James McCoy (1855-1933)

MCCOY, MONAHAN, ODONNELL, WILSON, GALE, HOPKINS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal March 23, 1933 (page 1)

LONG TIME COLO RESIDENT IS DEAD

JAMES McCOY DIED AT HIS HOME THERE EARLY TODAY --FUNERAL SATURDAY

Special to the Journal.
Colo, March 23--James McCoy, 78, pioneer Colo resident and long prominent business man died at his home here at 4:00 a. m. today.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary's church Saturday morning at 9:00, followed by interment in St. James Catholic cemetery.

Mr. McCoy who had been ill for some time, had been confined to his home during the winter months but was taken worse Sunday and since that time had failed very rapidly.

James McCoy was a native of West Virginia in which state he was born June 28, 1855, a son of Rodger and Bridget Monahan McCoy, who had emigrated from Ireland in their early manhood and womanhood.

James was about six year of age when the parents came west with their family and located first in Clinton county where they lived for two years. They then moved to Sabula, in Jackson county, where they lived until 1868, when they came to Colo. There the father purchased a farm and established the family homestead two miles west of Colo. Later the parents retired and moved into Colo, where they passed away, the father September 22, 1897, and the mother March 8 of the following year.

Reared in the Colo neighborhood James received his education in the Colo schools, learned the blacksmith trade and for many years continued that work in connection with the implement business in Colo. Later he retired from that work and became identified with the real estate, banking and insurance business.

He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah O'Donnell, daughter of another pioneer family of the community, November 24, 1881, and to them two children were born, who with the wife survive him. They are Martin R. McCoy and Mrs. Mary McCoy Wilson, both residents of Colo.

Besides these he leaves one brother A. O. McCoy of the Colo neighborhood, as well as three sisters. The sisters are Mrs. Nicholas Gale of Davenport, Mrs. John Hopkins of Nevada and Mrs. Ella Hopkins of Colo. Four brothers, Thomas, Will, Martin and John are dead, as is one sister, Mrs. James O'Donnell.

His business affairs in later years had bee largely identified with real estate and insurance and for many years he was treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Implement Mutual Insurance association, with headquarters in Nevada.

Politically he was a Democrat and he was a man active in the promotion of the welfare and up-building of the community in which he lived.

He was of the Catholic faith and his life had been closely identified with work in connection with that church and was a strong supporter of the work. He had long been a member of the Knights of Columbus.