Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-20
A PATR|ARCH'S uFE-yARN,
An Interesting Sketch OF a Gen.
tenarian Soldier.
David Mccoy Of San Bernardino, and
His Life Work.
Left at an EARLY Age to support His
widowed Mother-He Was "In at
the Death OF Tecumseh"-His
Peaceful Lise's twilight.

|
Peaceful Lise's Twilight.
| IA correspondent sends the following accoun
OF q veteran soldier and citizen.1
| David Mccoy was born May 2, 1870
In Burke county, Norv-. oa'ohna' ni' m
parents being OF Scotch descent. Ht
was the eldest of family of FIVE chill
dren. When young David was 10 years
of age his father took passage on sail
ing vessel bound for the port Of Glas-
gov, Scotland, where he had business
interests. The vessel was never heard
from again, but was supposed to have
been taken by pirates and all on board
put to death. Left at an early age with.
out fathers care, young David worked
manfully, early and late, to support his
widowed mother and his younger BROTH
ere and sisters. When David was 81
years of age he emigrated to Frankfort,
Kentucky. The war between the
United States and England breaking out
shortly after his arrival, he enlisted in
the First Kentucky Regiment United
States volunseers, commanded by Col.
Dick johnson, furnishing his own horse,
saddle and rife. They marched across
the state of Ohio, which was at that
early date a dense wilderness, to
where the city of Sandusky now stands,
and we're ferried across lake Erie to NAL
den IN Upper Canada The British and
Indians under General Proctor fell back
to more advantageous position on the
river Thames. Col Dick johnson with
his mounted Kentuckians were ordered
to charge the redcoats under Proctor,
who held the first line of battle. The
Kentucky horsemen obeyed the order
and dashing through the forest they
broke the enemy's line. Forming his
men in the British rear, Colonel Johnson
attacked the Indians under Tecumseh,
who held the right and left fanks, de-
feating them and putting them to
flight, and their chief, Tecumseh, was
killed. This battle, which occurred
October 5, 1918, and Perry's victory on
Lake Erie short time before, gave the
United States the state of Michigan and
made all the other states bordering on
the great lakes safe from Indian attacks
and depredations.
Mr.. Mccoy participated in nearly
all of the battles of the war
that his regiment was engaged in and
returned safe to Clay county, Kentucky,
where he married Mics Lucy Davis.
There he settled down on farm, work
ing hard through the summer season,
and in the fall he would go to New Or
leans by fiat boat with load of his
farm produce, selling it for cash. He
would return home on foot dangerous
journey of nearly 1000 miles. In the
year 1910 Mr.. Mccoy emigrated to
Green Castle, Indiana. In the year
1856 he sold out his fine farm in
Indiana and moved to Rolla, Usage
county, Mo-, where he lived till 1868,
when he emigrated to Colusa county,
Cal. In the year 1856 he moved to
Grafton, San Bernardino county, CAL,
where he was engaged in ranching until
1877, when he returned to Canton, Mo.
There his beloved partner of this life
left him for the spirit land. Shortly
after the death of his wife he returned
to the Golden state to spend
the balance of his remaining years
at the home of his daughter. Mrs, w.
T. Morris. who lives ON Brookside ave-
nue. near Redlands.
David Mccoy raised a family of seven
children and four of them are alive and
live in this state. They are: G. . L.
Mccoy of Humboldt county, W. W. Nc.
Coy of San Bernardino, John M. Mccoy
of Sutter county, Mrs. W. T. Morris of
Redlands. He has also 80 grandchil-
dren, 35 great-grandchildren and IL
great grea, grandchildren, making to-
tsfof over 80 descendants, and counting
genealogy of four generations.
Mr.. McCoy's eyesight did not fail him
until lie was 95 years Of age. for up to
that period he could read without
glasses, work in the garden and was
nimbler on his feet than most men at
go. Although he has passed his l02d
milestone his memory is perfect on any
and all great events that happened 80
years ago. He was an intimate friend
and acquaintance of Andrew Jackson
and Col. Tom Benton. He had also
listened many times to the speeches of
Clay, Calhoun and Webster.
On being asked the question if he had
much sickness in his long and eventful
life, he said: No; only once, when he
had typhoid fever; he sent for doctor
and he was satisfied the doctor did him
more harm than good, and he has not
had any use for any since. He also
stated that he had attributed his re-
markable long life and good health to
the fact that he never ueed spirituous
liquors or tobacco in his life, and always
voted the straight Democratic ticket
without scratch.
On being asked the question which
ones of the great leaders of his party
that he liked the best, he quickly re-
piled: Andrew Jackson, Stephen A.
Douglass and Grover Cleveland. David
Mccoy never belonged to any secret or
der, but he. has the high honor of be-
longing to the order of veterans of the
war of 1912, and wears that badge, the
only one, so far as known, worn in the
entire state of California. He is also an
honorary member of the Pioneer society
of San Bernaldino county.