Calaveras
County
Biographies
WILLIAM W. McCOY
William Woodruff McCoy, who resides
in a pleasant home on a farm located on the south side of Salt Spring Valley,
in Calaveras County, was born in Conway County, Arkansas, October 21,
1829. His ancestors were from Virginia
and Kentucky. His father, Silas McCoy,
was born in the latter state, in 1802, and married Miss Elizabeth Carlysle, the wedding being celebrated in Arkansas at an
early day. Seven children were born of
their union, but only three are now living, two daughters and Dr. McCoy. The father died on the 16th of
May, 1863, at the age of fifty-one years, and the mother passed away in his
sixty-second year.
William W. McCoy of this review
acquired his education in Arkansas, learning the blacksmith’s trade, and
afterward turned his attention to stock raising. As a companion and helpmate on life’s journey
he chose Miss Anna Stagner, a native of Kentucky, the
wedding being celebrated on the 12th of October, 1854. Her parents were William and Rosana Stagner. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy had been married only a
few years when the great Civil War broke out and when the need of his people of
the south became pressing he volunteered as a defender of the Confederacy and
joined the southern army. He was elected
a lieutenant of Company A, Seventh Arkansas Infantry, and fought in several
battles of the war, including the engagements at Shiloh. At that place he received three gunshot
wounds, one in the jaw, which knocked out several of his teeth, another broke
his collarbone, while the third ball struck him in the hip. His wounds were of such a nature that he was
discharged. He went home to recuperate,
and when well he joined the cavalry under Colonel Timothy Reaves, and was
honorably discharged at Jacksonport, Arkansas, in the spring of 1864. On other occasions he had narrow
escapes. At one time he was cut off from
his regiment and escaped capture only by swimming his horse across the
river. He could not swim himself and did
not know whether his horse could, but in his extremity he took the chance and
thus escaped being made a prisoner. He
was a brave and capable soldier and did his best for the cause which he deemed
just.
After the war Mr. McCoy returned to
his family and continued to make his home in Arkansas until 1872, when he came
to California, accompanied by his wife and their only surviving son, Timothy
R., who now resides with his parents in their declining years at their pleasant
home in Salt Springs Valley, and is in partnership with his father in the
management of the ranch. Seven other
children have been born to them, but all have passed away. Mr. McCoy here owns three hundred and
seventy-four acres of land and is raising grain, produce and stock, making a
specialty of the breeding of Hereford cattle.
He has gained the title of Doctor by
reason of his successful treatment of cancers, having become a specialist in
this line. His constantly growing
reputation and his skill have caused many patients to come to him not only from
all parts of California but also from adjoining states as well. He has practiced in Stockton and San
Francisco and has attended many thousands of cases, effecting more or less
wonderful cures. His efforts in this
direction are worthy of the highest commendation and have made him widely known
far beyond the confines of his adopted state.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 344-345. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Calaveras County Biographies