Typed by: Kay Cunningham
McCOY, JAMES LELAND
Surnames: McCOY, HUFSTETLER, ROBINSON, BROTHERS, YANKEE, GARRETT, ARNEY,
McCARVER, SMITH, DUNCAN, MATHERS.
James Leland McCoy, b September 25, 1849 in Tennessee, d July 14, 1932 at
Stranger, Falls County, Texas and buried in Garrett Cemetery there -- was a son
of Hugh McCoy, b October 8, 1812 in Tennessee d January 13, 1893 and buried at
Fowlkes, Tennessee in Holly Springs Cemetery, and his wife, Martha, born in
Tennessee, d February 10, 1901 at age 82 years, and buried by her husband.
On July 22, 1874, in Dyersburg, Obion County, Tennessee, James Leland McCoy
married Margaret Hufstetler, b February 20, 1854, in Tennessee, d November 2,
1930, and buried in Garrett Cemetery at Stranger, Falls County, Texas -- a
daughter of Elvira (Robinson) Hufstetler and her husband (name unknown) of
Georgia. Margaret's siblings who came to Falls County were Laura Hufstetler who
married Jesse Barzilla Brothers, and Emanuel Hufstetler. Among the siblings of
James Leland McCoy were Ann E., Mahala J., Nancy E., William W., Nathan, Thomas,
Newton, Samuel, and Francis McCoy.
Soon after 1880, James Leland McCoy brought his jamily from Obion County,
Tennessee to Texas -- settled in Stranger, Falls County. Of their eleven
children, the first four were all born at Stranger:
James Henry McCoy, b September 29, 1875, married March 29, 1903, in Falls
County to Minnie Keller Yankee. They loved in Stranger for many years, had
children, and both died and were buried in Dallas, Texas. Their at
Stranger was the one built in 1849 by Thomas McKissick Garrett for his family,
and was of solid cedar -- wall, floors, ceilings, etc., except for one large,
thick cedar front door. They burned the down in the 1960's because it was
infested with snakes, as it was then vacant.
Thomas Hugh McCoy, b November 12, 1877, died ca 1880 in Tennessee of
diarrhea.
R. Samuel McCoy, b October 30, 1878, died ca 1880 in Tennessee.
William S. McCoy, b July 11, 1880, d ca 1906 and buried in Washington, D. C.
He was never married.
David Walter McCoy, b June 1, 1883, the first born in Stranger, Falls
County, Texas after the family moved from Tennessee, d February 24, 1967, and
buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas -- served in World war I as a
Corporal, Company B, 165th Infantry, 42 Division. David married and had two
children -- a son, and a daughter.
Francis Leland McCoy, b January 6, 1885, d and said to be buried in Calvary
Cemetery in Marlin, Texas -- married and had children.
Alice (called "Allie") McCoy, b August 25, 1887, was buried in Garrett
Cemetery at Stranger.
Vera Vidella McCoy, b December 2, 1890, resides in a nursing in Marlin,
Texas in 1986 -- married October 4, 1910, in Falls County, Texas to William
Luther Arney, b September 2, 1891, d December 26, 1984, and buried in Hillcrest
Cemetery in Marlin -- a son of James Marshall and Mary Belle (McCarver) Arney of
Kosse, Limestone County, Texas. They had six children.
Benjamin C. McCoy, b February 28, 1892, was buried near Dallas, Texas --
married and had two children -- a son and a daughter.
Roy McCoy, buried in Garrett Cemetery at Stranger, Falls County, Texas.
Ina Elva McCoy, b February 11, 1900, married December 22, 1916, to Thomas
Miller Smith -- a Methodist minister.
James Leland and Margaret (Hufstetler) McCoy were members and active workers
in the Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and reared their family in that
denomination. They opened their to the youth in Stranger, and often had a
house full of young friends of their children. Margaret was an excellent cook,
and passed her cooking techniques to her daughters.
The land purchased by James Leland McCoy when he came to Falls County was
described as 111 5/10 acres on the G. Duncan Survey, 43 3/4 acres on the Joseph
Mathers Survey, and 7 3/10 acres on the h. B. Williams Survey -- all in East
Falls County at Stranger. He was known as a fine farmer, and was interested in
political issues of the day.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 290 Column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.