John W. McCOY was born February 7, 1838 in Green County, Ohio. He enlisted as a Private on August 1, 1861 at Young America, Wassen County, Illinois, and was assigned to Company C of the 36th Illinois Vounteers. Pvt. McCOY was mustered into service on August 23, 1861 at Camp Hammond. During the Battle of Missionary Ridge, which was fought near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 25, 1863, Pvt. McCOY suffered a flesh wound in his right shoulder. He returned to active duty on the following September 29th, and was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

While advancing through a dense thicket of small pines along with the line of battle near Adairville, Georgia, on May 17, 1864, Sgt. McCOY's gun accidentally discharged. He was wounded in the left hand with the blast taking away the third finger. Sgt. McCOY believed that the accident occurred when the pine branches struck the gun, causing it to go off. Pvt. McCOY was treated at the hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee, and in Jeffersonville, Indiana, between May 25 to September 28, 1864.

Sg. McCOY also fought in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and Resaca. He was honorably discharged on October 6th of 1864, at Springfield, Illinois.

John W. McCOY and Margery Ann CALDWELL were married at North Henderson of Mercer County, Missouri, on December 22, 1864, with the Rev. J. A. EDIE performing the ceremony. John and Margery were the parents of five children:

1) Mary Leota "Lottie" McCOY
    born Nov 1867, IA; died 13 Dec 1936, LA; Lottie was deaf and blind.
2) Emma McCOY, twin
    born 1871, IA; married Grant HUFF
3) Rev. Robert C. McCOY, twin
    born 1871, Benton, Ringgold Co.IA
    married 1st 10 Jan 1895, LA Nettie DUNLAP; married 2nd Stella
4) Rev. Clifford Clyde McCOY
    born 10 Dec 1876, Tingley IA; died 16 Dec 1946, Independence KS
    married 1st 18 Dec 1897 LA Mary Alice RANKIN
    married 2nd 28 Aug 1924 Kansas City KS Mina UPTON
5) Gertrude McCOY
    born 02 Apr 1878, Tingley IA; died 29 Sep 1949, LA
    married George LAWSON

A truck farmer, John was residing at Eugene, Ringgold County, Iowa, when he applied for an Invalid Army Pension at age 38 on April 8, 1876. He was granted a pension of $2.00 a month, which had been increased to $12.00 a month by the time of his death.

The McCOYS moved to Bayneville, Kansas, then moved back to Tingley, Ringgold County, Iowa, in 1891. John applied for increases to his pension due to additional disabilites. He died on August 20, 1901 at Gueydan, Louisiana. After John's death, Margery resided with her daughter, Gertrude (McCOY) LAWSON in Welsh, Louisiana. Margery died in Dallas, Texas, on December 8, 1910. John and Margery were interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Jennings, Louisiana.

SOURCES:
McCOY, Lycurgus. William McCOY and His Descendants. Pp. 153-65. Kessinger Publ. Chicago. 1904.
WPA Grave Surveys
American Civil War Soldiers, ancestry.com
www.library.uni.edu/indexuni/full_record.php?id=245554

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009

Iowa in the Civil War
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