Thomas Bradley
THOMAS BRADLEY
OLD COLLIN GRAVEYARDS
by Capt Roy F. Hall
McKinney Examiner, November 28, 1963
Thomas Bradley settled just west of the new Junior High School building in 1846 on 160 acres of headrighted land. Bradley Street, which runs 200 feet east of his old homestead, was named for him. Bradley was a Mexican War Veteran. He lost his left leg in the war and had to ride a lady’s side-saddle when on horseback. Despite the handicap, he was a fine horseman and dealt in fine livestock. His old home was just back of the present Lucas home and was built there to take advantage of a big spring.
One of those buried in the old Bradley graveyard was a young girl named Laura Hocker. She was the daughter of a school teacher with that name, who taught in the Waddill school, across the street north of the present Methodist Church and also taught in the Looney School about where the Shumway Clinic is now on South Tennessee Street....Laura Hocker was a brilliant, beautiful young lady and was chosen from the young ladies of the town to speak words of encouragement to the soldiers prior to their leaving for the [Civil] war. Laura died the next year, and was buried in the old Bradley graveyard.
In 1906, when a railroad was projected from McKinney westward, some of the remains of those buried in this cemetery were removed for re-burial in Pecan Grove. Laura was one of those removed. The railroad, which faded out, was to go right over the old cemetery.
OLD COLLIN GRAVEYARDS
by Capt Roy F. Hall
McKinney Examiner, November 28, 1963
Thomas Bradley settled just west of the new Junior High School building in 1846 on 160 acres of headrighted land. Bradley Street, which runs 200 feet east of his old homestead, was named for him. Bradley was a Mexican War Veteran. He lost his left leg in the war and had to ride a lady’s side-saddle when on horseback. Despite the handicap, he was a fine horseman and dealt in fine livestock. His old home was just back of the present Lucas home and was built there to take advantage of a big spring.
One of those buried in the old Bradley graveyard was a young girl named Laura Hocker. She was the daughter of a school teacher with that name, who taught in the Waddill school, across the street north of the present Methodist Church and also taught in the Looney School about where the Shumway Clinic is now on South Tennessee Street....Laura Hocker was a brilliant, beautiful young lady and was chosen from the young ladies of the town to speak words of encouragement to the soldiers prior to their leaving for the [Civil] war. Laura died the next year, and was buried in the old Bradley graveyard.
In 1906, when a railroad was projected from McKinney westward, some of the remains of those buried in this cemetery were removed for re-burial in Pecan Grove. Laura was one of those removed. The railroad, which faded out, was to go right over the old cemetery.
