George W. McCoy
The McCoy family has been identified with the history of Fayette county, Ohio, for nearly a century, and during all of these years they have performed their share in the development of this favored spot of Ohio. George W. McCoy, whose history is here presented, has spent his entire life of more than sixty years within the limits of this county, consequently he is well known among the citizens with whom he has lived. A life of such duration spent in one commuinty enables a man's character to be familiar to everyone with whom he has been associated, and the high esteem in which Mr. McCoy is held by his fellow citizens is indicative of the clean and wholesome life which he has lived.
George W. McCoy, the son of Patterson and Eliza (Bryant) McCoy, was born February 28. 1851, in Wayne township, this county. His father was a son of Patterson McCoy, and was born in Union township, this county, where his father settled when he came from Virginia in the early history of the county. Patterson McCoy was reared, married and spent all of his days in this county, and he and his wife reared a family of nine children, Nathan, Mrs. Clara B. Kearney, Jackson, George, Jannette, Mrs. Nettie Cline, Mrs. Eliza Smith, Edward and Mrs. Armata Smith. All of these children except Jackson and Edward are still living.
George E. McCoy attended the district school known as the Shady Grove school during his boyhood days and helped his father with the work on the farm during the summer vacations. At the age of twenty-one he commenced renting land from his father and lived on a rented farm until 1896, when he felt able to purchase his present farm of fifty acres, on which he has since resided. He has engaged in intensive farming with the result that he has realized as much each year from his farm as many farmers do from a much larger acreage. He is progressive in his methods and. being a man of good management, has had the satisfaction of seeing his farm yield more satisfactory returns year by year.
Mr. McCoy was married March 21, 1884, to Lida Clline, the daughter of John and Sarah Cline, of Ross county, Ohio, and to this union has been born one daughter, Mrs. Blanche Pleyley.
The Democratic party has claimed the support of Mr. McCoy and its candidates have always received his vote. He has always been interested in educational affairs and at present is a member of the school board of his towmship. Mr. McCoy has always maintained an intelligent interest in the welfare of his community and unreservedly given his support to every movement for the educational, moral or material advancement of his fellow citizens.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)