OBITS: McCOY Family, mostly Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by April Van Heest Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ HOOVER, Mary A. (McCOY), 1929 McCOY, Frank P., 1924 McCOY, James, 1886 McCOY, Peter J., 1916 _______________________________________________ MARY A. HOOVER Fall is Fatal to 82-Year-Old Lady Lifeless Body of Mrs. Mary A. Hoover Found at Bottom of Stairs at Granddaughter's New Home Family Only Occupied Residence Yesterday Aged Woman Suffered Skull Fracture and Numerous Other Injuries-Husband Killed Many Years Ago Death by falling down a long flight of stairs is the fate that fell to the lot of Mrs. Mary A. Hoover, aged 82, whose lifeless body was found at 7 o'clock this morning, lying at the first floor landing of the stairway in the new home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Hale Shaffer of 117 Broad street, rear, Hollidaysburg. The Shaffers, with whom Mrs. Hoover had made her home for the past year, only occupied the newly-built residence where the accident took place yesterday, moving there from 111 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg. Facts surrounding the untimely death of the aged woman, indicate that she had arisen during the early hours of this morning and not being familiar with the house had become bewildered and stepped in to the open stairway, falling headlong to the landing below. Discovery of the body was made by Hale Shaffer, husband of the granddaughter. He was in the act of dressing when, upon looking from the second floor down the stairs he saw the prostrate form of Mrs. Hoover, lying face downward on the landing. Mr. Shaffer called to his wife and then hurried to the nearby home of his father, Ross Shaffer, for assistance. A physician was called and in the meantime the body of the aged woman was carried to her bedroom on the second floor of the home. The physician, upon examining the woman's body, found life extinct. She suffered a fractured skull, and many bones in her body were broken in the fall. Her body was also badly bruised and lacerated with one deep cut being inflicted on the neck. The exact time that the woman met with the fatal fall is not know although it occurred after 3 o'clock this morning for it was at that hour when Mr. Shaffer had gone to the first floor of his home and the aged lady was then sleeping soundly. Coroner Chester C. Rothrock was notified of the woman's death and went to the Shaffer home this morning accompanied by an Altoona Mirror representative. After learning the facts in the woman's death, the coroner decided not to conduct an inquest finding such procedures unnecessary. Happy Over New Home Mrs. Hoover had manifested great happiness over her granddaughter's occupancy of the new home and the aged lady had made extensive plans for fixing up her bedroom in the new house. She planned to begin this work today and so informed her granddaughter before retiring last night. She was unusually active, despite her advanced age, and enjoyed excellent health. She was a familiar figure in Hollidaysburg and was loved and esteemed by a host of friends who are left grief-stricken by her sudden death. Deceased was born in Newry September 21, 1845, and was a daughter of James and Sarah McCoy, both deceased. She spent her girlhood days in Newry and was married there to George S. Hoover, who was killed at Philipsburg fifty-six years ago when he was thrown under a train while at work as a flagman for the Pennsylvania railroad. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Hoover and her children returned to Blair county and with the exception of one year that she spent with a daughter in Cleveland had since resided in the vicinity of Hollidaysburg. Four Children Survive Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Michael Walls of 111 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, and Mrs. Matilda Smith of Cleveland; two sons, Frank and George Hoover, in the west, and sixteen grandchildren. She was the last of her immediate family. The body was given in charge of Undertaker Fred J. Wolf of Hollidaysburg to be prepared for burial. The funeral will be held at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning at St. Patrick's Catholic church, Newry. Interment will be made in the church cemetery. Deceased was a member of St. Mary's church, Hollidaysburg. Altoona Mirror, August 25, 1929 _____ FRANK P. McCOY Civil War Veteran Dead Frank P. McCoy Answers Final Roll Call, Military Funeral Tuesday Morning. After an illness of six weeks, Francis P. McCoy, a well known veteran of this county, passed away Saturday night, September 20, at 11 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C.A. Ridgely, in Cumberland. He had been in failing health for the past two years but his condition was not considered serious until August 1, when he went to Cumberland for medical treatment. Mr. McCoy was born in Newry, Blair County, on February 29, 1848 and came to Bedford County in 1877, and the greater part of his life since then, was spent at Madley. For some years he taught school in the neighboring county and for sixteen years was engaged in mining coal. Since then, his entire time was spent in gathering information concerning the soldiers of all wars. This was a labor of love, and will never be fully appreciated, neither by the soldiers nor their families. Much of the work was disheartening and he made many trips to every section of the county, failing in but a few instances. He never received a cent of reward and did not expect any, but his work should have had more consideration than it sometimes received, as the records he obtained, at such cost to himself, are invaluable. There is no doubt that his failing health was due to exposure on the frequent trips about the country, most of his journeys being on foot. He was a soldier in every sense of the word and served his country faithfully in Company E. 81st Penna. Infantry, enlisting when very young. He re-enlisted the day before the first battle at Gettysburg and participated in many important engagements. He won the rank of Corporal and was honorably discharged on June 29, 1865. As a member of Maj. William Watson Post 332, G. A. R., he was a regular attendant at Post meetings and other gatherings. His wife preceded him in death several years ago and he is survived by the following children: Mrs. Hetty Ridgely and Hugh D. McCoy, both of Cumberland; Mrs. Elsie Kelly, of Buffalo Mills; Merrit, of Hagerstown, and Edward, of Chicago. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Mary Hoover, of Cumberland, and brother, Edward McCoy, of Altoona. The body was sent to Madley, where funeral services were held in the church at 11am Tuesday. Legionnaires were pallbearers, nine from the Bedford Post being present, and the funeral was thoroughly military, a salute being fired over the grave and "taps" sounded. The Bedford Post G. A. R conducted the last rites at the grave, those present being Dr. A. Enfield, H.C. Robison, R.C. Smith, Captain A.I. Lyon and R.D. Davis. Interment in the cemetery adjoining the church. During the services Commissioner W.H. Mowry, of Buffalo Mills, paid a most beautiful tribute to the departed veteran. The Inquirer has lost a warm friend in the passing of Mr. McCoy and, like many who have performed valuable services for their country, "his works will live after him." Bedford Inquirer, Friday September 26, 1924 page 1 Note: Francis Patrick was the son of James and Sarah (Storm) McCoy. He married Mary Ellen Lybarger on September 30, 1878. _____ JAMES McCOY Mr. James McCoy, an aged and well known citizen of Carson Valley, Allegheny Township, died at about 3 o'clock yesterday morning in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Mr. McCoy was a patriotic soldier and an honest, upright citizen and an industrious farmer. He served his country with fidelity all through the war of the rebellion, and was a staunch Democrat. He leaves surviving him a widow and a number of children. The funeral will take place from his late home at 10 o'clock Saturday morning, and the remains will be interred in the Dunkard graveyard near Duncansville. Altoona Times, June 25, 1886 page 2 Note: James married 1) Sarah Storm on October 17, 1844 and 2) Martha Matilda Cochrane on September 28, 1865 _____ PETER J. McCOY Aged 47, of Carson Valley, died yesterday afternoon of paralysis, from which he suffered since July. He sustained another stroke last Saturday afternoon. He is survived by one brother, Edward of Cross Keys; one half-brother, Frank of Madley, Bedford County; one-half sister, Mary A. Hoover of Ridgely, W. VA, and the following children: Mrs. Edna Ebersole of South Altoona, Charles, Scott, Ross, Edgar, Mary, Maggie and Sylvia, at home. His wife preceded him to the grave seven years ago. The funeral will be held Thursday morning leaving the house at 10 o'clock . Services will be held in the Brethren Church. Interment in Carson Valley Cemetery. Altoona Mirror, Wednesday January 5, 1916 Note: Peter J. was the son of James and Martha Matilda (Cochrane) McCoy