The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-05-17
BORN In BURKE COUNTY.
THE OLDEST PENsIoNER IN THE
UNITED STATES.
David Mccoy. a Native of North Gar o.
lima, 1o4 Years Old-Restdcnt
of California;


San Bernardine, CAL, claims the
honor OF having a citizen, native of
North Carolina. who four years ago
passed the century mile post David
Mccoy is the name of the old gentle
man who tells the following story of
his eventful life:
81 was born in Burke county, North
Carolina, on the I'd day of May, 1890, a
year after General Washington was
inaugurated. My father, Hugh Mccoy,
was a Scotchman and fought in the
| British army in the war for independ-
ence. He was not a military man, but
| was conscripted into the British army
| while on business for his father in one
| of the seaport towns OF Scotland. He
was sent to New York ard placed In
! Lord Howe's army, and / have heard
it said that he was one of General
How's best soldiers. Well, he was
wounded in an engagement and was
| taken by his commanding officer to
John Franklin's house in New Jersey.
| Mr.. Franklin was good patriot. but
the British compelled him to take care
of my father until he recovered, when
he refused to re-enliSt in the invading
| army and sought and won the hand of
his benefactor's daughter, Miss Jemi-
ma Franklin. Soon after marriage
they removed to North Carolina to
live. and six children were born to
them, three sons and three daughters.
81 was the fourth child, and when /
was four years old my father concluG-
| ed to go to Scotland to look up some
property which he supposed belonged
to him. Ships were uncertain in
those days, and we never heard from
my father again. The country was
, new and my mothers means were linn
tied, and with six children to support
wewere not INDUCED in many luxuries
! l remember that L did not have pail
Of shoes until / was twelve years old
That was when / rode the famil,
horse to carry corn to an old mill neal
by to have it ground into meal for tilt
family board Such thing as hal
; | did not have until l was big enough
, to set traps for musk rats and eX
change the skins for one. My uncl,
was a halter, and l was very PROUD
| when l had captured sufficient rats tt
J pay him for plain fur cap.
Il never went to school great deal
and cannot boast of liberal educa
tion, but l remember perfactly wei
my companions at the first school
| oIlc GilcIn was w dSu
ington Irving, the historian, who wa
L a boy of somewhat lazy habits ant
g quiet, but very quick to learn, AM
I | with fondness for books. My cousin
Irving Mcdowell, also went to schoo
with me then.
q have lived out of doors a grea
deal ami L think that is one OF tn
: causes of my long life.
Il was married in 1915 to Mis-
/ Lucintha Davis, granddaughter c
Martin Smith, the man who gave m
8 my first employment, and we remove
to Indiana, where we lived until 1872
1 SAT the time when gold was discoN
!, cred in California | went to Levi
county, Missouri, and entered 16
acres of land near Canton. 1t wa
while living there that / received IN
warrant for the 100 acres of land j
payment for services in the war {
IL 1912.
II came to California in 1862, con
ing over land in wagons drawn b
;, horses. 1t took US four months I
I make the trip. There was conside
: able trouble with Indians at the tim,
q but we were fortunately unmolested.
o During his life Mr.. Mccoy has asSt
e ciated with and saw many prominen
n men-the Crittendens, of Kentuck.
= Henry Clay, William III. Harrison
Il Washington Irving, Andrew Jackso
| and others.