Tehama County Biographies

ALEXANDER  McKEAN  McCOY

Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
District Attorney of Tehama County, is a man of rare ability. A brief sketch of 
his life is herewith given:
      Mr. McCoy was born in Missouri, June 9, 1852. His father, Joseph McCoy, 
was also born in Missouri, and is a farmer, stock raiser and cattle dealer. 
Grandfather Joseph McCoy was one of the earliest settlers in that State. Mr. 
McCoy�s mother, nee Jane McKean, was a native of Ireland and daughter of 
Alexander McKean, a native of the Emerald Isle. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are the 
parents of six sons and one daughter, all of whom are now living. They were all 
born and reared at the old home in Clark County, Missouri, where their father 
still resides, the mother having died in 1872.
      The subject of this sketch attended school in his native state and 
diligently applied himself to his studies. At the age of twenty-two, in 1874, he 
graduated at the Christian University at Canton, Missouri. After graduating he 
taught two years in the University, where he was professor of English Literature 
and History.  In 1876 he came to Red Bluff, California, was employed as 
principal of the Red Bluff schools for two years, filling that responsible 
position with credit to himself and with entire satisfaction to the patrons of 
the school. His health became impaired, however, from the close confinement 
which his duties as principal required, and in 1878, he left the schoolroom and 
engaged in the sheep business. He regained his health and continued in that 
business seven years.
      In 1884 he took an active part in politics canvassing the country in the 
interest of the Democratic Party. As a speaker he is forcible and logical and 
his words carry conviction with them. The efficient services he rendered at that 
time were highly appreciated by his party. In 1885 he took up the study of law 
with Mr. Jackson Hatch, of Red Bluff, a study, which proved congenial to him, 
and he rapidly became proficient in it. In the spring of 1886 he was admitted to 
practice by the Superior Court of his county. His age, education, experience as 
a teacher, ability as a speaker, and the valuable work he had done for his party 
in 1884, brought him at once into prominence, and, unasked by him, he was 
nominated for District Attorney in the fall of 1886. He was elected and his 
services were so satisfactory that in 1888 he was re-elected by an increased 
majority. At this writing, in 1890, he has been re-elected for a third term by a 
considerably increased majority over 1888.
      In 1884 Mr. McCoy was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Muth. She was 
born in Detroit Michigan, and is the daughter of J.L. Muth, a native of Germany, 
who now resides in San Diego, this State. Mrs. McCoy received her education in 
the public schools of San Francisco and at the Normal School at San Jose. She 
was first assistant teacher in the Red Bluff schools at the time of their 
marriage and she has a fine reputation as an educator. Their union has been 
blessed with two interesting children, both born in Red Bluff, namely: Ida May, 
November 16, 1885, and Joseph Muth, September 21, 1889. Mr. McCoy bought a lot 
in Red Bluff and has built a very pleasant home where he and his family reside. 
He also has a fruit farm east of town.
       Mr. McCoy became a member of the Christian Church at Canton, Missouri in 
1873, and since that time has been an active and faithful member. He is an elder 
in the church in Red Bluff, and in the absence of the pastor, frequently fills 
the pulpit. He has made a careful study of the evidences of Christianity, and is 
logical and convincing in his arguments in favor of the truth of the Christian 
religion. Although Mr. McCoy has never been ordained a minister, his appearance 
is more that of a Christian pastor than that of a District Attorney of Tehama 
County. He is a man who justly merits and enjoys the confidence and esteem of 
his fellow citizens. He is also a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow 
fraternities, and makes his interest in them as great moral institutions second 
only to his church. 
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 
1891, Pages 605-606


        The climatic and professional considerations which were important
factors in inducing Mr. McCoy to remove from Missouri to California have
been equally potent in making him an enthusiastic supporter of the
possibilities of this state. On coming west he resigned a college position
of growing importance in order to identify himself with educational
interests in the northern part of California, but subsequently he became a
practitioner at the bar and now ranks among the most resourceful and capable
professional men in his district, having during the period of his law
practice in Red Bluff been identified with nearly all of the important cases
tried in the county. To mention his name among the broad-minded and
well-informed professional men of the district is to call forth generous
tributes concerning his character, wide knowledge and attainments.

