Stiff Chapel
Jesse Stiff and his family came to this area in 1835 making them some of the earliest settlers in the county. This was ten years before Texas became a state. He fought in the Mexican War in 1846. A section of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in 1836 provided that all heads of families living in Texas at the time of the Declaration of Independence (March 2, 1836) were entitled to one league and one labor of land (4605.5 acres). Jesse Stiff claimed his one league and one labor and located it about seven miles northeast of McKinney and east of present-day Melissa. The community was east of Squeezepenny and northwest of Altoga The creek going through his land was called Stiff Creek. The Stiff Chapel Cemetery is located on the west bank of Stiff Creek.
A small community grew in this area called Stiff Chapel. In 1856 land was donated for a school. The Stiff Chapel School was School District #27. Wallis Chapel Christian Church was on a hill nearby. A post office for the community of Stiff was started on May 14, 1886. It was changed to Viney on March 8, 1890. The Viney post office lasted until 1891 before it was closed and the mail sent to Altoga. The Altoga Baptist Church was organized May 14, 1892 at the Stiff Chapel Schoolhouse.
A small community grew in this area called Stiff Chapel. In 1856 land was donated for a school. The Stiff Chapel School was School District #27. Wallis Chapel Christian Church was on a hill nearby. A post office for the community of Stiff was started on May 14, 1886. It was changed to Viney on March 8, 1890. The Viney post office lasted until 1891 before it was closed and the mail sent to Altoga. The Altoga Baptist Church was organized May 14, 1892 at the Stiff Chapel Schoolhouse.