THE PIONEERS
Our Oldest Citizens, Who Made This Country What It Is
Ex-Councilman, Veteran Odd Fellow, Carriage Maker, Stalwart Republican
It is the purpose of THE STANDARD articles to gather facts about people, and put into succinct form, matter which will furnish the details for the future writers of the pioneer history of Decatur county. One by one these pioneers are dropping off, and unless these fragments be gathered and put in permanent form, many a chapter would be only a collection of indefinite pages; hence, this work meets the intelligent approval of men that have not merely lived in the past, but who feel an interest in the future. Matthew Coy was born March 20, 1829, on a farm four miles north of this city, now known as the Campbell Patton farm. He is a descendant of Kentucky parentage. His father, William Coy, was born and raised in Hardin county, Kentucky. He was one of the Kentucky riflemen, alluded to in history, that won for General Andrew Jackson the famous battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815. The regiment to which he belonged was floated down the rivers, Ohio and Mississippi, to New Orleans on flat boats, but after the battle the soldiers were discharged and made their way home as best they could. They came in squads, some on horseback and others on foot. Young Coy, with a few companions, trudged the weary journey on foot, and on the last day of his homeward march he made sixty miles, being urged to exert all his energy by the feeling that he was near home and about to be embraced by his young wife, whom he had married but a year before his enlistment, and from whom he had heard but once, and that was the tidings that she had borne him a son, whom he was doubly anxious to see. With such an inspiration and anxiety, no wonder that the foot-sore soldier was awakened to a new activity, and that he was able to double the regulation march on that day, so that his weary limbs bore him to his home, his wife and his first-born son. William Coy married Miss Sarah Robertson. Her father came to the "New Purchase" earlier, and had entered a body of land in the neighborhood where his sons and sons-in-law afterwards lived. He was of the Robertson family from which came the Lieutenant Governor Robertson, who was elected to the office, which was seized by the coup d'etat of Green Smith-an event which figures in the political history of the state. Soon after the close of the war of 1812, which was marked by the battle of New Orleans, perhaps in 1816, the year that the state was admitted into the Union, William Coy, with his wife and baby boy, came to Indiana. It is said that Mrs. Coy and the babe rode on horseback and that the father trudged his way on foot. The weary journey ended at her father's house, and they at once joined in the task of clearing the land and developing one of the richest farming districts in the county.
The family of William and Sarah Coy consisted of ten children, all of whom are dead except Matthew Coy, and the subject of this sketch. William Coy and his wife died in Indianapolis, both at an advanced age. Matthew Coy lived and worked on the farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then came to this city and learned the trade of saddler and harness maker, serving an apprenticeship under John Mackey. After working at this trade for seven years, he learned the business of carriage maker with his brother-in-law, Col. B. C. Shaw, who was not only well known here, but afterwards served two terms as state treasurer. Mr. Coy later formed a partnership with John Imlay, and for many years they manufactured buggies and carriages at their factory, on West Main street, and after the factory made buggies became the fashionable demand, they kept and sold ready-made buggies and carriages. Mr. Imlay has been dead several years, but Mr. Coy retired from the business only about three years ago. Mr. Coy was married to Miss Elizabeth Stine, October 3, 1853. She died four years ago. Only two children were born to this union: two daughters-Maria and Candis. The latter married Charles W. Woodward, cashier of the Citizens National Bank. Since the death of Mrs. Coy, he and his daughter, Maria, with Mr. Woodward and family, all live together at 503 North Franklin street, in this city. Mr. Coy had a short, but spirited experience during the civil war. He was with the state milita that was called out by the John Morgan raid. They went by boat from Cincinnati to Portsmouth, Ohio, but being unable to keep up with the cavalry, missed the fun of being at the "round up" when Morgan was captured. Mat Coy, though not an offensive partisan, has always been an uncompromising Republican, notwithstanding the fact that some of his very close relatives have been high up in party circles, and even manipulators of Democratic politics. His brother-in-law, Col. B. C. Shaw, was as stated, a state official and party manager for years. Sim Coy, a nephew, was at one time the "Tom Taggart" of the party, and even suffered martyrdom for the sake of the cause. But Mat Coy followed the even tenor of his ways, and is a Republican still. He joined Decatur Lodge No. 103, of the order of Odd Fellows, many years ago. He has held important positions in the lodge. He served as city councilman from the Second Ward, under Mayor Campbell, when Will R. Crawford was city clerk. He has been a Methodist since an early day, and holds his membership at the First M. E. church, of this city. Mr. Coy's health is not good, and he feels that he is living on borrowed time, but he murmurs not, and calmly awaits the summons to go hence to the reward that he has earned by a faithful, upright, Christian life.
