DAVIS, WILLIAM
WILLIAM DAVIS
Biography
Governor P. H. Bell, for the State of Texas, granted William Davis and wife, Margaret, two-thirds of a league and one labor of land where the town of McKinney now stands, totaling 3,130 acres. This was in support of a decree from the District Court of 1841, but was registered and patented t the Land Office in Austin August 1, 1856.
William Davis and his family had a little log cabin on the land in 1848 when the new County seat was moved to present McKinney. He and his wife gave 120 acres to the new town of McKinney to be used as a townsite. Commissioners receiving the donation were J. B. Wilmeth, James McReynolds, John Fitzhugh, and William McKinney. William Davis asked that lots 13 - 27 and 65 in Blocks 2 - 4 be reserved for his use. Neither he nor his wife could write so signed the document with the “Mark”, as many other pioneers had to do. Schools were non-existent in the very early days and few could read unless they were educated before coming to Texas. Joel Stewart was then the county clerk.
Several descendants of William Davis live in Collin County and some are still here. Ida Lee married Conley Hockett, a Virginian. Her inheritance from her grandfather was a farm northwest of McKinney and here she reared her family. One of the Hockett children was Dewey Hockett.
Biography
Governor P. H. Bell, for the State of Texas, granted William Davis and wife, Margaret, two-thirds of a league and one labor of land where the town of McKinney now stands, totaling 3,130 acres. This was in support of a decree from the District Court of 1841, but was registered and patented t the Land Office in Austin August 1, 1856.
William Davis and his family had a little log cabin on the land in 1848 when the new County seat was moved to present McKinney. He and his wife gave 120 acres to the new town of McKinney to be used as a townsite. Commissioners receiving the donation were J. B. Wilmeth, James McReynolds, John Fitzhugh, and William McKinney. William Davis asked that lots 13 - 27 and 65 in Blocks 2 - 4 be reserved for his use. Neither he nor his wife could write so signed the document with the “Mark”, as many other pioneers had to do. Schools were non-existent in the very early days and few could read unless they were educated before coming to Texas. Joel Stewart was then the county clerk.
Several descendants of William Davis live in Collin County and some are still here. Ida Lee married Conley Hockett, a Virginian. Her inheritance from her grandfather was a farm northwest of McKinney and here she reared her family. One of the Hockett children was Dewey Hockett.