      The facts connected with the history of the McCoy family will be found
elsewhere in this volume, in the sketch of Joseph McCoy, formerly of Red
Bluff, the father of the eminent citizen whose name heads this narrative.The
third among seven children comprising the parental family, Alexander McKean
McCoy was born on a farm near Waterloo, then the county seat of Clark
County, Mo., June 9, 1852, and under the careful training of his parents,
Joseph and Jane (McKean) McCoy, was prepared for the responsibilities of
life. After having prepared for college in Pleasant Hill Academy, in 1869 he
became a student in LaGrange College, where he practically completed the
entire course during the following three years. In 1874 he was graduated
from Christian University of Canton, Mo., one of the pioneer educational
institutions founded by the Christian Church in the Mississippi valley. The
degree of A. B. was conferred upon him at graduation and later his alma
mater also bestowed upon him the Master's degree. The year after receiving
his diploma he engaged in post-graduate work at the university, where at the
same time he taught some of the English classes. In 1875 he was elected
professor of English literature and history in the university and held the
chair one year, when he resigned to remove to the west.

         Very shortly after his arrival in Red Bluff in August, 1876, Mr.
McCoy entered upon the principalship of the public schools of the city and
remained in that position until 1878, when on account of his health he
resigned to seek outdoor life. For some years thereafter he spent his
winters on a sheep ranch eight miles west of Red Bluff and during the
summers ranged his flocks in the Sierras. In the spring of 1885 he sold his
stock interests to a brother, Galen C. McCoy, and returned to Red Bluff,
where the following year he entered upon the practice of law. In 1884 he had
taken up law studies under Jackson Hatch, now of San Jose, and since then he
has acquired a profound and broad knowledge of the law which places him
among the foremost men of  the profession in the state. Through careful
selection he has become the possessor of a fine library, containing the
works of the leading authorities of the past and present. In the fall of
1886, shortly after his admission to the bar, he was elected district
attorney on the Democratic ticket, and in 1888 and 1890 was re-elected by
increased majorities, serving from January, 1887 to January, 1893, and
retiring from the office with an enviable record for efficiency and thorough
work. Since his retirement from official duties he has established a large
civil practice in Tehama and Shasta counties, and in addition, is a member
of the law firm of McCoy & Gans, city attorneys of Red Bluff.

         After coming to the west Mr. McCoy met Hattie Muth, who became his
wife in Red Bluff in 1884. The comfortable home which they have established
is brightened by the presence of their three children: Ida May, attending
the state university, now in her second year; Joseph Muth, in the graduating
class of 1906, in the Red Bluff high school; and Florence Rose, a first-year
student in the high school. Mrs. McCoy is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and
a graduate of the San Francisco high school. She also attended the
California State Normal at San Jose, and for ten years prior to her marriage
was engaged in educational work. Fraternally Mr. McCoy was made a Mason in
Vesper Lodge No. 84, F. & A. M., of Red Bluff, and is further identified
with Red Bluff Lodge No. 76, I. O. O. F., in which he is a past grand.
Through his connection with the Board of Trade of Red Bluff he has been a
contributor to the commercial development of the city and his name is
inseparably associated with various projects for the growth of the place.
Upon the organization of the first county board of education, established
under the constitution of 1879, he was chosen a member of the body, where he
remained for several years and contributed most helpfully to the interests
of the schools. Educational matters are of no less interest to him now than
when he engaged actively in teaching. There are few more stanch than he in
allegiance to schools. Realizing that the future of our commonwealth and the
prosperity of our nation depend upon an educated citizenship, he has given
freely of his influence and time to promote the educational institutions
within the circle of his activities. For several years he acted as a member
of the board of trustees of Pierce Christian College at College City.

