Aaron Coy
Aaron Coy, proprietor of a farm on the Dayton-Xenia pike in Beavercreek township, rural mail route No. 8 out of Dayton, and a minister of the Brethren church at Zimmermans, was born on that farm, which is situated about four miles east of Dayton, December 19, 1846, a son of Nicholas and Charlotta (Shoup) Coy, both of whom were born in that same township, the former in the vicinity of Alpha and the latter just north of Mt. Zion church. Nicholas Coy was born on January 21, 1811, a son of Adam Coy and wife, the latter of whom was a Martin. Charlotta Shoup was born about 1820, a daughter of Moses Shoup, a pioneer minister of the Brethren church, both the Coys and the Shoups having been among the earliest settlers of Beavercreek township, as will be noted by reference to the history of these families presented elsewhere in this volume. Nicholas Coy inherited forty acres of his father's place on the Shakeston pike. After his marriage in the latter '30s he made his home on the farm on which his son, Aaron, is now living, a tract of one hundred and sixty-three acres, of which but nine acres then had been cleared, and set himself to the task of clearing the place. In 1863 he bought a tract of ninety-six acres a mile and a half east of there and in 1868 moved to the latter place and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in April, 1897. His wife had long preceded him to the grave, her death having occurred on January 25, 1874. They were the parents of eight children, whom they reared in the faith of the Brethren church, the family being connected with the church at Zimmermans. Of these children Aaron was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Elizabeth, who married John Engle; Benjamin, who spent all his life in Beavercreek township; Jane, who married William Nisley; Catherine, now living at Zimmermans, widow of Franklin M. Haverstick; Martin, who was drowned while fishing; Ella, who died at the age of twelve years, and Oren, who died at the age of fifteen.
Reared on the home farm, Aaron Coy received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from boyhood gave his attention to farming. When his father moved from the home place in 1868 he and his brother Benjamin took charge of the place and farmed it together until after Aaron Coy's marriage in 1871, when he and his wife bought the place and there established their home. Mrs. Coy died on October 11, 1910, and Mr. Coy is still living on the old place. For thirty-five years or more he has been serving as a minister of the Brethren church at Zimmermans, an elder duly elected bv the congregation. He still takes part in the operation of the farm, though he some time ago sold a part of the place to his son, I. N. Coy. He is a Republican.
It was on February 23, 1871, that Aaron Coy was united in marriage to Diana Funderburg, who was born in the neighboring county of Clark on May 17, 1847, a daughter of Daniel Funderburg and wife, the latter of whom was a Kepplinger, and who later became residents of Bath township, this county, and to this union five children were born, namely: Daniel, who made his home in Beavercreek township and died on March 4, 1917; Jesse, who is now living near Vandalia, Ohio; Ira and Irvin, twins, both continuing to make their home on the home place and the latter of whom married Grace Bear; and Carrie, wife of A. D. Wenrick, who occupies the farm adjoining Mr. Coy's farm on the west, the latter having nine and one-half acres of Aaron Coy's farm on which they have their home.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A. Broadstone, editor. B. F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918