 Sherman Daily Democrat 1939 Van Alstyne Was Founded by Men of the Republic Special to The Democrat Van Alstyne - One of the richest spots in Texas history lore of North Texas is Van Alstyne, where descendants of Collin McKinney, signer of the Texas declaration of independence, and other early settlers live to tell stories handed down by word of mouth. Van Alstyne had its beginning in old Mantua, 3 miles southwest of the present site, which was laid out by Younger Scott McKinney in 1853 on land donated by Billy McKinney. The donor stipulated that no saloon should ever be set up in Mantua. Horatio M. Walcott was the first merchant in Mantua and it was on the second floor of his store that Mantua Lodge 209, Masonic body, was organized February 7, 1857. This lodge still meets in Van Alstyne and celebrated its 82nd birthday. The local Odd Fellows lodge was 58 years old February 14. The First Christian church here is the oldest of that denomination in the state, having been established at Mantua in 1846. Among its 21 charter members were Collin McKinney and a dozen other members of the McKinney family. The Methodist church was formed in 1847 and the Baptist in 1871. The growth of old Mantua was halted in the fall of 1872 when what is now the Southern Pacific railroad was built and missed Mantua. Land for the Van Alstyne town site was sold to the railroad for $17.50 an acre by Ashley McKinney. The town was named for Mrs. Maria Van Alstyne of Houston, a shareholder in the railroad. In March 1873, Dr. James L. Leslie, father of Will Leslie, now of Sherman, moved from Mantua to Van Alstyne and opened a drug store. The first merchant was Oscar Riddle, who is said to have sold candy for $1 per stick, "throwing in" a quart of whiskey since he had not obtained his license. Within a short time there were 5 saloons and 2 wholesale whiskey houses in operation, doing a rushing business until local option put them out of public favor. Other early merchants included: W.K. Henderson F.R. Slaughter S.L. and J.D.L. McKinney James W. McKinney the Cannon brothers D.W. Fulton E.G. Beall C.C. Walsh J.W. Geer T.P. Howie Louis Garver and bearers of such familiar names as Blassingmae, Cartwright, Kepler, Dumas, Thompson, Huckaby, Moore and Stinnett.   Van Alstyne History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |