THE McCOY FAMILY.
This family has been well and honorably known in the history of Decatur County since its earliest days. Concerning the remote ancestry of the McCoy family, little has been preserved that is accessible for use in the preparation of this sketch That they were original Scotch Highlanders is established by the tradition, habits and general type of the present generation.
William McCoy and Jean, his wife, were natives of Scotland, where they raised a family and passed their days. They are known to have been the parents of at least two sons, named, respectively, Alexander and Daniel.
Alexander MoCoy, the son mentioned above, came to America about the year 1774, and is supposed to have settled in Pennsylvania about the same time. Nancy Campbell, a Scotch lassie, from the immediate neighborhood of the McCoys, in Scotland, came over in the same ship that brought Alexander McCoy, and, a few years later, she was united with him in marriage. She was a lineal descendant of the historic Campbell family, of Scotland, and is said to have been married at the early age of fifteen years. This couple settled in Washington County, Penn., and emigrated from there to Kentucky, with the tide of adventurers and homeseekers who "came over the mountains during the latter part of the last century. While it is not so stated by the private records of the present generation, it is quite probable that this settlement was in or near Bourbon County, Ky.
The children of Alexander and Nancy (Campbell) McCoy were:
- John, born in Pennsylvania in 1782; unmarried; died at Kingston, Decatur County, in 1865. This son was a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church and devoted his life to the duties of that office; he was well-known as an itinerant evangelist during the early days of this (Decatur) and adjoining counties, where he accomplished a good and useful labor.
- William, born in Pennsylvania in 1784; married to Hannah Mitchell; settled in Orange County, Ind., where he died in 1859.
- Daniel, born in Pennsylvania in 1786; married to a woman named Redman; he died in Kentucky in 1816.
- Angus C, born in Pennsylvania (see special biography).
- Margaret, born in Washington County, Penn., in 1792; married to Joseph Mitchell; died in Washington Township, Decatur County, in 1851.
- Alexander, born in Kentucky, October 18, 1794; married Prudence Armstrong: died near Kingston, Decatur County, June 1, 1877.
- Jane, born in Kentucky in 1796; married to James E. Hamilton; died in Fugit Township in 1851; see sketch of James E. Hamilton.
- Mary, born in Kentucky in 1798; married to Cyrus Hamilton; died in Fugit Township September 8, 1881; see sketch of Cyrus Hamilton.
- George, born in Kentucky in 1800; married Polly McKinney; George was a man of limited education but of superior natural talent ; he took an active part in the Anti-Slavery movement, also was a strong advocate of temperance; he was a good speaker and stood very high in his community. He came to this county at an early day and remained a number of years, afterward moving to Iowa, where, during the late war, he recruited a company of men called Gray Beards, as they were all over military age; he was elected Captain and served three years in the war, and lived to return to Iowa where he afterward died.
- James, born in Kentucky in 1802; married Margaret McKinney: He was a Presbyterian minister of much ability; he died in Indianapolis in 1865,
- Campbell, born in Kentucky in 1804; married Martha McKinney; died in Bedford, Orange Co., Ind.
Several members of the family settled in Decatur County and their descendants are numerous and influential. During the days of slavery, they were earnest advocates of the opposition to that institution, and, with the Donnells and Hamiltons, were sometimes knowing of the "ways and means" provided for the escape of fugitives. Many incidents of the old Underground Railroad are related by the members of the present generation, but would hardly warrant being recorded here.
