McKinney lived with his family in states like Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri. He began trading goods in Mexico in 1823. The next year, he moved to Stephen F. Austin's Colony in Texas. Here, he claimed land and continued his trading business.
In 1834, he started a business with Samuel May Williams. Their company, McKinney & Williams, had a large warehouse near the Brazos River. This company later provided money and ships to help Texas gain independence from Mexico. After Texas became independent, McKinney helped found Galveston. His company also built a new warehouse and dock there. Later, McKinney sold his part of the business and retired to Travis County, Texas.
Contents
Early Life and Moves
Thomas Freeman McKinney was born on November 1, 1801. His birthplace was Lincoln County, Kentucky. His parents were Abraham and Eleanor Prather McKinney.
From 1811 to 1818, his family lived in Christian County, Kentucky. Around 1822, he moved with his family. They first went to southern Illinois. Then they moved to Randolph County, Missouri.
Life in Mexican Texas
In 1823, McKinney began his own journey to Mexico. He visited cities like Chihuahua City, Durango City, Saltillo, and San Antonio. In 1824, he received a large piece of land. This land was on the Brazos River in the Austin Colony.
However, he left this area to join his uncle, Stephen Prather. His uncle ran a trading post near Nacogdoches, Texas. In 1827, McKinney married Nancy Watts. They settled in Nacogdoches and ran a store until 1830. Nancy moved to San Felipe de Austin that year. McKinney kept sending loads of cotton by land and water.
McKinney started a business partnership with Samuel May Williams. This might have been as early as 1833. They bought a warehouse in Brazoria. McKinney managed the business in early 1834. Williams was still working in San Felipe de Austin. A few months later, McKinney moved to the mouth of the Brazos River. He built a new warehouse there.
Their company, McKinney and Williams, became commission merchants. This meant they gave money or supplies to farmers. In return, they received cotton later. They started by moving goods on Texas rivers using flatboats. By 1835, they owned three steamships. They used these ships to move goods between their warehouse at Quintana and New Orleans. McKinney managed the business alone again when Williams went to Monclova. Williams served in the local government there.
Texas Independence and the Republic
The McKinney & Williams company played a big role in Texas independence. They loaned a lot of money to help the cause. In September 1835, McKinney used his own ship, the San Felipe. He used it to capture a Mexican ship called the Correo de Mexico. He also borrowed money to buy another ship, the Liberty. This ship helped the Texas rebellion.
McKinney, along with Williams and Michel Menard, were key investors. They helped start the Galveston City Company. In 1835, McKinney secured a large share in this company for McKinney and Williams. He was one of the people who officially started it in 1836.
McKinney also bought land in the new city of Houston. The McKinney and Williams company received three city lots. These were on Milam Street near Buffalo Bayou. McKinney also invested in Houston on his own. He bought more city lots. He also bought a small share in the Allen brothers' project. This project was to build the Texas capitol building.
In 1838, McKinney oversaw the building of new facilities in Galveston. He was working for the McKinney & Williams company. They built a warehouse in the new city. It was at the corner of 24th Street and the Strand. Their dock was at the end of 24th Street. McKinney and Williams also helped pay for the first Tremont Hotel. It was at the corner of Post Office and Tremont Streets.
In 1839, McKinney supervised the building of a house for his family. He also built an identical house for the Samuel May Williams family. It was just a few blocks away.
In 1840, McKinney led a group of armed men. They had a conflict with the mayor of Galveston. This event was called the "Charter War." Mayor John M. Allen was a soldier. He took the city's important papers. He kept them at his home and guarded them with two cannons. Samuel May Williams and others disagreed with Allen. They said a new city charter meant his term was over. Allen believed his term continued until 1841. McKinney and his men raided Allen's house. They took the papers, which ended the conflict.
In 1842, McKinney began selling his properties in Galveston. He started with his share of the McKinney and Williams company. Thomas and Nancy Watts McKinney had separated before 1840. They divorced in 1843. That same year, he married Anna Gibbs, who was twenty-one years old.
After Texas Joined the U.S.
McKinney served in the Texas House of Representatives in 1849. He was chosen to lead a special committee. This committee looked into the state's money records. They found that the state's auditor, comptroller, and attorney had not reported all the money private companies owed. Because of this, the legislature changed the attorney general's job. It became an elected position instead of an appointed one. McKinney supported Ebenezer Allen to become the first elected attorney general of Texas.
In 1850, McKinney started a large ranch in Travis County. He bought this land, about 40,000 acres, from Michel Branamour Menard in 1839. It was originally part of the Santiago Del Valle Land Grant. He raised animals and built a horse track on the property. This land later became McKinney Falls State Park.
Before the Civil War, McKinney supported the Union. He was also a member of the Democratic Party. However, when Texas left the United States, he supported the Confederacy. The Confederate government made him a cotton agent. He took on personal debts while doing this job. This left him with much less money.
Later Life and Legacy
McKinney passed away on October 2, 1873, from kidney disease. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas. He received a special state funeral at the Texas capitol building.
McKinney Falls State Park is named in his honor. You can still see some things from his old home there. These include the ruins of his stone house, stone walls, a cabin, and a mill.
McKinney and Williams gave money, equipment, and supplies to help Texas become independent. Williams died in 1858. These debts were still owed when McKinney died in 1873. That year, the State of Texas said it owed McKinney $17,000. But they did not pay it. Some of his family asked the Texas legislature for payment in 1929. A bill was passed to pay them. However, Governor Dan Moody stopped the bill. Texas finally approved payment of the debt in 1935.
Images for kids
-
Advertisement for SB New York (via Portal to Texas History)
-
Samuel May Williams House: built by McKinney and identical to his own neighboring house outside of Galveston (not extant)
-
The ruins of the McKinney homestead at McKinney Falls State Park, Texas
-
Falls of Onion Creek at McKinney Falls State Park, Texas
