Historical Marker
In Memory of Thomas F. McKinney
Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County · Texas
Erected 1936
Thomas Freeman McKinney left Nacogdoches for Santa Fe in 1823 and married Nancy Watts in 1827, and the Handbook of Texas says he kept a store on the Nacogdoches square until 1830. In 1834 he became senior partner with Samuel May Williams in a Brazos River firm; McKinney collected and shipped cotton. The firm developed Quintana in 1835 and had a Galveston wharf and warehouse by October 1837. Its credit helped finance the Revolution, about $99,000 never repaid in full. The Handbook says the loss of about fourteen enslaved people, with his debts, crippled him financially.
What the plaque says
In Memory of Thomas F. McKinney (1801-1873) Builder of the first wharf at Galveston Financial advisor of the Republic of Texas Senior member of the firm of McKinney & Williams whose mercantile establishment occupied this site, 1823-1830 Marked by the State of Texas 1936
Where it stands
31.60363, -94.65554 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Robert Bruce Blake — steps away
- King's Highway - Camino Real - Old San Antonio Road — steps away
- Old Spanish Cemetery — steps away
- Site of the Home of William Clark, Jr. — steps away