|
|
JOHN COY, ex-postmaster of Homer City, and a wide-awake merchant, is a son of John B. and Margaret (Empfield)
Coy, and was born in Cherry Hill township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1848. His grandfather, John
Coy, was a native and a lifelong resident of Bedford county, where, at the time of his death, he owned a farm of
four hundred acres of land. He was a man of great activity, and was quite notable among the bearhunters during
the pioneer days of Bedford county's early settlers. He was an old line whig, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran
church, and died in June, 1855. He married Sarah Bowers, by whom he had nine children: Lewis, Franey, John B.,
Adam, Sarah, wife of George Emfield; Peter, Nancy, who married Samuel Stahl; Elizabeth, wife of William Fowler,
and David. His second son, John B. Coy (father), was born in Bedford county, November 2, 1814, attended the subscription
schools, and learned t.he trade of shoemaker, which he followed for nearly a quarter of a century. In April, 1851,
he removed to Centre township, this county, where he bought a farm of one hundred and thirty five acres, which
he tilled during the remainder of his life. He was an elder and deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which
he was for many years an active member. He was a republican and took quite an active part in local politics. He
served as road supervisor, school director and overseer of the poor, and at this date (October 10, 1890), he is
living and enjoying good health. In 1838 he married Margaret Empfield. To their union were born five children:
Sarah J., wife of G. A. Mikesell; Benjamin, Alexander W., Peter and John. Of these children, Sarah J. and John
only are living. Mrs. Coy was a daughter of Peter Empfield (maternal grandfather), who was a farmer of t.his county
and met with several reverses in business, He was a republican in politics.
John Coy was reared on his father's farm and attended the public schools. In early manhood he worked on the farm
in the summer and on a saw mill during the winter for several years. In 1872 he came to Homer City and formed a
mercantile partnership with G. A. Mikesell, under the firm name of Coy & Mikesell. Some eighteen months afterward
Mr. Mikesell sold out his interest to James Fenton, and the firm became Coy & Fenton. In 1875, Mr. Coy bought
out his partner's share, and since that time has conducted the business very successfully. He has a large, well
selected stock of dry goods, grocerics, hardware and general merchandise, especially selected to gratify the wishes
and satisfy the needs of his patrons. Attentive, courteous and obliging, he has built up a good patronage. His
present general mercantile establishment is on Main street, and was erected in 1865 by his father.
On September 19, 1871, he married Anna M. McFeaters, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Duncan) McFeaters, of Indiana
county. Mr. and Nrs. Coy have three children: Lela Thoburn, born Nay 18, 1873; Tesora Grace, born December 14,
1876; and Jennie Ethel, born November 16, 1879.
John Coy is an uncompromising democrat, and has made an excellent record as school director, overseer of the poor
and councilman of the borough. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster of Homer City, which position he held until
May 24, 1889. He is a man of perseverance, sagacity and prudence, and his success in mercantile life is attributable
to these qualities which he possesses in so high a degree.
From:
Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia
of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania
Samuel T. Wiley, Historian & Editor
John M. Greshan & Co.
Philadelphia, 1891
Privacy Policy for
OnlineBiographies
|
NAVIGATION
Indiana County Pennsylvania Biographies
Online
Biographies
Pennsylvania
Histories
New York
Histories
For all your genealogy needs visit Linkpendium
|