Caldwell County MO Archives History .....WILLIAM McCOY FAMILY IN HAMILTON  
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Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 4, 2008, 6:02 pm

THE WILLIAM McCOY FAMILY IN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP 1868
	Narrator:  Stella Farabee

     William McCoy came to Hamilton township 1868 and went onto the small farm 
south of town (the present ten acre plot of Dr. Booth was a part of his 
farm).  He came here from Warren co. Mo. and had previously lived in 
Columbiana Co. O. where he was born Oct 1 1815.  He married Eliza Baker in 
Pittsburg Pa. 1837.  They had 11 children, at his death a few years ago, there 
were still 6 left, and now only 2.  Out on his farm, he often broke the 
prairie with three yoke of oxen at once.  In 1870, his first wife died.  He 
moved to town, buying land from Andy Harrah, with a house.  This was the lot 
on which the Hawks Motor co. stands.  The house stood midway of the lot facing 
north.  He built a two story store building at the N.E. corner and opened up 
the McCoy's grocery which was destined to go on in that site for over four 
decades.  It had a front porch with benches, which became a favorite place for 
loafers, especially old soldiers, to sit and talk over old times.  It really 
was more than a grocery store.  They carried muslin, calico, thread, shoes to 
use in trading for produce.  At the corner was an immense stump which was a 
fine place for people to get out of wagons.  It was a typical country store in 
town.  Above the store were a few rooms.  In earlier days, it was known as 
McCoy's Hall, and the Christian church held church and Sabbath school there 
for a while.  Later on, his daughters, Lucy, and Mary and son Carmelius (Mel) 
lived there.
     When he grew a little old, his son Harve was junior partner and at his 
death, his son Clark returned to help with the store.  Later on, Clark became 
the senior partner and his two sons, Roy and Arthur helped run it and after 
his death, they conducted it independently.  McCoy's store was an institution 
in the town and when it was finally sold to Fred Hawks, who tore the building 
down to make room for his Motor building, that end of town seemed greatly 
changed.
     William McCoy was a staunch member of the Christian church and had much 
to do with its organization in town.  He gave the use of his store rooms and 
before that, they often met in his house.  He joined the church at 19 at Ohio.
     Mr. McCoy owned the two lots south of him till 1881 when he sold them to 
Dan Booth who had just moved to town to be cashier of the Savings Bank.  In 
1875 he married as second wife Mrs. Parmelia (Winget) Farabee, mother of Harve 
Farabee of Hamilton.  She was born in Washington Co. Pa. 1820 and was married 
to Samuel Farabee 1837.  In 1868, the Farabees moved to this county with their 
two children:  Harvey Farabee, and Sallie (Ackley) Simpson.  Mr. Farabee died 
1874 and Mrs. McCoy died 1903.
     The children of Mr. McCoy familiar to Hamilton were Harvey who died in 
the 80s of consumption, as did his son Arthur and daughter Winnie, Carmelius 
who died of consumption, Roxie Williams (dead), Olive White of Pa. (who 
created quite a sensation by eloping), Mary Shepardson (formerly a school 
teacher), Lucy of Pa., and Clark who lived here the longest.
     The McCoy family now bury in the Highland cemetery.  The first Mrs. McCoy 
was buried in their front yard, then moved to the old cemetery, then again in 
the new (Highland) cemetery.
     Interview  1933-4.


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