        At an early period in his life Mr. McCoy became identified with the
Christian Church and his warm devotion to its welfare remains unabated.
Though it was not his privilege to take a theological course in college and
Destiny seemed to call him to the bar rather than the pulpit, yet his
thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, fine command of the language and
ability as a speaker have brought his services into frequent request as a
preacher, and such requests are never refused if circumstances permit of
their acceptance. To the members of the Christian Church throughout the
state, and especially to those who are prominent in the work, his name is a
household word, his position as chairman of the state convention for about
ten years having made him a leader among the adherents of this faith. With
few exceptions he has made annual visits to Santa Cruz during the sessions
of the state convention of the church, and there he has aided in shaping the
policy adopted by the members to promote home and foreign missionary work.
On the organization of the Berkeley Bible Seminary he became one of its
incorporators and officiated for a number of years in the capacity of
trustee. As previously intimated, he is connected with the Democratic party.
Since 1884 he has been one of the most prominent men of his county in the
affairs of that party, serving for some years as chairman of its county
central committee and during its campaigns tendering his services as a
speaker in the interests of its candidates and principles.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 433-434.

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, April 2009.



            A forceful example of a well spent life is afforded in the career of 
Alexander McKean McCoy, who has long been numbered among the leading attorneys 
of Tehama county, and at the age of seventy-eight years is still engaged in 
active practice at Red Bluff, which has been the scene of his legal work for 
four and a half decades.  He was born in Clark county, Missouri, June 9, 1852, a 
son of Joseph and Jane (McKean) McCoy, and there pursued his education in the 
Pleasant Hill Academy, afterward attending La Grange College of that state.  He 
was next a student at the Christian University of Canton, Missouri, where he won 
the Bachelor of Arts degree in June, 1874, and later received the Master of Arts 
degree from that institution.  The year 1875 was devoted to post-graduate work 
at Canton and during 1876 he was a member of the faculty of Christian 
University, connected with the department of English literature and history.
            Coming to California in 1876, Mr. McCoy located in Red Bluff, where 
he taught in the public schools for two years, capably discharging the duties of 
principal.  Owing to failing health, he retired from the educational field in 
the summer of 1878 and sought an occupation that would keep him out of doors, 
taking up the sheep business at that time.  The change proved beneficial and 
while thus engaged he began the study of law.  Having mastered the principles of 
jurisprudence, he took the state bar examination and was licensed to practice in 
the spring of 1886.  His ability soon became recognized and in the fall of 1886 
he was the popular choice for district attorney of Tehama county.  He thoroughly 
justified the confidence reposed in him and was re-elected to the same office 
for two successive terms, each time by an increased majority.  As a public 
prosecutor he was fearless, conscientious and efficient and secured a large 
percentage of convictions.  In January, 1893, he retired form the office and has 
since engaged in general practice.  With the passing years his prestige as a 
lawyer has steadily increased and he has frequently been called to other 
counties to conduct important litigation.  For some time he practiced under the 
style of McCoy & Gans � an association that was continued until January, 1927, 
when H. S. Gans became superior judge of Tehama county, and since then the firm 
has been McCoy & Wetter.  
            In December, 1884, Mr. McCoy was married in Red Bluff to Miss Hattie 
Muth, who passed away in July, 1925.  They had three children, Joseph M., Ida 
May and Florence R., all of whom are graduates of the Red Bluff high school and 
also of the State University at Berkeley, California.  Mr. McCoy has long been a 
zealous and prominent member of the Christian Church, while his fraternal 
affiliations are with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  
Industrious and energetic, he never feared that laborious effort which must ever 
precede ascendancy in all lines of endeavor, and his success is well deserved, 
for it has been worthily won.  He expects to retire from the practice of law in 
the near future and devote his entire leisure time to more general reading and 
study.  His has been a useful, well ordered, upright life, and he enjoys to the 
fullest extent the respect and confidence of his fellowmen.
 
History of the Sacramento Valley California Biographical, Vol. III by Major J. 
W. Wooldridge, Chicago:  The Pioneer Historical Society Publ. Co., 1931
pp 18-21
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler