Of course you know that I am working off of "family lore" and I had always heard that my G. W. Smith fought at the battle of San Jacinto, thereby allowing "us" (kinfolks) to be DRT or SRT, since he was involved in the freedom fight. But then......Yes, I know that Mt. Ida throws a wrench in the machinery, but I am thinking that perhaps William McKinney was related to one of the brothers of Collin McKinney. I have seen the book you are talking about - in fact have gone through the one about Mordecai (?) McKinney backwards and forwards looking for a connection. So far, haven't hit it yet. Now, when I did go to Mt. Ida, we did FINALLY locate McKinney Cemetery which was way back off in the woods quite a long ways - almost in dense underbrush as well - I was thinking "Deliverance" as we drove and drove and drove, and finally, we came to a small clearing - and oddly enough, as the sun was coming down through the trees, it was filtering through and aimed directly onto the gravestones of MY McKinney relatives (with the exception of William and Alie); talk about a moment sent from Heaven, my husband and I just about jumped out of our car. It was just too weird! But so fulfilling after all the years. Of course this was sandwiched all around me falling and breaking my wrist, getting a son-in-law, daughter-in-law and a grandbaby in the past five years, not to say my parents coming to live with us, and having two major surgeries within six months of each other. But I still keep plugging away at those McKinneys. Some how or another I am going to make it stick!!!!! Should you come across anything please give me a "holler". I have the records from the store in Mt. Ida where they bought groceries. I tried to talk to a lady whose family was related to the man they thought shot my g-g-g-grandfather but she was not interested in corresponding. I am sorry that I couldn't convince her that I only wanted to hear the story, not pass judgement!!!! We ALL have skeletons in our closets!!!! Anyway, have a great day tomorrow and I am hoping for NO RAIN up your way!!!!! Sunny