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 the exact boundary line between Collin and Grayson Counties would not be surveyed and clearly identified for several years. He lived just a few miles southeast of Liberty, Texas, which was soon renamed Mantua by Younger Scott McKinney, who was the founder. Collin McKinney died at his home in Collin County on September 9, 1861, and was buried in the nearby Van Alstyne Cemetery in the McKinney family plot. A historical marker erected by the Texas Historical Commission honors this Texan who lived over 95 years under the flags of four nations (United States, Mexico, Texas, Confederacy at the end). Around 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 and Texas Central Railway from Sherman to McKinney and on to Galveston. Today, Mantua 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. References External links Collin McKinney in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas 1766 births 1861 deaths County justices of the peace in Arkansas People from Collin County, Texas People of the Texas Revolution Collin County, Texas McKinney, Texas People from Hunterdon County, New Jersey Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence