McCOY BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== McCOY, John - b: 1855 Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 773 residence: Bogard Twp John McCoy, a prominent farmer and stockman of Bogard township, is a native son of Henry County and a descendant of pioneer parents of this section. Mr. McCoy was born about two miles southeast of Creighton December 29, 1855, a son of Mason Louis and Mary (Baker) McCoy. Mason Louis McCoy was born in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, February 8, 1829, and died at Urich, Missouri, April 15, 1917. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1838, and they settled in Lafayette County and in 1854 Mason Louis McCoy came to Henry County. He was a man who had a vast experience in the new and undeveloped west of the early days. For a number of years he was train boss for Russell and Major, who were extensive freighters in the early days. Mr. McCoy crossed the plains in the employ of this company many times. During the Civil War his family lived in Henry County on the old homestead and much of his time was spent in Sedalia, where he was serving as a member of the Home Guards. Mason Louis McCoy was an unusual man in many ways. He was fairly well to do and charitably inclined. Many of the early pioneers owe their success in later life to being assisted at a critical time by Mr. McCoy, whose generosity was one of his leading characteristics. He was enterprising and progressive, and took an active part in all public matters and measures which tended to build up his county and community. To Mason Louis and Mary (Baker) McCoy were born the following children: John, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Elizabeth McClung, Urich, Missouri; William, died at Premlin, Oklahoma; Mrs. Evaline Peake, Vernon County, Missouri; Mrs. Letitia Johnson, Richards, Missouri; Robert, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Dollie Hillebrant; George, Urich, Missouri, and one who died in infancy. John McCoy, the subject of this sketch, received his education, principally, in private school which was conducted by Marcus Hendricks, who settled in the vicinity of Urich in the early days, on a place about half a mile north of town. Shortly afterwards a small frame school house was built on the McCoy place there. This was destroyed by fire and the next school building was located about one-fourth mile south of there, which was subsequently replaced by the Oak Grove school house, which is still standing. Mr. McCoy remained at home with his parents until he was about eighteen years old. His first independent venture was working as a farm laborer in Cass County, for which he received fifteen dollars a month. Shortly after this he engaged in farming on his own account and in 1884 bought ninety acres of land. He has added to this as opportunities presented themselves and is now the owner of a good farm of three hundred thirty-five acres. He is a successful general farmer and is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs, as well as buying and selling stock. He is a self made man and what property he has accumulated is the result of his unaided efforts. When he purchased his first land he was practically without capital and mortgaged the place for almost the entire purchase price for which he paid eleven per cent interest. At that time all farm produce was at the low water mark of prices. For instance, eggs sold for three cents per dozen. Mr. McCoy believes that a man can buy a farm today without capital, and pay for it easier and quicker than at any other time in the history of the country. John McCoy was united in marriage March 2, 1881, with Miss Mary E. Godwin, a native of Indiana, born June 29, 1860. She is a daughter of William and Mary Frances (James) Godwin. The Godwin family resided in Bogard township. The father was born February 3, 1828, and died November 13, 1882. The mother was born January 20, 1838, and died November 14, 1908. They came to Missouri in 1866 and settled in Cass County, where they resided for some time, and later the father bought a farm in Bogard township. William and Mary Frances (James) Godwin were the parents of nine children, as follow: George W., born March 18, 1854; Sarah, born February 4, 1856, married T. S. Clay, Bogard township; Annie E., born March 29, 1858, married Alves Williams, Lodi, California; Mary E., the wife of John McCoy, the subject of this sketch; James F., born February 1, 1863, now deceased; Emeline, born February 16, 1865, deceased; William S., born July 18, 1867, deceased; Amanda J., born November 29, 1870, deceased; and Samuel A., born June 8, 1872, deceased. To John McCoy and Mary E. (Godwin) McCoy have been born the following children: Alford, married Josie E. Crissman of Bogard township, now resides on the home place; Joseph R., married Pearl Williams of Cass County, and also resides on the home place; Mayme Frances, married F. G. Hale. Both she and her husband were teachers in the Centralia public schools, Centralia, Missouri. Mr. Hale is now a private in the National Army, in training at Camp Pike, Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are both members of the Christian Church of Creighton and are of Henry County's most highly respected pioneer families. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================